How to Pick the Right Size Pergola or Gazebo
Enjoy your outdoor space under newfound shade.
Enhance your outdoor space with a pergola or gazebo to instantly achieve more shade, privacy, and beauty! The right size pergola or gazebo match or be smaller than the size of your patio, fitting your dining table or conversation set comfortably underneath the canopy. Keep reading to learn more about these outdoor shade structures and how to choose the correct size for your space.
1. Determine How You'll Use Your Space
Before you choose a size, you should decide which outdoor shade structure to use. Here's a quick overview of gazebos and pergolas to help you choose the right one:
Gazebos
These structures are most often used to cover your outdoor living spaces, enclose dining sets, provide additional shade, and even shelter hot tubs or pools. Gazebos can also be completely screened in to prevent pesky bugs or the weather so you can enjoy the outside while also being inside, year-round. Installing a gazebo adds value to your home and helps you get the most out of your backyard areas.
Choose from pop-up, grill, party tent, and patio gazebo styles to suit your space and outdoor activities. It's important to note that most of these gazebos are available in a range of different sizes. Grill gazebos are compact and designed to shield your grill from the elements, while party tent gazebos may have a larger size range to accommodate more people. Check out our Types of Gazebos: How to Choose the Best Gazebo Design to learn more about each type of gazebo.
Pergolas are usually built overtop a walkway or along the side of the house. The slatted roofs are used to break up sunlight and provide a subtle spot of shade without completely blocking out the sun. Grow florals, vines, or even vegetation across intricate trellises and latticework to help break up the pre-existing living space, or add a fabric canopy for a bit more shade and protection overhead.
Pergolas are usually available in one of three styles: anchored, unattached, or wall-mounted. Unattached pergolas are easy to assemble to shelter vehicles, boats, or other equipment that's kept outside. Review What Is a Pergola? or Types of Pergolas: How to Choose a Pergola for Your Patio to learn more about pergola styles and features.
Tip!
Review our Backyard Buying Guide: Pergola vs. Gazebo for a more in-depth look at each option and how they size up against each other.
2. Measure the Space
To measure for the right size gazebo or pergola, we recommend that you have a tape measure, notepad and pencil, and a ladder (if you need to measure the height of potential obstructions).
- To start, measure and record the length and width of a patio or deck to determine the maximum size of a gazebo or pergola that can fit in that space.
- If you're planning to place your pergola or gazebo over a dining set, seating area, or hot tub, make sure you measure the space they take up to determine how big your covering needs to be.
- If you want to put a pergola or gazebo in a space with overhanging tree branches or roofs, you'll want to measure how much vertical space you have free, starting from the patio or deck floor and measuring to the bottom-most tree branch or the edge of a roof that juts out from the house. This will determine the maximum height of a pergola or gazebo you can install in these areas.
3. Measure an Existing Pergola or Gazebo
If you already have a gazebo or pergola and you want to replace it with a new one, you can just measure the existing structure instead! This ensures you choose a new model that matches in size and will fit with your existing patio space and furnishings. We recommend you have a tape measure, notepad and pencil, and ladder to get accurate measurements. Keep reading to learn some measurement tips for how to pick the right size gazebo or pergola.
How to Measure & Choose a Gazebo Size
Height:
- Choose a support beam and set up your ladder.
- Place your tape measure at floor level beside the beam and measure to the bottom edge of the gazebo roof. This should be the height at the gazebo's lowest roof point.
- Then, move your ladder to a central spot beneath the gazebo.
- Again, place your tape measure at floor level and measure to the top-most point of the roof. This is the maximum height of the gazebo.
Length & Width:
- For square/rectangular structures, measure two of the perpendicular walls of the gazebo.
- It's important to note that rectangular-shaped gazebos may be longer in length and shorter in width compared to square models, so it's essential that you measure each side.
- We recommend measuring the length and width of the bottom of the gazebo's roof because the roof usually overhangs the support beams by a few inches.
- For circular gazebos, measure across the center of the structure to measure the diameter and calculate the area.
- Once you measure and record the dimensions of your old gazebo, it's time to choose a new gazebo of the same size. Popular sizes include 8' x 8', 8' x 10', 9' x 9', 10' x 10', and 10' x 12' or larger. If your pergola is situated in a spot without obstructions, we recommend going up a size! This way you have even more space to lounge and relax in the shade. Just make sure the size you choose still fits on your patio or deck.
How to Measure & Choose a Pergola Size
Height:
- When measuring the height of a pergola, you want to measure from the bottom of one of the support beams to the top of the rafters or lattice work that makes up the roof. These are a few inches taller than the top of the support beams so it's important to factor them in when measuring the height.
- If measuring the height of a sloped pergola, be sure to measure to the tallest point of the roof to get the maximum height for a new pergola in your space.
Length & Width:
- Similar to measuring height, you want to account for the overhang of the rafters/lattice work on the roof of the pergola when measuring the length and width of an existing pergola. This is super important if your pergola is right beside your home as the support beams won't account for the total length and width.
- Measure from the outer edge of one rafter, across to the outer edge of the rafter on the other side of the pergola to determine the length of the pergola. You'll likely need a ladder for this step.
- Repeat the same process for the width. Square pergolas might have equal length and width measurements, but it's always important to check!
- Once you have the dimensions of your current pergola structure, you can start browsing for similar size options. On Wayfair, pergolas are categorized as small (8' x '8' or 8' x 10'), medium (10' x 10' or 10' x 20'), or large (12' x 12', 12' x 16', or 16' x 16').
Whether your pergola is attached to your home or your gazebo is placed on a nearby patio, consider things such as the roof height or tree lines so that the structure doesn't conflict with anything nearby.
Posts: If you plan on installing a permanent structure, measure your posts with the additional length of pouring concrete for ensured stability.
Pathways & Stairs: Think about the accessibility of your structure with the integration of pathways or stairs leading up or down. Envision the openness of the space and the best way to enter the area if it's enclosed. Or, if you're looking for privacy, measure the appropriate distance away from the main home.
Obstructions: For attached gazebos or pergolas, be sure to factor in the height of your house's roof, so that they match up or fit together evenly. Examine the height of the bottom most beam so that the objects you're storing (like a boat or truck) will be able to comfortably be brought in and out. Factor in additional measurements of embellishments in relation to nearby structures. For example, if your structure features several tiers or your house has a textured exterior, don't forget to account for where they meet.
Sunlight: With its main function to provide shade, determining where the sun hits your home throughout the day is imperative to the placement and type of structure you choose. If you want to grow vegetables or want to enjoy an afternoon tea, prioritize how much sun will affect your area and how much coverage you want in place.
Tip!
After measuring your outdoor area, you can best pick the right sized pergola or gazebo for all of your outdoor activities. Here are some ideas to get inspired:
12 Can't-Miss Pergola Ideas for Your Outdoor Space
Beautiful Backyard Gazebo Ideas to Elevate Your Outdoors
