The Four Best Ways to Anchor a Canopy on the Beach

May 19, 2021Best In Tents

With the instability of loose sand and the threat of unexpected winds, trying to anchor a canopy on the beach can seem like a daunting task. If there is one thing you should know, it’s the importance of securely anchoring; after all, you don’t want your canopy blowing away like a plastic bag in the wind!

So, what do you do when your canopy doesn’t hold securely in the sand? Here you will find four of the best ways to anchor a canopy on the beach so you can stay safe and stylish amongst the everchanging seaside wind and the bright, hot sun.

Beach Tent Stakes and Pegs

The best way to secure a canopy on the beach is to use stakes and pegs. Usually, generic metal pegs come along with your canopy and work best for soil, but upgrading to beach stakes will provide extra surface area to increase friction. Beach stakes are thicker and have a corkscrew shape, strengthening their overall hold in the sand. 

How to Stake Canopy in the Sand

Simply bang the beach stakes straight into the sandy ground at a 45º angle away from the tent. To further increase stability, bind two ropes to the peg making a “V” shape away from the canopy. During strong gusts of wind, these bound ropes pull the peg in opposite directions resulting in a fixated stake.

How to Tie Down a Canopy Tent

The most common type of knot used to tie down canopy is the “taut-line hitch,” which forms an easily adjustable loop that jams under load.

Step 1: Cross the end of the rope around the leg and over the top of the remaining rope, making a “Q” shape.
Step 2: Bring the end of the rope (the tail of the “Q”) up through the loop.
Step 3: Bring the tail through the loop one more time in the same direction.
Step 4: Pull the tail end parallel to the remaining rope.
Step 5: Make another “Q” shape, but this time cross the tail end behind the remaining rope and then through the lower loop from the front.
Step 6: Pull tight!

Check out this video for a more detailed step-by-step and to see a taut-line hitch knot in action!

Bury Tent Legs

Burying the legs of your tent into the sandy floor can help with your structure's stability. The legs must be buried at least one feet deep into the sand in order to be effective; if you are handy, bury some PVC pipe below the surface first!

Step 1: Cut 20” long segments of pipe, four total, cutting one end of each at a 45º angle to create a pointed edge.
Step 2: Where your canopy legs will be, drive the pointed end of the pipe into the sand at least one foot. You will be left with about half of the PVC pipe above ground.
Step 3: Slide the canopy legs into the exposed pipe segment.

This technique can be used in tandem with sand anchors or weights. Bury stakes/weight bags below to get an even stronger hold when securing your canopy tent on the beach.

Sand Anchors

To secure a canopy on a beach, you can use sand anchors (also known as deadman snow anchors). Here are simple step-by-step instructions on how to anchor a canopy in sand.

Step 1: Dig a hole-one to two feet deep and at least six inches in width.
Step 2: Place the anchor in the hole with the straps still sticking out.
Step 3: Cover the anchor with beach sand, stepping on it to flatten and pack down the sand.
Step 4: Attach the tent line to the anchor’s straps and tie the other end to the canopy.

The weight of the sand will hold down your canopy safely and securely through the wind.

Weigh Your Canopy Down

If you’re looking to save money, we have some DIY options to save the day! Fill large barrels with water and place them at the base of the legs, or, take advantage of your surroundings and fill your barrel, a cooler box, or sandbag with sand or rocks on location. Concrete blocks or PVC pipes filled with concrete are also safe and budget-friendly weight options.

Read this post to find out how much weight you will need for your tent’s size and to dive deeper into the options that are available as you are trying to decide how to secure your canopy at the beach.

What Can Happen if You Don’t Anchor Your Canopy?

An improperly anchored canopy can ruin your beach day!

Make sure you know how to secure a canopy on the beach to avoid any unnecessary fiascos. Check out American Tent for our canopy tent options, and look into our Giffy Ballasts for a safe and effective way to hold down the fort--literally!