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Quick answer
Shading percentage is how much sunlight a net blocks. For people — rooftops, terraces, car parking and shop fronts — choose 85–95%. For nurseries and most plants choose 35–75%, depending on how much sun the crop likes. Beige and white reflect more heat; green and black are the usual choice for plants. Shade net is not waterproof: rain passes through it.
Key takeaways
- The percentage is the share of sunlight blocked: a 90% net lets about 10% through.
- People spaces: 85–95%. Plants: usually 35–75%.
- Beige, white and blue/white reflect more heat; green and black suit gardens and nurseries.
- Shade net lets wind and rain through — good for big spans, but it won't keep you dry.
- Tension it with rope through every eyelet and check the ties after storms.
What the shading percentage means
Shade net — the knitted HDPE jaali sold in rolls and ready sizes — is rated by the share of sunlight it blocks. A 50% net lets roughly half the sun through; a 90% net blocks about nine-tenths. The rating comes from how tightly the net is knitted, so higher percentages are denser, heavier and more private.
The percentage describes light, not temperature. The space under a 90% net feels much cooler than open sun, but how much cooler depends on the colour, how high the net is fixed and whether air can move underneath.
Shading percentage chart
| Shading | Light through | Best for | Common colours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35–50% | Half or more | Vegetables and flowering crops that need strong light, light nursery shade, ventilated poultry sheds | Green, black |
| 50–60% | About 40–50% | Mixed nurseries, vegetables through peak summer, hardening off seedlings | Green, black |
| 70–80% | About 20–30% | Shade-loving and indoor plants, lawns and gardens, patios that need light shade | Green, beige |
| 85–90% | About 10–15% | Rooftops, terraces, verandas, shop fronts, café seating, privacy screens | Beige, green/white, blue/white, brown/white |
| 90–95% | About 5–10% | Car parking, full-sun rooftops, courtyards used in the afternoon, strong privacy | Dark blue, black, beige |
Use this as a starting point. For a specific crop or site, ask us — we'll suggest a grade.
Choosing a colour
- Beige, sand and white
- Reflect more sunlight, so the net itself stays cooler and the space under it feels brighter. A popular choice for homes, cafés and rooftops.
- Two-tone (blue/white, green/white, brown/white)
- A reflective light stripe paired with a darker colour. Common on rooftops and car porches, and good at hiding dust.
- Green
- Blends with gardens and is the standard for nurseries and farms, giving plants soft, even shade.
- Black
- Warms up itself but gives deep, even shade and changes the colour of the light least — widely used on farms and over parking.
- Dark blue
- Deep shade with a cooler look; usually chosen at 90–95% for parking and rooftops.
Recommendations by place
| Where | Shading | Colour | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| House rooftop or terrace | 85–95% | Beige, blue/white or green/white | Fix it high enough for hot air to escape above head height |
| Car porch or parking | 90–95% | Dark blue, black or beige | Give it a slight slope and use strong rope or wire |
| Courtyard or lawn | 70–85% | Green or beige | Leave some light for grass and plants |
| Nursery | 35–75% | Green or black | Match the grade to the plants; many nurseries use two |
| Vegetable farm or greenhouse | 35–50% | Green or black | Fit over the film in peak summer to cut heat |
| Shop front or veranda | 85–90% | Beige or two-tone | For daily open and close, consider sliding curtains |
Rain, wind and what shade net can't do
Shade net is porous. That is its strength — wind passes through, so a large rooftop net puts far less load on its fixings than a solid sheet would — and its limit: rain passes through too.
Installation tips
- Measure between your fixing points, not across the floor — see our measuring guide.
- Order the net a little smaller than the gap between fixings, so the ropes can pull it taut.
- Tie through every eyelet (commonly every 3 ft), not just the corners, to spread the load.
- Use UV-resistant rope or steel wire on rooftop spans; ordinary cotton rope weakens in the sun.
- Knitted net can be cut without unravelling, but hemmed and eyeleted edges hold ropes far better.
- Check the ties and re-tension after storms and strong winds.
Written by the team at Marfani Enterprises, Jodia Bazaar, Karachi. Figures are typical ranges for guidance — ask us about your exact job. Updated 27 September 2026.
