Shade fabrics are most commonly composed of knitted HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) monofilament and/or tape.

The knit construction varies from each manufacturer and this changes the physical properties of the fabric. Tensile, tear and burst strengths are important qualities to consider.

Each material also has unique solar optical properties. These are measured by the amount of solar energy transmitted, absorbed and reflected.

Manufacturers and suppliers of shade fabrics have tested their fabrics to enable comparisons such as shade factors and UV block.