The Best Motorhome And Campervan Awnings For 2026

Before you invest in an awning, you need to think about how you travel and what you actually need an awning for. This will help you choose the type of awning to buy.

Will you be using it as an extra bedroom, or storage for outdoor gear, or just as a relaxing space? Do you move every few days and need something quick and easy to put up? Or are you likely to land on a destination, and set up camp for a week or two?

Once you have answered these basics then it is time to consider what type you need. There are two main types of awning: pull-out cassette awnings and driveaway awnings.

Keep reading for our recommended awnings!

Driveaway awnings are available in either poled (fibreglass or steel) or inflatable versions. Generally, inflatable awnings are considered quicker and easier to pitch, and that is certainly the case if you use a 12V compressor, rather than a hand pump, to do all the hard work. But poled awnings are cheaper, lighter and have a smaller packed size, and with a bit of practice can be pitched just as quickly as inflatable versions.

Remember to only use a compressor with a pressure that is no higher than the awning manufacturer allows.

Poles can break but air tubes can leak; although, in many cases, the air awning will be easier to fix in situ if you can locate the leak and use a repair kit.

Awning fabrics are a critical factor when buying. Materials used vary from lightweight, thin polyester to top-quality, solution-dyed acrylic. They can vary enormously in weight, look and feel and your choice will depend on how you’ll use the awning.

Look for fabrics that are tough, breathable and dry quickly and are protected against damaging UV light, as well as being tough enough to withstand strong winds and are both breathable and provide a degree of insulation.

Polyester is quick to dry after rain and is lightweight to handle when you’re constructing and packing it away. They’re less expensive than acrylic options but still provide good levels of waterproofness.

The next step up is polycotton – sometimes called technical cotton. This is a combination of natural and man-made fabrics and is more breathable than polyester, so creates less condensation. It’s also warmer in cold temperatures and cooler in hot weather. Finally, you have expensive, high-quality acrylic awnings, which are made to last many years. They look more taut and rigid than lighter-weight fabrics.

You will need to consider how you are going to attach the awning to your campervan or motorhome. Most manufacturers have fixing kits available as accessories but, if you are new to campervanning, ask your dealer what it recommends for your specific model.

Cassette canopy awnings are permanently fixed to the side or roof of a campervan. You can do this yourself, but before you start drilling holes in the vehicle’s bodywork, think about getting a professional to do the job. Most dealers and awning specialists provide a fitting service.

If you already have one fitted, but want something different, these can act as the attachment point for a whole host of other types of awnings. And you can get a kit that converts a 4mm channel to the necessary 6mm channel required for most driveaway awnings. If your driveaway awning isn’t compatible with your rail, you just get a keder adaptor, which are quite cheap.

If you have a steel-bodied campervan then there are magnetic strips with conversion points that fix to the roof. And if you have a rail or channel on your motorhome then you can get kits to attach the awning directly into it. This makes driving away difficult, so keder strips, or figure-of-eight attachments, come into play.

If you don’t have an awning rail on your campervan, you can attach guylines to the loops and peg down on the other side of the campervan but this involves trying to get the guyropes over the vehicle and, on bigger models or campervans with pop-up roofs, this could prove difficult.

Most driveaway models will come with a tunnel that connects the main body of the awning to the camper. Some have a side door located in the tunnel, meaning you don’t have to walk through the awning to gain access to the vehicle, and this also means the tunnel could be used to store outdoor kit, bikes and muddy boots.

Once you have decided which awning is right for you, there are the extras to consider:

• Have a selection of pegs to use in the different types of ground. While the metal pegs that are usually supplied with an awning are good enough for normal grassy pitches, you can buy pegs that are specially designed for hardstandings, sandy ground and very soft conditions
• Breathable membranes for floors are also easily available
• Many tent and awning manufacturers make lighting that has its own neat attachment points and most will use low-energy LEDs
• Electric awning heaters will take the chill out of the air in the cooler months
• Roof liners can add extra insulation, plus, you can get floor liners and carpets for underfoot
• Inner bedroom tents and annexes are also available to make the extra space work better for you and your needs

Awnings come in all shapes and sizes, and not all are created equally – that's why it's essential to do your research. Here, we've selected our favourite awnings for different circumstances and vehicle types, so you can find the most appropriate awning for your specific needs and wants.