Build a Pergola in Your Backyard with One of These 16 Free Plans (2024)

FAQs

Is it cheaper to build a pergola or buy one? ›

It's cheaper to buy a DIY pergola kit. These kits cost between $1,000 and $2,500 on average, and you won't have to pay for labor. However, you're limited to specific designs and sizes; a more customized pergola designed for your home's unique landscape may look and function better (and have a higher ROI).

10×10 Pergola

This pergola is the right size if you are looking to cover a small sitting area with 2 outdoor chairs. A 10×10 pergola also works well as a grill canopy or as the centerpiece of a backyard garden.

Small Decks and Patios

If you have a small deck or patio that you want to add a pergola to, you can choose a 10 x 10, 10 x 12, or a 10 x 14 pergola. The largest pergola you should choose for a small patio or deck is a 12 x 12.

It costs $3,780 to build a 12×12 wooden pergola and about $5,270 for a vinyl one. So for a high-end 12×12 pergola, you are looking at around $3,500 to $5,500.

How much does a 10x10 pergola cost? The cost of a 10x10 pergola can vary widely depending on factors such as the materials used, design complexity, and labor costs. However, on average, a basic 10x10 pergola made from pressure-treated wood or vinyl can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000.

Other types of footing can be used depending on the pergola material. You need no concrete if the pergola is made from light materials, like aluminium or wood, and on a levelled surface. However, a pergola made from heavy materials or installed on an unlevelled surface needs a concrete footing.

In the eyes of the council planning team a pergola is seen as a temporary structure. Therefore, it does not require planning permission, provided it is less than 2.5m in height and doesn't occupy more than 50% of the outdoor space available.

Pergolas are a great backyard addition, and we field a lot of questions about the best lumber to use when building this type of outdoor structure. Our top two recommendations are always the same: western red cedar or Douglas fir.

The golden ratio for a pergola can be different depending on what you like and how you want your pergola to look. But, like, a good rule of thumb is to make the length-to-width ratio of your pergola 1:1.618. This ratio can make things look good and fit in well with the environment around it.

How tall is too tall for a pergola? ›

There is no hard-and-fast rule for the correct pergola height, but there are some guidelines that we tend to follow. Most pergolas tend to stand at 8 to 12 feet tall, though this doesn't have to be the case for every project.

Take a look at these average costs of pergolas made with pressure-treated lumber and shop now: 10X12 pressure-treated wood pergola: around $1,700. 10X16 pressure-treated wood pergola: around $2,000. 16X32 pressure-treated wood pergola: around $5,000.

A Pergola Main Beam is produced from 47 x 125mm or 47 x 150mm timber depending on the span. 47 x 100 timber also available for smaller pergola spans. These are generally 'S' shaped at both ends in our workshops (included in price) or can be left square for you to shape during assembly.

Even if your yard is small, a pergola custom-designed for your space can add a luxurious feel to an otherwise dull area. Pergolas come in different shapes and sizes; therefore, no yard is too small to have a pergola.

Spacing for the rafters could be anything from 450 mm to 1000 mm, depending on the calibre of timber you choose to span the gap of the pergola. The smaller the timber, the smaller the gap between the rafters needs to be.

A prefabricated pergola costs $1,450 to $5,750 installed on average or $10 to $40 per square foot. The cost to build a custom pergola is $30 to $65 per square foot installed. DIY pergola kit prices are $700 to $4,000. Pergola installation labor costs $50 to $120 per hour.

While there are many caveats, in short, the answer is yes. A pergola has the potential to add value to your home, with many estimates putting the return on investment at somewhere around 50% to 80%. That makes pergolas one of the more valuable additions homeowners can put on their homes.

Do you want a cozy outdoor living space? Expect to pay $2,100 to $6,000 for a professionally installed pergola. The average cost of a pergola is $4,000, but they can cost as little as $1,050 and as much as $11,000. The total cost depends on several factors, including size, material, and features.

Outdoor furniture under a pergola is susceptible to sun damage, and the pergola structure itself can fade over time and take a beating during storms and harsh winters. Bad weather will most likely limit the amount of time you're able to use a pergola.