If you want to boost the curb appeal of your backyard or garden, a pergola is one of the most versatile structural garden features.
It can serve as a walkway and relaxation area, enhancing various natural and artificial decorations. But picking the type and size can be overwhelming if you don’t understand the various market offers.
What Is A Pergola?
A pergola is one of the most popular outdoor structures. It falls in the same category as arbors, gazebos, trellises, and other structures used primarily for beautification purposes.
What makes it different is mainly the design. A pergola features columns that support an open-top roof consisting of rafters or a beam grid.
It’s almost always open-sided but can be either freestanding or connected to the house. Unlike other landscaping structures, a pergola tends to be larger, more architecturally complex and can add extra functionality to a specific area by offering cover from the elements.
How Much Does A Pergola Cost?
Your best bet would be a prefab pergola if you’re trying to save money. These are pre-made constructions that a team of pros – or yourself – can install.
The downside is that you have little control over the materials used, dimensions, and extra features.
The advantage is that prefab pergolas can cost as little as $1,000.
If you want more premium characteristics, the cost can go up to $7,000 or even higher.
Custom pergolas can be affordable or very expensive. A small but custom-built pergola might cost you $1,500 to $2,000.
However, if you want premium materials, automation, and personalized dimensions, you could pay upwards of $13,000.
Labor costs can range from $1,800 to $11,000 for pergola between 8 feet x 8 feet and 20 feet x 20 feet.
See the table below for detailed break down of pergola costs.
| Materials | Material Cost per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Pine | $18 to $28 |
| Cedar | $22 to $35 |
| Redwood | $40 to $60 |
| Teak | $50 to $65 |
| Vinyl | $10 to $20 |
| Aluminum | $10 to $25 |
| Fiberglass | $60+ |
| Roof Type | Installation Cost per Square Foot |
| Louvered Roof | $30 to $50 |
| Manual Retractable Roofs | $20 to $30 |
| Smart Roof | $55 to $60 |
| Construction Method | Average Installation Cost |
| Prefab Pergola | $1,000 to $7,000+ |
| Custom Pergola | $1,500 to $13,000+ |
Factors That Affect Pergola Cost
Five key elements contribute to the average cost of a pergola:
Materials Prices
Pergolas can be made of anything from vinyl to wood to steel. This is one of the reasons the average installation cost varies by almost $10,000.
Size
Every company will have its own pricing structure but, generally speaking, the size of the pergola will lower or increase the cost of materials, labor, and other factors.
Roofing
As previously explained, the type of roof can also impact the overall cost. Permanent roofs tend to be cheaper than retractable ones, with smart roofs topping the pricing chart. Open roofs, while not advisable for every climate, are the cheapest.
Installation
This can be one of the biggest determiners of price. If you hire a professional team to build and install a pergola, the cost can go up by $1,000.
If the design, size, and terrain conditions increase the installation difficulty, the price can skyrocket.
Building your own pergola will be considerably cheaper. However, these structures should be built to last. So, the result may not turn out great without good woodworking skills and an eye for aesthetics.
Construction Method
Depending on whether you are building a simple or fancy custom made pergola or prefabricated one, your costs will vary accordingly.
Did You Know? Most pergolas won’t require a foundation. If one is necessary, the installers will inform you of this and adjust the cost accordingly. Foundations and footers incur much higher installation costs.
Pergola Materials Prices
Some of the most popular materials used for pergolas include the following:
Pine; Cedar; Redwood; Teak; Vinyl; Aluminum; Fiberglass
Let’s go over each one.
Pine Pergola
A pine pergola is made from pressure-treated pine wood. This is a popular woodworking material which makes this type of pergola one of the most affordable.
Pine is known for its inherent resistance to insect damage and rot. However, it’s also softwood. Therefore, it’s not the most durable choice.
Over time, pine will crack and split no matter how much you take care of it. Furthermore, specific maintenance, including sanding and staining, is mandatory to preserve its aesthetic appeal and longevity.
A pine pergola can cost anywhere from $18 to $28, or slightly more, depending on various factors.
Cedar Pergola
Cedar is often dubbed one of the best materials for pergolas. It’s a strong wood with good natural rot resistance.
In addition, it benefits from staining and can be used to create gorgeous designs. Unlike pine, cedar responds much better to carving.
If you choose cedar, you can expect to pay between $22 and $35 per square foot.
Redwood Pergola
Using redwood to build a pergola is another smart choice. Redwood has impressive durability, great rot resistance, and isn’t susceptible to insect damage.
While similar to cedar in many ways, redwood responds better to extreme weather. That said, the extra durability and longevity come with a premium price tag.
The premium price tag can start as low as $40 per square foot.
Teak
Teak is a stunning woodworking material and can take a simple pergola from average-looking to luxurious. It also has superior endurance, lasting around four times longer than pine and other wood types.
However, pricing is on par with the premium aesthetics and longevity.
Similar to redwood, teak doesn’t come cheap. You can expect a price tag of at least $50 per square foot.
Vinyl Pergola
Not all pergolas are made of wood. Many homeowners opt for vinyl pergolas due to their affordability. Moreover, vinyl doesn’t fade, and chipping is less of an issue than with wooden materials.
The maintenance costs and requirements are fairly low. Where vinyl doesn’t surpass other materials is longevity and aesthetics.
Vinyl tends to cost at least $10 per square foot. But certain characteristics and design requirements can push the price upwards from $20-$25.
Aluminum Pergola
Aluminum might be harder to dress up and decorate to achieve the same visual impact as most wooden pergolas.
However, it probably offers the best balance of affordability and durability. Aluminum doesn’t fade and is pretty strong.
It’s also low maintenance and has no trouble handling extreme weather conditions.
This affordable option can cost as little as $10 per square foot, which is on par with vinyl. It can also go higher depending on various factors.
Fiberglass Pergola
A fiberglass pergola won’t look nearly as gorgeous as a wooden freestanding fixture. But there’s no denying that fiberglass is a super-strong material.
In addition, it’s lightweight and easy to use.
Thanks to its properties, fiberglass is the ideal choice for creating more aerated pergolas and ditching crowded support beam configurations.
You can also combine it with light fixtures, heating appliances, and other accessories. Unfortunately, a good fiberglass pergola is likely the most expensive option.
Typically, the cost of fiberglass per square foot is over $60.
Pergola Maintenance Costs
Pergolas can be easy to maintain if you pick the right material for your area. But wooden pergolas often need substantial maintenance and care, especially if sealing and staining are required.
You could pay anywhere from $4 to $6 to stain one square foot of wood. The more susceptible to moisture it is, the more you might have to invest in staining to increase the longevity of the pergola.
Sealing will result in additional maintenance costs when picking wood without a natural resistance to rot and insects like cedar and redwood.
Did you know? Cedar has unique natural resins that make it very desirable for outdoor furniture.
Even if left untreated, it’s still one of the best materials to weather storms and prevents rotting and termite infestations.
But because of its soft nature, it’s actually brittle and a poor choice for holding screws and heavy fixtures.
Designing A Pergola
The great thing about having a pergola is that you’re not restricted to specific designs or sizes. You can install or build one that looks any way you want so long as you have the space and budget to match your ideal design.
With that in mind, the majority of pergolas have a simple square or rectangular design. They’re easier to build and arguably much more structurally sound.
But once you pick your material and decide on the dimensions, you’ll have to consider additional pergola costs.
Pergola Pros
Let’s look at some of the benefits of installing a pergola in your yard.
Pro No. 1 – On-Demand Cover
The biggest benefit is that pergolas can offer shade and cover from the rain when equipped with the right features. Thus, they allow you to spend more time in the garden year-round.
When combined with heating fixtures, even winter weather can be more bearable in a pergola.
Pro No. 2 – Curb Appeal
Most homeowners want functional pergolas. But an artistically designed pergola can enhance your landscaping by adding some definition and carefully calculated shade to various plants.
Pro No. 3 – Independent Structures
Unlike other outdoor structures such as a deck, pergolas can be built anywhere. Therefore, they can be detached from the house and allow for multiple placement options.
Pro No. 4 – Variety and Affordability
Pergolas can be constructed from a wide range of materials. In addition, the construction costs are cheaper when compared to gazebos, making them an option viable for any budget.
Pro No. 5 – Extended Warranties
A professionally installed pergola, whether custom or prefab, can carry a warranty of up to 10 years or longer, depending on the materials used.
Pergola Cons
Not every pergola characteristic will be appealing to homeowners.
Con No. 1 – Limited Shade
Pergolas offer significantly less shade than pavilions and gazebos in their purest form. Thus, if creating shade is a primary concern, the installation, design, labor, and material costs can add up a lot.
Con No. 2 – Limited Native Wind Protection
A pergola will offer little to no wind cover without substantial modifications or enhancements. It’s not the most suitable choice for garden beautification in windy areas.
Con No 3 – Not for Everyone
If you’re planning on selling a house with a pergola on the property, potential buyers can have mixed feelings.
Those who won’t appreciate the design might want a discount on the grounds of having to remove the pergola after buying the property.
Pergola Roof Styles
Building a pergola requires homeowners to decide on style and features as much as materials and size.
You can always opt for the simplest design, but some pergolas can be more aesthetically pleasing and offer more functionality than others.
The cheapest option will always be the open-top pergola. But these aren’t as practical if you want more than to add some definition to your garden.
Louvered Roofs
A pergola with an automatic louvered roof uses a motorized system to retract the roof. Homeowners usually control it using a remote.
This allows extra sun and ventilation during warm seasons while providing quick cover when the weather goes bad.
It can cost up to $50 per square foot to implement an automatic louvered pergola in your garden.
Manual Retractable Roofs
You can ditch the automation and opt for a manually retractable roof if you want a cheaper option. Opening and closing the top shouldn’t require much physical effort, and you can still allow or block as much sun as you wish.
The installation costs for this kind of freestanding garden feature can go as low as $20 per square foot.
Smart Pergola
While many homeowners focus on indoor smart home features, they often forget that smart features can be used outdoors as well for added convenience.
Smart pergolas may implement rain sensors that automatically close the roof. They can even be programmed to open the roof during specific hours or conditions.
Of course, most smart pergola setups allow homeowners to control everything via an app.
You can expect to pay at least $55 to $60 per square foot for this type of installation.
Did you know? The national average cost of a pergola is around $4,000 when factoring everything from dimensions to custom builds, materials, and extra features.
But homeowners can pay as little as $1,000 or upwards of $15,000 for high-end structures.
Pergolas vs. Gazebos
Both pergolas and gazebos are outdoor structures that can enhance the landscape while adding extra functionality and comfort for the homeowner.
But the two styles have very different structural characteristics. A pergola typically starts without a roof, floor, and walls.
In contrast, gazebos always have a floor and roof combination. In addition, a gazebo often features a clearly outlined entrance with the rest of its sides at least partially enclosed.
The structural and design differences make gazebos more suitable for all weather conditions. A pergola can be just as comfortable in extreme weather but only when modified to provide extra cover.
That type of customization work can bring the total cost of a pergola close to that of a gazebo.
In terms of pricing, gazebos are significantly more expensive. They require more materials, labor, and sometimes a foundation for better structural integrity.
Will A Pergola Increase My Home’s Value?
Pergolas don’t necessarily add value unless designed as functional recreational areas. However, since they can improve the curb appeal and add more to the landscaping, potential buyers might find a homestead more attractive with a pergola in place.
Thus, they could be willing to pay extra.
Do Pergolas Block Sun and Rain?
Pergolas can offer shade and cover only if they feature a roof. At a minimum, closely-spaced slats and vines can help create some cover on open-top pergolas.
What Can You Hang On A Pergola?
You can decorate a pergola with many outdoor fixtures. But the weight of your decorations should account for the material’s strength.
Many homeowners use various climbing vines to add detail to the landscaping. Shade sails can also work for aesthetic purposes and extra comfort.
Is It Cheaper To Buy Or Build A Pergola?
You can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars with a DIY pergola construction. However, a professional installation can give you more peace of mind regarding structural integrity. Professional jobs may also come with extended warranties
What Should I Look For When Buying a Pergola?
Each homeowner has specific preferences and needs when it comes to a pergola’s size, style, design, etc. But one of the most important things to look at is the material quality, as it directly dictates the structure’s longevity, durability, and cost.
Did you know? Because pergolas aren’t livable structures or have walls, most homeowners assume they can build them wherever they want on their land.
But some municipalities may require you to get a permit before breaking ground on a pergola project. Due diligence is essential to avoid fines and other complications.
Pros And Cons Summary
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| On-demand cover | Limited shade |
| Landscape beautification | Not to everyone’s taste |
| Independent structures | Limited native wind protection |
| Variety and affordability | |
| Extended warranties |
Is A Pergola The Right Addition For Your Backyard?
From a budget perspective, a pergola is the most versatile and affordable freestanding garden feature you can add to enhance your landscape and create a comfortable relaxation area.
The installation isn’t too complicated when dealing with simple designs, so you can even take on this project yourself and save even more money.
In terms of functionality, the sky’s the limit. While most pergolas are open-sided, open-top structures, you can customize them to your heart’s desire. You can add a roof, enclose the sides, and install lighting, ventilation, and heating.
You can make them as basic or lavish as you want, whatever your budget allows it. Due to their design, pergolas tend to incur more substantial modification and enhancement costs than a gazebo.
But if you don’t have the biggest yard or you don’t need too much shade, a pergola is a well-balanced garden element.
