If you’ve decided to add a wooden pergola to your backyard and you’re not sure where to start, check out this guide for choosing a pergola. We have a range of popular styles and sizes to choose from in freestanding (stand-alone) or attached pergolas (a pergola that attaches to a house or other structure). Any of our styles can be made using either rough sawn western red cedar or pressure treated #1 grade southern yellow pine.
For a full comparison of all of our pergola styles complete with specifications, view our Pergola Comparison Chart. For a quick comparison, here are the highlights to help you find the perfect wooden pergola to fit your space.
Compare Wooden Pergola Styles
There are a few things all of our pergolas have in common. Since we designed our pergolas to withstand high winds and extreme weather conditions here in Florida where our pergola company resides, you can rest assured that the pergola you’ll receive has been crafted with care and can stand up to harsh weather Mother Nature sends your way.
If you order one of our full size pergolas in a Big Kahuna, Sombrero, Melbourne, or Fedora, you’ll receive a kit that’s complete with 2×8 beams, 2×8 rafters, 6×6 posts, 2×6 angle braces, and 2×2 top slats* (*the Melbourne does not come standard with top slats). Sometimes called pergola roof brackets or pergola brackets, our angle braces are decorative and offer a nice design element to finish the pergola. These features are included in our Big Kahuna, Sombrero, Sombrero, and Fedora pergola kits.
Our full size large pergola styles are frequently chosen for backyard projects that need a cover for an outdoor kitchen, an open-air living room, or a patio next to a swimming pool. The most popular pergola design is our Big Kahuna PLUS Covered Pergola Kit. Featuring the style and simplicity of a pergola combined with the practicality of a solid roof gazebo, we’ve take our Big Kahuna Pergola Kit pergola design and added a minimally sloped metal roof (1/2” to 12”). This creates a versatile outdoor living structure with maximum overhead protection from the sun, rain, or snow.
Also popular is the Big Kahuna Timber Frame Pergola Kit. Built using heavy hand-cut timbers and traditional woodworking techniques including mortised joinery and wood pegs, our timber frame pergola kits are beautifully crafted pergolas just like our other styles. Built with heavy hand-cut timbers, we offer the timber pergola in freestanding in standard sizes 10’x10′ up to 16’x16′. Customizations are available for end cuts and special pergola sizing.
Our other smaller designs feature a pergola frame that is used as a garden pergola or trellis type structure (the Brim) or as an awning above a window or garage door (the Visor).
All are built with precision and made to order, so once you decide the type of pergola you’d like, you can choose with confidence knowing you’ll receive a quality product made just for you.
Big Kahuna Pergola Kit
Classic pergola design, built for maximum sun coverage and engineered for extreme weather conditions
Sizes: 8×8 to 20×20 and custom sizes in freestanding or attached
View Big Kahuna photos and all Big Kahuna sizes.
Big Kahuna PLUS Pergola Kit
Classic pergola design with metal roofing, built for maximum protection from the elements and engineered for extreme weather conditions
Sizes: 10×10 to 20×20 and custom sizes in freestanding or attached
View Big Kahuna PLUS sizes.
Sombrero Pergola Kit
Our Big Kahuna design, with half the rafters and top slats, built for medium sun coverage
Sizes: 8×8 to 20×20 and custom sizes in freestanding or attached
View Sombrero photos and all Sombrero sizes
Melbourne Pergola Kit
Our Big Kahuna design, with 4-6 rafters and no top slats, an open roof design pergola
Sizes: 8×8 to 20×20 and custom sizes in freestanding or attached
View Melbourne photos and all Melbourne sizes
Big Kahuna Timber Frame Pergola Kit
Strong & sturdy outdoor structure built using traditional woodworking techniques including heavy hand-cut timbers, mortised joinery, and wood pegs
Sizes: 10×10 to 16×16 in freestanding or attached and custom sizes
View Timber Frame Pergola photos and sizes
Fedora Pergola Kit
Classic pergola style, with a more open design, taller/ un-notched roofing system
Sizes: 8×8 to 20×20 and custom sizes in freestanding or attached
View Fedora photos and all Fedora sizes.
Brim Pergola Kit
Wooden trellis like design, perfect as a patio or walkway border, for hanging plants or lighting
Sizes: Standard Lengths of 8′, 10′, 12′, 16′, 20′ and custom sizes.
View Brim photos and all Brim sizes.
Visor Pergola Kit
Wooden awning, enhances and provides shade above a window or door opening
Sizes: Standard Lengths of 6′, 8′, 10′, 12′, 14′, 16′, 18′, 20′ and custom sizes
Sample size shown: 16′ Visor pergola. View Visor photos and all Visor sizes
Measuring for a Pergola
After you choose a style pergola, you’ll make a few other decisions to customize it to fit your outdoor space, including size, wood type, post length and mounting method; and finishes such as end cuts and post base trim. Finding the correct size requires taking a some measurements of the space. Follow these steps for how to measure for a pergola to help you determine the width, length, and height you’ll need.
What overall size pergola will you need?
Our full-size pergola kits in the Big Kahuna, Sombrero, Melbourne, and Fedora come standard in sizes 8×8-20×20 and custom sizes. For these styles, sizes are measured Rafter x Beam length; Rafter = overall projection, Beam = overall width of pergola. Read more about measuring for your pergola on our resources page. Read more about the specifications and descriptions of the elements that make up our quality wood pergola kits on our Pergola Comparison Chart.
What length posts will you need?
Our full-size pergola kits in the Big Kahuna, Sombrero, Melbourne, and Fedora come standard with 6×6 posts. You choose the length of the posts either 8′, 10′ and 12′ and custom sizes. Read more about pergola post height and post mounting on our resources page. Read more about the specifications and descriptions of the elements that make up our quality wood pergola kits on our Pergola Comparison Chart.
Customize Your Pergola
You can make your pergola match the design of your home or business by choosing the style of end cut on the rafters and beams. We offer 5 end shapes ranging from classic to contemporary. You can also add post base trim to finish off the post bases with a simple trim.
Pergola Questions?
If you need help measuring for your backyard pergola and determining the correct size and style pergola you need, review our Pergola Comparison Chart or refer to our and the Pergola Dimensions Chart for sizing reference. If you’re just beginning to search for your backyard pergola, contact us and we’ll talk through your project!