How much does a pergola cost?

10×10 cedar with open lattice roof: $2,800-4,500. 12×16 cedar with louvered manual roof: $5,500-9,500. 14×16 aluminum with motorized louvered roof: $14,000-22,000. 12×12 PT pine no-roof: $1,800-3,200. National-average pricing — multiply by 0.92× South or 1.28× West Coast.

Cedar vs aluminum — which is better?

Cedar: traditional look, 25-yr lifespan, requires annual stain (~$0.45/sqft/yr), $50-80/sqft installed. Aluminum: modern look, 50-yr lifespan, zero maintenance, $80-130/sqft installed. Cedar is cheaper upfront; aluminum is cheaper over 25-yr TCO. Pick cedar for traditional aesthetics, aluminum for low-maintenance modern look.

Do I need a permit for a pergola?

Depends on your jurisdiction. IRC 2021 doesn't have a specific pergola section, but most AHJs require a permit for any structure > 200 sqft, > 8 ft tall, or attached to the house. Detached freestanding pergolas under 200 sqft are often permit-exempt. Always call your local building department before starting.

Open-lattice vs louvered roof — which is better?

Open-lattice: ~$3/sqft, traditional look, 30% partial shade at noon, NO rain protection. Louvered manual: $38/sqft installed, adjustable shade, rain protection when closed, $1,500-2,500 upgrade. Louvered motorized: $95/sqft installed, premium, rain sensor option, requires electrician. Lattice is the budget choice; motorized is the luxury choice.

How long do pergolas last?

Cedar 25 years, PT pine 20 years (with annual maintenance), aluminum 50 years, vinyl 30 years, composite-veneer 35 years. Real-world variables: full sun shortens cedar/PT lifespan; salt-air shortens aluminum (use 316SS hardware near the coast); shaded north-facing pergolas extend lifespan by 2-5 years.

Can I attach a pergola to my house?

Yes — house-attached pergolas use 2 corner posts + a ledger bolted to the house wall (replacing 2 of the 4 posts). Saves ~30% on post + footing cost. Same code requirements as decks: ledger needs proper flashing, lateral-load anchors (Simpson DTT2Z), and 1/2″ × 5″ lag bolts at 16″ o.c. staggered.

What's the cheapest way to build a pergola?

Pressure-treated pine, 4 posts, no roof (just posts + girders + rafters), surface-mount footings on existing slab, DIY install. A 10×10 PT pergola with no roof: $1,200-1,800 in materials. Add lattice top for ~$300 more. The cheapest brand-name aluminum kit (Shadowspec / SOJAG) starts around $2,500 for a 10×12 with canvas top.

Do pergolas add value to a home?

Yes — Remodeling Magazine's 2026 Cost vs Value report puts pergola ROI around 50-70% (recoup 50-70% of cost at sale). High-end aluminum pergolas with motorized louvers tend to recoup more (60-80%) because they appeal to luxury buyers. Cheap PT pergolas can DECREASE value if they look unmaintained — always maintain or remove.

Can I install a ceiling fan on a pergola?

Only with metal-panel or solid roof — open lattice / canvas / louvered roofs don't have a ceiling structure to mount the fan to. Use a damp-rated outdoor fan (UL listed for damp locations). Total install: $285 fan + $300-600 electrician for the new circuit (3-6 hours @ $95/hr).

How do I pick the right rafter spacing?

Cedar / PT pine: 24″ o.c. (standard residential). Aluminum: 32″ o.c. (aluminum is stiffer per pound). Vinyl: 24″ o.c. (similar to wood). Tighter spacing (12-16″ o.c.) is needed if you're hanging heavy planters or vines from the rafters. The calculator computes rafter count automatically based on material + length.

Pergola estimator · 2026 retail

Pergola Cost Calculator

Full pergola project cost: 4 corner posts (or 2 + house wall), 2 main girders, 4-12 cross rafters, optional roof (open lattice / louvered manual or motorized / canvas / metal panel). 5 materials × 6 roof styles × all 50 states.

2026-Q1 retail5 materials6 roof stylesPlan-view diagramHouse-attached or freestandingAll 50 states

5·Materials

6·Roof styles

$/sqft·Live update

<2s·Live calc

Inputs

Dimensions

Lengthft

Widthft

Post heightft (8-10 typical, 12-14 vaulted)

Area · 192 sq ft

Material5 options · 2026-Q1 retail

Roof style$8/sqft installed · no rain

Attachment4 corner posts

Footing$175/footing · Sonotube + concrete (frost line)

Standard residential — 12″ sonotube buried below frost line, post anchor in wet concrete.

State2-letter

Accessories

Selected: Western Red Cedar, Open lattice (wood).

Pergola · Western Red Cedar·Northeast

$6,445 – $8,460$34–$44 /sq ft installed

16'×12' · 9 ft posts25-yr lifeOpen / partial shade

Posts

36 lf @ 9 ft each

Girders

34 lf total

Rafters

126 lf total

Roof area

Open lattice (wood)

Plan-view layout

Top-down diagram showing posts, girders, and rafter spacing.

16′ × 12′ · freestanding

Project advisories

Western Red Cedar · 25-yr lifespan

Manufacturer data

Premium-look natural wood — weathers to silver-gray, stainable, mid-life span. Maintenance ~$0.45/sqft/yr.

Roof: Open lattice (wood)

Manufacturer specs

Wood lattice top — partial shade, traditional pergola look, no rain protection. For full rain protection, switch to louvered manual/motorized or metal panel.

Bill of materials

Item

Qty

Total

Footings — Sonotube + concrete (frost line)

4 footings × $175 each (concrete + post anchor)

4.0 footing

$700

Footings — Sonotube + concrete (frost line)

4 footings × $175 each (concrete + post anchor)

4.0 footing

—

$700

Lattice top (1×2 strips)

192 sqft of lattice covering — adds 30% partial shade at noon

192 sqft

$576

Lattice top (1×2 strips)

192 sqft of lattice covering — adds 30% partial shade at noon

192 sqft

—

$576

Western Red Cedar 2×6 rafters (cross beams)

9 rafters × 14 ft (incl. 12″ overhang each end) at 24″ o.c. = 126 lf

Home Depot Lowe’s

9.0 rafter

$529

Western Red Cedar 2×6 rafters (cross beams)

9 rafters × 14 ft (incl. 12″ overhang each end) at 24″ o.c. = 126 lf

Home Depot Lowe’s

9.0 rafter

—

$529

Western Red Cedar 6×6 posts

4 posts × 9 ft height = 36 lf

Home Depot Lowe’s

4.0 post

$450

Western Red Cedar 6×6 posts

4 posts × 9 ft height = 36 lf

Home Depot Lowe’s

4.0 post

—

$450

Western Red Cedar 4×6 girders (main beams)

2 × 17 ft (incl. 6″ overhang each end) = 34 lf

Home Depot Lowe’s

2.0 girder

$289

Western Red Cedar 4×6 girders (main beams)

2 × 17 ft (incl. 6″ overhang each end) = 34 lf

Home Depot Lowe’s

2.0 girder

—

$289

Post anchors + hurricane ties + lag bolts + screws

4 ABU/PB anchors · 9 H1 ties · 2 bolt sets

15 pc

$189

Post anchors + hurricane ties + lag bolts + screws

4 ABU/PB anchors · 9 H1 ties · 2 bolt sets

15 pc

—

$189

Materials subtotal

$2,733

National-median pricing 2026-Q1 (Home Depot/Lowe's/specialty pergola dealers). Regional labor multiplier: 1.22× (Northeast).

Project all-in

Materials (posts + girders + rafters + roof + footings + hardware)

Western Red Cedar · 6 line items

$2,541 – $2,733

Labor (installed)

Northeast · 1.22× national

$3,584 – $4,638

Add-ons

Electrician (only when fan / motorized roof included)

$0 – $0

Soft costs

Permit · demo (only if included)

$320 – $320

Contingency reserve (10%)

Industry-standard cushion

$769

Project total (low – high)

Plan around the high. Get 3 contractor bids — DeckMath should land within ±15%.

$6,445 – $8,460

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Estimates use 2026-Q1 national-median pricing. Expect ±15% variance vs your local market. Pergolas may or may not require permits depending on jurisdiction — call your local building department before starting.

How to use

Three steps. Permit-ready output.

Enter dimensions + post height

Length × width in feet (typical 10×10 to 16×20). Post height 8-10 ft is standard; 12-14 ft for vaulted or oversized installs (triggers heavier framing).

Pick a material

Cedar (premium look, 25-yr life), PT pine (cheapest, needs annual stain), aluminum (maintenance-free, longest life, modern look), vinyl (white-only, low-maintenance), composite-veneered (cedar core + composite cap, premium hybrid).

Pick a roof style

No roof (posts + girders only, cheapest), open lattice (traditional partial shade), canvas (full shade, removable), louvered manual (adjustable, hand-crank, rain protection), louvered motorized (premium, remote control), metal panel (full rain protection).

Set attachment + footing

Freestanding (4 posts) or house-attached (2 posts, replaces 2 with house-wall ledger). Footing: surface mount (existing slab/deck), sonotube buried (standard, frost-line depth), or concrete pad (premium for heavy structures).

Add accessories

String / pendant lighting kit ($165), outdoor ceiling fan ($285 + electrician install). Motorized roof requires electrician for the motor circuit.

Read your project total

Materials breakdown (posts, girders, rafters, roof, footings, hardware), labor (region-adjusted), add-ons, soft costs, contingency. Plus side-elevation diagram.

How we calculate

The math, fully transparent.

The Pergola Cost Calculator estimates the full project cost for a residential pergola — 4 corner posts, 2 main girders, 4-12 cross rafters, optional roof (open lattice, louvered manual or motorized, canvas, or metal panel), footings, hardware, lighting, and labor. Pricing reflects 2026-Q1 retail across cedar, pressure-treated, aluminum, vinyl, and composite-veneered materials. Average 12×16 cedar pergola with louvered manual roof: $5,500-9,500. Same dimensions in motorized aluminum: $14,000-22,000. The calculator's BoM is permit-ready in most US jurisdictions.

IRC references

IRC 2021 R301 — Wind/seismic loading on outbuildings
IRC 2021 R403.1.4 — Footing depth + frost line
AHJ-specific — pergolas may or may not require permit (varies)

Material prices 2026-Q1 (Home Depot/Lowe's/specialty pergola dealers). Aluminum pergola pricing reflects pre-fabricated kit channels (Shadowspec / SOJAG / Sunjoy / Yardistry). Labor multipliers from RSMeans 2026-Q1.

Post count + linear feet

posts = 4 (freestanding) or 2 (attached); lf = posts × postHeightFt

Freestanding pergola has 4 corner posts; house-attached uses the wall as 2 of the 4 supports. Post lf = count × height for material order.

Girder linear feet

2 × (lengthFt + 2 × 0.5 ft overhang)

Two main girders run parallel to the long dimension, each with 6″ overhang on both ends. Total lf = 2 × (length + 1 ft).

Rafter count + linear feet

rafters = floor(length × 12 ÷ spacing) + 1; lf = rafters × (width + 2 ft overhang)

Rafter spacing depends on material: cedar/PT/vinyl 24″ o.c., aluminum 32″ o.c. Each rafter has 12″ overhang each end. A 16 ft pergola has 9 rafters at 24″ o.c.

Roof installed cost

roofArea × installedPerSqft × (0.55 materials + 0.45 labor)

Roof installed cost splits ~55% materials, ~45% labor. Open-lattice is just thin lattice strips ($3/sqft material). Metal panel + louvered systems include their own framing as part of installed cost.

Total labor

(materialLabor × area + roofLabor × roofArea) × regionMult

Material-specific $/sqft × pergola area. Cedar 18, PT 15, aluminum 25 (kit assembly), vinyl 16, composite-veneer 22. Region multiplier 0.92× South to 1.28× West Coast.

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Pergola Cost Calculator

Inputs

Plan-view layout

Project advisories

Western Red Cedar · 25-yr lifespan

Roof: Open lattice (wood)

Bill of materials

Project all-in

Building a deck instead?

Three steps. Permit-ready output.

Enter dimensions + post height

Pick a material

Pick a roof style

Set attachment + footing

Add accessories

Read your project total

The math, fully transparent.

IRC references

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