Pergolas by category
Aluminum frame and aluminum louvers. Aluminum does not rust, even where a scratch goes through the powder coat, so these hold up best near a pool, on the coast or in a wet climate. They cost more than steel and weigh less, so anchoring matters.
Galvanized, powder-coated steel, either throughout or as louvers on an aluminum frame. Steel is cheaper and stiffer, but rust starts wherever the coating chips. Touch up scratches right away and these last for years in a dry climate.
Under $1,000 you get a 10 x 10 or 10 x 12 ft kit, usually steel or an aluminum frame with steel louvers, moved by a sling, lever or crank. Fine for a sheltered patio. Check the wind rating before you buy one for an open yard.
Up to $2,000 covers most all-aluminum kits on Amazon in 10 x 12 and 12 x 16 ft, many with curtains in the box. This is where most buyers end up.
10 x 12 ft is the most common size. It shades a table for six with room to pull the chairs out, or a sectional sofa and a coffee table. Measure your patio first: the posts sit at the very corners.
12 x 16 ft gives you about 190 sq ft of shade, enough for a dining table and a lounge set under one roof. Most brands sell this size, so it is the easiest one to compare like for like.
10 x 20 ft and bigger. Big spans need three or four louver zones and stiffer beams, so look at the wind rating and the beam size before the price.
A wall-mounted pergola has posts on one side and fixes to the house on the other. You lose two posts in the way of the patio door, but you need a solid wall or a ledger board, and in many towns a permit.
A motor turns the louvers from a remote or a switch. Handy on a big roof, and some close on their own when a rain sensor trips. You need an outdoor outlet nearby, and the price jumps.
These come with side curtains, shade screens or mosquito netting in the box. Bought separately, a set for all four sides often costs $200 to $400.
A built-in LED strip lets you use the pergola after dark without stringing lights. Check how it is powered: solar, USB battery or a plug.
White stays cooler in direct sun and suits a light house or a modern patio. It shows dirt faster than gray or charcoal, so plan on a wash once or twice a year.
Every model here carries a maker wind rating of 72 mph or more. That figure only holds when you anchor the posts the way the manual says, usually into concrete with expansion bolts. Close the louvers flat before a storm.
These models are not on Amazon. You buy them on the maker's own site, which usually means a longer written warranty and published wind and snow ratings, at a higher price.