Best caravan awnings UK: choosing perfect fit guide

Why should you add an awning to your caravan? Simply put, because they make # vanlife even better. Park up and erect your awning to double the space of your van, have a separate space for meals or leisure, or easily bring an additional space for equipment and muddy kit.

But which one should you buy? There are many different types of awning to pick from, from simple porches to luxury additions that can be set up long term, and in a range of styles from drive away to inflatable.

Camplify can help with all aspects of caravan and campervan ownership and guide you to the best products to buy in the UK. To help you choose your own awning, we’ve rounded up our recommendations of the best caravan and campervan awnings available in the UK.

Types of awnings

The awning you pick will depend on what you want it for (an extra living space or a basic shelter); its ease of use (you may be happy to spend the extra few minutes putting up a bigger awning, or you might want something quick and easy to put up and take down each day); and, of course, its price and your budget.

You’ll also need to consider how long you will have the awning up – for a few days on each trip or for months on a seasonal pitch – as well as how much space you need: do you want a space for a dining table and chairs, or are you happy with a small awning just to store kit out of the caravan?

Remember to consider too how many people will be available to put the awning up and take it down! You’ll need at least two people for a large awning with poles (and remember to consider windy weather conditions too). Types of awning include:

Full awning

A full awning attaches to your caravan using the full length of the awning rail, and thus can double your living space. They’re an excellent option for longer stays where you want to set up camp fully, but their downside is they can weigh quite a bit – 50kg or more for some with steel poles.

Porch awning

A porch awning attaches to the awning rail only on the roof, and so can be a light and easy way to get a bit of extra, sheltered, room outside your vehicle. They can take a bit of time to seal correctly, but are light and easy to put up. They’re so versatile too that you’ll have your pick of models.

Combi awning

As the name suggests, combi awnings are a combination of full awnings and porch awnings – although be aware that any combi awning will need a full awning rail. They work by attaching the roof and one side to the awning rail, then attaching the remaining side to the caravan with a pole and padding.

Awning structure

Once you decide on which type of awning you want, there are three main structures:

Rollout awnings

These are housed on the caravan by locks and a ratchet, then pulled from there using a supplied pole once the locks and ratchet are undone. The awning is then pulled out and supported by poles pegged and roped to the ground.

Wind out awnings

This type of awning is fast and easy to put up, even for one person. They work via a winch on the end of their housing, which you rotate to take the awning out or wind it back in. Some are motorised to make it easier.

Inflatable awnings

Although these still need to be pegged out like rollout and wind out awnings, inflatable awnings can be easily operated by one person and are very easy to set up. The metal poles are replaced by air columns, so they’re much lighter.

Drive away awnings

These are suitable for campervans and motorhomes rather than caravans, and designed to stay up without any vehicle support. The simplest ones use straps over the roof of the vehicle that anchor to the ground on the other side.

The best caravan awnings in the UK

Vango Vienna 400 Air Caravan Awning New in 2019, theVango Vienna 400 Air in blue or black is billed by the company as a “luxury residential awning” – it’s developed to suit long-term or sited pitches but able to be inflated relatively easily to use on short tours. Its angled beams give more space inside as well as ensuring better protection in strong wind, and a draught seal system creates a tight seal between the awning and the caravan so there’s no need for poles.

The front panels, skylight windows and large windows on each side let in plenty of light (and air if required) – but there’s the option to replace the front panels with mesh if you want a bit more privacy. Pitching time is estimated at 20 minutes.

A quality option for long-term pitches or big family holidays; less suited to quick trips or small vans.

• Weight: 38.75kg

• Dimensions: L78.0 x H49.0 x W50.0cm

• Price: £1,900 – £2,100

Kampa Frontier Air Pro 400 Caravan Awning

The experienced team at Kampa consider the Frontier Air Pro 400 their flagship model – and its ease and flexibility mean many reviewers agree. At eight metres wide, the black and white Frontier Air Pro 400 is roomy enough to suit a family or group for an extensive holiday, but its clever design means it only needs a horizontal awning rail of four metres.

Like all Kampa AIR awnings, this is relatively easy to erect as it uses a single inflation point. and is designed to be airy and light, with large windows and removable centre panels and doors. Mesh panels can be zipped in to keep insects out.

• Weight: 41.2 kg

• Dimensions: W 800cm, D 300cm

• Price: £1,599 – £1,999

Single-point inflatable awning for short- or long-term holidays; ideal for travellers who want plenty of room

DubPod Drive Away Camper Van bell tent canvas awning

Go for something a little different with this drive away awning from DubPod, made from the same sturdy canvas as its bell tents. The DubPod Drive Away Camper Van bell tent awning erects as a tent, in a zip in detachable awning section to connect to your van, made from heavy duty 540gsm waterproof PVC with UV colour fast, mould, rot and water repellent built in.

The awning has a spring loaded centre pole and two spring loaded door frames, heavy duty pegs, a pole hook for lighting and metal guy rope sliders. A groundsheet is built in. There’s an access point for electric hook-up and a fireproof stove flap is available as an optional extra.

DubPod says the tent can sleep six people, but a reviewer estimates it could easily fit 10.

Large driveaway tent ideal for large groups; suited to campervans or to use as a standalone tent

• Weight: not given

• Dimensions: 500cm x 400cm

• Price: £729.99

Sunncamp Swift 260 Deluxe

Included as a budget option, the Swift 260 Deluxe by Sunncamp released in 2019 is a good pick if you’re buying your first awning or don’t want to spend too much. It’s made of flame-retardant fabric and a strong steel and fibreglass frame, has curtains on all windows and fits caravans with an attaching height between 235cm and 250cm.

As reviews point out, this can be set up in minutes. Available in blue or grey.

A good awning for travellers on a budget, couples or first-timers; less suited to big families/groups or long-term pitches.

• Weight: 6.80kg

• Dimensions: 260cm width x 240cm depth

• Price: £129 – £149

Decathlon/Quechua Air Seconds Base XL Family Camping Shelter

Another budget option, the Quechua inflatable air awning from Decathlon is a cost-conscious alternative to large fully featured awnings. It’s designed as an easily set-up shelter for family groups of six to eight people, standing on its own with poles or connecting to your campervan.

Reviewers describe it as “unbelievable value” and very easy to put up, in about 15 minutes.

Best for budget travellers who want extra sleeping or living space; not as suited to long-term pitching

• Weight: 12.5kg

• Dimensions: 6.25 square metres; maximum height 2.05 metres

• Price: around £159

Camptech Savanna DL All Season Full Caravan Awning

The huge advantage of this awning from Camptech is that it comes in nine different sizes (from 850 cm to 1175 cm), making it easy to find the right size for your vehicle. Made from Camptech’s standard Climatech SR18 heavy-duty material in grey and white, the Savanna DL has received favourable reviews for its ease of use, setting up quickly to stay attached or unattached to your van.

The awning has external privacy blinds for extra security while the owner is absent. There’s also the option of fitting a standard or tall annexe on either side.

• Weight: varies

• Dimensions: varies

• Price: £559 – £809

Outwell Cove 340A

Also, new in 2019, the Cove 340A is the smallest addition to Outwell’s new Nordic Coast range, measuring 340 cm across (a bigger version, the 400A, is also available).

The Cove 340A is small and lightweight enough to suit travellers with smaller vehicles or those who simply want an extra space without too much hassle in putting it up. Its single inflation point is connected to the awning’s shaped beams, making it easy to erect using the provided foot pump. The windows are tinted for extra protection in sunlight, and the entire front section can be removed if you wish.

All awnings in the Nordic Coast range are made from Oxford polyester with polyurethane coating.

Weight: 16.1 kg

Dimensions: attachment height 240 – 255 cm; roof connection length 340 cm

Price: £550

Kampa Travel Pod Trip AIR

Check out this awning if you’re looking for a big-company product at a reasonable price – the Kampa Travel Pod Trip AIR is a popular campervan and motorhome awning at a lower price than many leaders on the market.

Weighing only 10kg, the Trip AIR is an inflatable awning using a multi-point inflation system. It has two large windows, roll down blinds and a large front door that can be rolled across to leave the awning open. It comes with a clip-in waterproof groundsheet.

• Weight: 10 kg

• Dimensions: 180 cm – 210 cm

• Price: £375 – £468

Shop online to get the best deals on caravan and campervan awnings, especially second-hand on auction and local sales sites. Brick and mortar shops of course have the advantage over online that they usually have expert staff who can advise you on all the ranges available.

And remember that if you want to earn money renting out your van on Camplify, a smart accessory like one of the awnings above will help your vehicle stand out!