Pergola guides

Where our data comes from, how the 0 to 10 score works and what we do not do: we have not built or tested any of these pergolas ourselves.

Size, aluminum or steel, wind rating, how the louvers turn, drainage and warranty. What matters when you pick a louvered pergola, and what does not.

All aluminum, steel, or an aluminum frame with steel louvers. The real differences in rust, strength, weight and price.

What a maker's wind rating on a louvered pergola means, why it depends on anchoring, and which models publish one.

10 x 10, 10 x 12, 12 x 16 or 10 x 20 ft: what furniture fits under each size, and how to measure your patio.

When towns and HOAs ask for a permit or approval for a pergola, and what to check before you order.

Concrete slab, footings or a deck: how louvered pergolas are anchored, and why the wind rating depends on it.

A louvered pergola lets you dial in sun, shade and rain with a tilting roof. A gazebo gives constant cover with a fixed one. Here is how they really compare.