Sunbrella vs Sattler vs Dickson: Which Acrylic Awning Fabric Is Better?
Quick answer
On the figures the three makers publish, none of these fabrics is measurably better than the others. All three are 100% solution-dyed acrylic weighing 290 to 305 g/m2 (8.55 to 9.00 oz per sq yd), all carry a 10-year warranty and all are now made without PFAS. Their strength and fading figures come from different test methods and cannot be ranked against each other. Choose on roll width and seam count, whether you need a flame-resistant fabric, color and what your fabricator stocks. Dickson and Sunbrella are both owned by Glen Raven.
None of the three is measurably better on the figures their makers publish. Sunbrella's 46 inch awning fabric, Sattler's Lumera acrylics and Dickson's Orchestra are all 100% solution-dyed acrylic, weigh 290 to 305 g/m2 (8.55 to 9.00 oz per square yard), carry 10-year warranties and are now made without PFAS. The figures that look like they could rank them, strength and lightfastness, come from different test methods in different units. What actually decides it is roll width (it sets your seam count), whether a code calls for a flame-resistant fabric, color, and which brand your fabricator stocks. And before you weigh "Sunbrella vs Dickson": both brands belong to the same company.
For why solution-dyed acrylic is the right family in the first place, see the best awning fabric for your situation.
The three data sheets side by side
Sunbrella's figures are from Glen Raven's technical data sheet for Sunbrella Awning/Marine 46 (revised January 2014). Sattler's are from its flyer for Lumera 3D Surface (version 1.0, December 2017), a collection Sailrite sells in 47 inch rolls. Dickson's are from its Orchestra product page and the Trivantage listing for Orchestra in the US width.
| Property | Sunbrella Awning/Marine 46 | Sattler Lumera 3D Surface | Dickson Orchestra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber | 100% Sunbrella acrylic | 100% PAN (acrylic) | Sunacryl solution-dyed 100% acrylic |
| Weight | 9.00 oz/sq yd (about 305 g/m2), ASTM D3776 | 295 g/m2 (about 8.70 oz/sq yd), EN 12127 | 290 g/m2; US listing 8.55 oz/sq yd |
| Roll width | 46.0 in; also sold in 60 in | 120 cm; sold in the US as 47 in | 120 cm, US listing 47 in; Infinity range 165, 200, 250 and 320 cm |
| Strength | Break 285 lbf warp, 180 lbf filling (ASTM D5034 grab) | Tensile 140 daN warp, 135 daN weft per 5 cm (EN ISO 13934-1 strip) | Not published on the product page |
| Tear | 12 lbf warp, 8 lbf filling (ASTM D2261) | Not in the flyer | Not published |
| Water | Hydrostatic 45.0 cm (AATCC 127); spray rating 100 front and back (AATCC 22) | Water column over 500 mm (EN 20811); water repellency 100 (EN 24920) | CleanGard anti-dirt and waterproofing treatment; no figure published |
| Lightfastness | Gray scale grade 4 at 2,200 kJ (AATCC 169); grade 4/5 at 1,500 kJ (SAE J1960) | Blue wool minimum 7/8 (EN ISO 105-B02); weather fastness minimum 7/8 and 4-5/5 (EN ISO 105-B04) | Not published; page states 90 to 100% UV blocking depending on color |
| Standards and labels | Meets California TB 117-2013 Class 1 | EN 13561 declaration of conformity; ISO 14001 and OEKO-TEX | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
| PFAS | Glen Raven moved all production to non-PFAS by the end of 2023 | All production PFAS-free from October 1, 2023 | Non-PFAS; transition completed by 2025 |
| Flame-resistant sibling | Sunbrella Exceed FR, 60 in, 100% modacrylic, NFPA 701 | None in acrylic found in the documents checked | None found on the Orchestra page |
| Warranty | 10-year limited | 10-year | 10-year |
| US roll | 60 yd standard pack | Cut yardage at US retailers | 65 yd full rolls |
The weights span 290 to 305 g/m2, a gap of about 5%. Sattler prints a tolerance of plus or minus 5% on its own nominal values, so the spread across three brands is about the variation one brand allows itself.
Dickson and Sunbrella are the same company
Dickson-Constant states that Dickson joined Glen Raven, the North Carolina group that makes Sunbrella, in 1998, and that Dickson fabrics are woven in Wasquehal, in northern France. A dealer framing the choice as Sunbrella against Dickson is offering two product lines from one owner. Sattler Sun-Tex is the third maker here, and it publishes its data in the European EN format.
Why the strength figures cannot be ranked
This is where most online comparisons go wrong. Sattler reports tensile strength by EN ISO 13934-1, the strip method, in decanewtons per 5 cm. Sunbrella reports breaking strength by ASTM D5034, the grab test, in pounds of force. The arithmetic is easy and misleading: 140 daN is 1,400 newtons, about 315 lbf, which looks higher than Sunbrella's 285. But the two tests load the specimen differently, so the same fabric gives a different number on each, and neither maker publishes a result by the other's method. A page calling one fabric "stronger" from these two figures has compared two different measurements.
What each sheet does show on its own terms is balance. Sattler's weft is 135 against a warp of 140, about 96%. Sunbrella's filling is 180 against 285, about 63%, and its sheet shows why: 76 warp ends per inch against 36 picks. That is a property of the weave, not a defect. Dickson publishes no strength figure on its Orchestra page, so it cannot be placed here at all.
Note: Awning fabric rarely fails by snapping. It fails at seams, at the front bar and where ponding water stretches it, so thread, seam construction and pitch matter more than a strength figure. See replacing awning fabric for how covers are built.
Water and fading: different scales again
Sunbrella's hydrostatic result is 45.0 cm of water, about 450 mm; Sattler's water column is over 500 mm. Both are hydrostatic pressure tests, but different methods (AATCC 127 and EN 20811), so a 50 mm gap is not a ranking. Both score 100, the top rating, on their spray tests. The practical reading is the same: a pitched woven acrylic sheds rain, and none of the three is a waterproof cover. See waterproof vs water-resistant awnings, and acrylic vs polyester vs vinyl for fabrics that are.
Lightfastness uses two scales entirely. Sattler's minimum 7/8 is on the ISO 105-B02 blue wool scale, which runs from 1 to 8. Sunbrella's grade 4 and 4/5 are on the gray scale, from 5 (no change) down to 1, after a stated dose of light energy. A Sattler 7 and a Sunbrella 4 are not positions on one ruler. All three are solution-dyed, which is what matters most for color life (see solution-dyed vs piece-dyed fabric); the fading guide explains both scales.
PFAS-free finishes, and the old oil figures
Glen Raven announced in March 2023 that all production would move to non-PFAS by the end of that year, with Sunbrella keeping its durability, color and strength but with reduced oil repellency; it launched an oil-based stain remover, Sunbrella Extract, alongside. Sattler says all its production has been PFAS-free since October 1, 2023, with the same stain and water repellency except oil repellency. Dickson lists Orchestra as non-PFAS, with the transition completed by 2025.
That matters when reading data sheets. Sunbrella's 2014 sheet shows oil repellency grade 5 (AATCC 118), and Sattler's 2017 flyer advertises oil and dirt repellency. Both predate the change. Over a grill or a spot that catches sunscreen and cooking residue, plan on cleaning oily marks promptly whichever brand you choose (see how to clean an awning).
Width and seams: the difference you can see
On a retractable, fabric widths are sewn side by side across the awning, and each seam is a line that can show, wick and wear. Allowing about 1 inch per joining edge, as our replacement guide does, 46 inch fabric gives roughly 44 usable inches per panel and 47 inch fabric about 45.
Worked example
12 ft awning (144 in): 46 inch Sunbrella needs 144 / 44 = 3.3, so 4 panels and 3 seams. 47 inch Sattler or Dickson needs 144 / 45 = 3.2, also 4 panels and 3 seams.
11 ft 3 in awning (135 in): 3 panels of 46 inch fabric cover 3 x 44 = 132 in, so it needs a fourth panel and a third seam. 3 panels of 47 inch cover 3 x 45 = 135 in: 2 seams.
60 inch Sunbrella on the 12 ft awning: about 58 usable inches, 144 / 58 = 2.5, so 3 panels and 2 seams.
The extra inch saves a seam only in narrow bands, about 133 to 135 in, 177 to 180 in and 221 to 225 in of canopy width. The bigger lever is a wide roll: Sunbrella's 60 inch fabric, or Dickson's Infinity widths of 165 to 320 cm. Ask your fabricator which wide-width colors they can order.
Flame-resistant versions
Where a code calls for NFPA 701, standard acrylic is out whichever brand it carries. The flame-resistant fabric we could verify among the three is Sunbrella Exceed FR: 60 inches, 9.82 oz per square yard, 100% modacrylic rather than acrylic, listed as compliant with NFPA 701 (TM1 and TM2), California Title 19, NFPA 705 and ASTM E84, and non-PFAS. Its warranty is 5 years, half that of the standard acrylic. Neither the Sattler flyer nor Dickson's Orchestra page lists an FR version. See commercial awning codes and fire ratings for which jobs need one.
Why "Sattler is the technical choice" keeps circulating
Sattler's documents are written for European awning manufacturers: strength per 5 cm, a blue wool grade, weather fastness, a declaration under EN 13561 (the European standard for external blinds and awnings) and a stated tolerance. Beside a US retail listing giving width, weight and warranty, that reads as more technical. But Glen Raven's own Sunbrella sheet carries more than a dozen test results, under ASTM and AATCC methods instead of EN ones. The difference is the test system, not the engineering, and no figure on either sheet shows one fabric outperforming the other. The reverse claim, that Sunbrella wins because it is the best-known name, has the same flaw: recognition reflects US distribution, not a data sheet advantage. Our Sunbrella awning fabric profile covers that brand's care rules.
How to choose
- You need NFPA 701: Sunbrella Exceed FR or another certified FR fabric.
- Your canopy is wide and seams bother you: price a 60 inch Sunbrella or a Dickson Infinity width, and count panels as above.
- You are matching an existing awning or valance: stay with the brand and color already on it; colors are not matched across brands.
- None of the above: choose the color you like from what your fabricator stocks.
All three warranties run 10 years, but read the terms, and remember a fabric warranty does not cover sewing or the frame (see awning warranties).
Bottom line: Sunbrella, Sattler and Dickson make equivalent solution-dyed acrylic awning fabrics: within about 5% on weight, 10-year warranties, PFAS-free finishes, and strength and fade figures that cannot be ranked because they come from different tests. Choose on width and seam count, an FR requirement, color match and your fabricator's stock.
Where this comparison stops
Figures are per product: Sattler's are for Lumera 3D Surface and Sunbrella's for the 46 inch awning/marine line, not Sunbrella Plus or upholstery. Both documents predate the PFAS-free finishes, so trust their fiber and weave figures more than their oil repellency. Dickson's page gives no strength, water or lightfastness figure, so ask a dealer for its full technical sheet if you need those.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sattler better than Sunbrella?
Not on any figure the two publish in comparable form. Both are 100% solution-dyed acrylic, about 295 and 305 g/m2, with 10-year warranties and PFAS-free finishes. Sattler's strength and lightfastness figures use EN methods and Sunbrella's use ASTM and AATCC methods, so they cannot be ranked against each other.
Is Dickson made by Sunbrella?
No, but both belong to Glen Raven, the North Carolina maker of Sunbrella, which Dickson joined in 1998. Dickson fabrics are woven in Wasquehal, France, and the two brands keep separate collections and colors.
Sources and further reading
- Glen Raven Custom Fabrics: Technical Data Sheet, Sunbrella Awning/Marine 46 (revised 1/31/2014)
- Trivantage: Sunbrella Awning/Marine #4604-0000 46 in, Sunbrella Awning/Marine 60 in and Sunbrella Exceed FR #8752-0060 60 in
- Sattler Sun-Tex: Lumera 3D Surface flyer (version 1.0, 12.2017)
- Sailrite: Sattler Lumera 3D Zinc Surface 47 in awning fabric (385 802)
- Furniture Today: As of October, this textile supplier is now PFAS-free (Sattler)
- Dickson-Constant: Orchestra awning fabrics and Who we are
- Trivantage: Dickson Orchestra Awning 47 in
- Specialty Fabrics Review: Glen Raven phases out PFAS chemicals (March 2023)
How we write our guides: figures are typical US ranges checked against manufacturer documentation, published standards and installer pricing. Read our editorial standards. Spotted an error or outdated detail? Request a correction.