As with most things, shade sails come in a variety of different qualities and that is usually reflected in the price. The difference is mainly in the materials used to make the shade sail as the design of them is fairly standard. Cheaper shade sails: 1~3 years Brand Shade Sails: 5 ~ 12 years The more expensive brand shade sails differentiate themselves not only with the features they provide but also with the warranty they offer. These will normally cover the shade as a whole (stitching, fittings etc) for between 1-2 years and then have a secondary warranty that covers the material for things like degradation, fading, UV protection etc for a period of 3-10 years. In most cases the heaviness/thickness of the shade is a good indicator as to the quality and the longevity; the higher the GSM (grams per square meter) the better. The single biggest factor that can reduce the life of your shade sail is poor installation. For further information check out Planning for a Sun Shade- what you need to be thinking about or How to Install and Tension a Sun Shade.