It’s fair to say that a pergola is the most elegant way to shade your backyard. Sure, there are attractive cantilever umbrellas and ultra-practical pop-up canopy tents out there, but a pergola adds English-country-house vibes, beckoning you to spend long and lazy afternoons underneath relaxing with a book in one hand and an iced tea in the other. Whether you’re looking for a traditional pergola or you want something sleek and modern, there are plenty of options on the market to suit all tastes.
BEST OVERALL
Key Specs
- Height: 7 feet
- Shape: Square
- Material: Propylene fabric
- Coverage Area: 100 square feet
It’s no secret that pergolas don’t come cheap, but this top-rated pick, priced just over $500 at the time of this writing, is a relative steal. The frame, constructed from rust-resistant powder-coated aluminum, weighs more than 75 pounds and comes with anchoring hardware. The roof’s joists, which have angled, notched edges, are a nice decorative touch.
The Roman-style canopy shade covering them is a woven weather-resistant propylene fabric, available in burnt orange terracotta. The pergola offers 100 square feet of shade and stands at roughly 7 feet high.
Key Specs
- Height: 8.8 feet
- Shape: Square
- Material: Vinyl
- Coverage Area: 100 square feet
Lovely decorative details and a gleaming white finish make this vinyl pergola a standout. One of its best features is the roof’s louver system, which allows you to adjust between shade and sun. The pergola has an elegant, traditional look, with stately post caps and eye-catching moulding.
It stands more than 7 feet high, is made from durable, weather-resistant BPA-free vinyl, and offers 100 square feet of shade when the louvers are closed. It’s also incredibly sturdy, weighing about 380 pounds.
