The Best Pergola Kits of 2024 for Your Outdoor Space

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Pergola Kits of 2024 for Your Outdoor Space and hope the blog can help you.

Extend your living space into the fresh air with the best pergola kits for entertaining, lounging, and dining.

An outdoor pergola is an attractive and functional architectural structure for residential and commercial outdoor spaces. They are constructed from posts that support a proportioned design assembly of beams, rafters, and purlins (some colloquially referred to as slats) in designs that range from simple to elaborate. 

Within the pergola’s footprint on the ground, there is often decking, pavers, or grass, and some have canopies or coverings that offer protection from the elements and cooling shade. With the addition of patio furniture, lounge chairs, or outdoor rugs, a pergola becomes a backyard oasis where kids can play, friends can visit, and families can eat together. 

The best pergola kits are durable against weather, and create an enjoyable focal point in a backyard. We selected the Backyard Discovery 14 x 10 Freestanding Pergola as the best overall kit. It is made of attractive weather-, insect-, and rot-resistant cedar; includes resin feet and concrete anchors for resisting winds of up to 100 miles per hour; and comes with an interactive 3D assembly guide through the BILT app. 

This guide details top factors to consider as you shop for a pergola kit and describes some of the best pergola kits on the market for an outdoor space.

  1. BEST OVERALL: Backyard Discovery 14 x 10 Freestanding Pergola
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  2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Purple Leaf Outdoor Retractable Pergola With Canopy
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  3. UPGRADE PICK: Arlmont & Co. Corfu Vinyl Pergola
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  4. BEST MIDRANGE: Coolaroo Aurora Pergola
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  5. BEST WITH CANOPY: Sunjoy Arched Pergola With Canopy
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  6. BEST WITH CURVED ROOF: YardCraft 10 x 12 Wood Pergola Kit
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  7. BEST FOR ENTERTAINING: Backyard Discovery Ashland Cedar Wood Pergola
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  8. BEST METAL: Veikous Aluminum Pergola With Canopy
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  9. BEST WOOD: Backyard Discovery 16 x 12 Beaumont Wood Pergola 
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The best pergola kit option on a patio with a furniture beneath it and a retractable canopy partway open
Photo: home depot

Before You Buy a Pergola Kit

Make sure you understand the difference between a pergola, a trellis, an arbor, and a gazebo so you choose the best structure for your needs.

  • A pergola offers a semi-shaded outdoor living space. It includes posts that support an open structure of beams, rafters, and purlins that let the sun shine through the openings.
  • A trellis is an open framework, like a pergola, except that it has thinner intersecting members called lattice that’s positioned closer together, creating a tighter frame and smaller openings. It can stand alone or attach to a pergola or house to enable vines or roses to grow up the side of it.
  • An arbor is similar to a pergola, except it is much smaller and defines an entry or divides a pathway. Most arbors are intended to be walked through, but some have small integrated benches.
  • A gazebo is a freestanding round, octagonal, or hexagonal garden structure with a finished floor, interior bench seating, low walls, and a complete roof. The roof is traditionally pitched to the center, typically in a conical shape. 

Pergolas aren’t suitable for every outdoor space, especially small yards, as they tend to be large enough to fit seating and even a table underneath. In fact, some local laws prohibit construction that blocks the view of neighbors or neighboring buildings and there are property setbacks that are different for every municipality. 

Before buying a pergola, find out whether restrictions in your area prohibit installation and whether you need a permit.

How We Chose the Best Pergola Kits 

Add a sense of elegance and style with a backyard pergola in an outdoor space. Pergola kits provide an outdoor room or dining space for entertaining or relaxing, and even a hideout for snoozing. Our Top Picks list of pergola kits was determined by material, size, ease of assembly, and special features included for backyard events. 

The picks include aluminum, vinyl, metal, and premium wood pergola kits, all of which are sturdy and weather-resistant. We included varying sizes of these models so there are ones suitable for small yards and others for large yards. 

Most come with anchors or mounting hardware for easy assembly. Though a power drill or multiple people may be required for select pergolas, once assembled many are made to last through all-season weather. 

These picks also prioritize special features like adjustable panels or canopies for rain and UV protection, bars for entertaining, outlets, or resin feet for added durability. 

Our Top Picks

The best pergola kits turn available lawn, patio, or deck space into an outdoor oasis. Here’s a rundown of some of the best pergola kits on the market to help bring a backyard to life. 

Best Overall

Backyard Discovery 14 x 10 Freestanding Pergola

 Backyard Discovery Ashland 10' x 14' Cedar Pergola on a white background

Photo: amazon


Product Specs 

  • Material: Cedar wood 
  • Overall dimensions: 7 feet 10.75 inches high by 14 feet long by 10 feet deep
  • Interior dimensions: 7.75 feet high by 11.5 feet long by 7.54 feet deep, 63 square feet 
  • Ease of assembly: Easy

What We Like

  • 63 square feet of inside space is plenty of room for many kinds of furniture sets
  • Resin feet and concrete anchors included for a sturdy build
  • Pieces come prestained and ready to assemble
  • Comes with the BILT app for simple step-by-step assembly instructions 

What We Don’t Like

  • Only available in a single colorway

An elegant structure for a backyard, this Backyard Discovery cedar pergola offers plenty of space for outdoor lounging and entertaining. Resin feet and concrete anchors on the posts provide stability and weather resistance, which keeps the pergola safe and secure even when wind and rain blow in. 

With plenty of space for vines and plants, a green thumb can easily enhance the pergola’s aesthetic and cultivate additional shade by adding greenery. At 7 feet 10.75 inches high by 14 feet long by 10 feet deep, this rectangular pergola provides 63 square feet of inside space for hanging lights and planters and placing outdoor furniture. 

Assembly and installation are simple thanks to the manufacturer’s BILT app, which guides users through the setup step by step. Pieces come prestained, precut, and ready to assemble; a power port and galvanized steel hardware are included. The only other requirements are the right tools and an extra set of hands to assist. 

Get the Backyard Discovery cedar pergola at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Wayfair, Sam’s Club, or Backyard Discovery

Best Bang For The Buck

Purple Leaf Outdoor Retractable Pergola With Canopy

 Purple Leaf Outdoor Retractable Pergola With Canopy next to a pool

Photo: amazon


Product Specs 

  • Material: Aluminum 
  • Overall dimensions: 8 feet high by 14.8 feet long by 10.5 feet deep 
  • Interior dimensions: 8 feet high by 14.25 feet long by 10 feet deep, 155.40 square feet
  • Ease of assembly: Easy 

What We Like

  • Made of rust-resistant and powder-coated aluminum
  • Retractable and lockable canopy
  • UV-resistant and water-repellent construction
  • Canopy is available in multiple colorways

What We Don’t Like

  • May require concrete surface for more stable affixing 

This pergola kit from Purple Leaf boasts a retractable canopy that allows the user to enjoy direct sunlight or shade. The UV-resistant and water-repellent top canvas protects users from the sun and light rain when fully closed. In addition, the locking system keeps the canopy safely in place.

Its rust-resistant, powder-coated aluminum frame is sturdy and reliable, and the base plate attaches to a variety of surfaces for additional integrity. Ideal for the pool, hot tub, outdoor dining, and entertainment, this pergola kit is 8 feet high by 14.8 feet long by 10.5 feet deep for plenty of sitting space. Overall, this pergola adds style and ambience to outdoor living.

Get the Purple Leaf pergola at Amazon, Wayfair (13-by-10-foot size), or Purple Leaf.

Upgrade Pick

Arlmont & Co. Corfu Vinyl Pergola

 Arlmont & Co. Corfu Vinyl Pergola next to a pool

Photo: wayfair


Product Specs 

  • Material: Vinyl and PVC
  • Overall dimensions: 8.7 feet high by 12 feet long by 12 feet deep 
  • Interior dimensions: 7.5 inches high by 11.16 feet long by 11.16 feet deep, 124.55 square feet 
  • Ease of assembly: Easy 

What We Like

  • Strong, all-season vinyl construction stands up to most weather conditions
  • 3 adjustable panels included can block sun or allow more to pass through
  • Made using weather-, mold-, rust-, and corrosion-resistant durable materials
  • Can be affixed to multiple surfaces for versatility and easier installation 

What We Don’t Like

  • Anchor and mounting materials not included 
  • Relatively expensive compared to similar models 

Arlmont & Co.’s vinyl pergola kits offer plenty of outdoor living space for entertaining or just plain relaxing in the sun. They have three panels of louvers that can be set individually according to the sun’s position and the amount of shade they wish to let in—one fully open, one fully closed, and the third slightly open.

The UV-, water-, and rust-resistant vinyl structure allows for year-round use, and this 8.7-foot-high by 12-foot-long by 12-foot-deep pergola can be anchored to grass, concrete, or wood. Vinyl won’t rot, crack, peel, fade, rust, discolor, or burn plants. It’s an ideal material for climbing vines and is easy to assemble.

Get the Arlmont & Co. pergola at Wayfair.

Best Midrange

Coolaroo Aurora Pergola

 Coolaroo Aurora Pergola on a white background

Photo: amazon


Product Specs 

  • Material: Powder-coated aluminum 
  • Overall dimensions: 9.10 feet high by 9.10 feet long by 9.10 feet deep
  • Interior dimensions: 9.10 feet high by 9.10 feet long by 9.10 feet deep, 82 square feet 
  • Ease of assembly: Difficult 

What We Like

  • Rust-, UV-, mildew-, and water-resistant
  • Available in 3 stylish canopy color options
  • Features with removable and retractable canopy

What We Don’t Like

  • Anchor and mounting materials not included with purchase 
  • Taller canopy size creates more difficult assembly

Coolaroo’s Aurora pergola fits well in outdoor areas without imposing on the yard or the wallet, transforming a yard or deck into a modern space. Made from a lightweight aluminum frame with a removable polyethylene canopy, this pergola suits both formal and casual settings equally well. Easily remove the weatherproof canopy for more sunlight or for occasional cleaning to keep it looking fresh. 

With a footprint of 9 feet 10 inches square, this modern pergola kit provides enough space for comfortable outdoor dining, while the assembled 9.10-foot height offers enough headroom to stand comfortably. This pergola kit includes deck fasteners for stability, and the pieces have precut and predrilled holes for easy assembly. 

Get the Coolaroo pergola at Amazon or Wayfair

Best With Canopy

Sunjoy Arched Pergola With Canopy

 Sunjoy Meadow Arched Pergola With Canopy on a white background

Photo: home depot


Product Specs 

  • Material: Powder-coated steel
  • Overall dimensions: 7.8 feet high by 10 feet long by 8 feet deep
  • Interior dimensions: 6.8 feet high by 9.5 feet long by 7.5 feet deep, 71.25 square feet
  • Ease of assembly: Moderate 

What We Like

  • Sturdy powder-coated steel frame
  • Compact design is ideal for smaller spaces
  • Includes weather-resistant, translucent canopy 
  • Comes with anchor/mounting hardware

What We Don’t Like

  • Will likely require multiple people for assembly 

At some point in the day, the sun finds a way to beat down on that one spot that just doesn’t have any shade. But with this metal pergola kit from Sunjoy in that spot, users need not worry about that any longer. Instead, users can adjust the 7.8-foot-high canopy by dragging it down on either side of the structure to block out the sun as needed. 

Sunjoy’s covered pergola kit offers style with its tan-colored canopy with chocolate brown trim to match the brown frame. The rust-resistant powder coating on the steel makes for a sturdy and reliable freestanding pergola. It is also relatively easy to assemble and users can have the pergola kit up and installed in a day, ready for the next outdoor event.

Get the Sunjoy pergola at The Home Depot, Wayfair, or Sunjoy.

Best With Curved Roof

YardCraft 10 x 12 Wood Pergola Kit

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