Essential Guide to Choosing the Right Pergola Size for Your Space

Assessing Your Patio Space

So you want a pergola for your outdoor living space? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The first thing we need to establish, is what is the size of your outdoor space and then we can better determine what pergola would be best.

The next thing we want to focus on is the purpose of your patio. Dining al fresco or lounging in the sun, and how to create an entertaining patio location that facilitates social interaction during outdoor cooking and gatherings.

TobyMeasure the length and width of your patio to determine the patio's size and the available space for a pergola. When planning a new patio, consider its ideal size and functionality based on your needs and existing landscape features. Don't forget to account for the location of any existing features, such as a fire pit or outdoor kitchen.

Determining Your Patio Sizing Needs

Determine how you plan to use your patio, including dining, entertaining, or relaxation, and whether you will need space for a dining table.

For an outdoor dining space, ensure the area is between 10 to 16 feet long and wide to comfortably accommodate a dining table for four to six people. For example, rectangular dining tables can comfortably fit in spaces sized for groups of four to six people.

When making measurements, keep in mind the size of your outdoor furniture and the space needed for movement and navigation of outdoor furniture. It's one thing for the furniture to fit - you also want your guests to be able to walk around it!

What to Consider When Selecting a Pergola

When selecting a pergola for your outdoor space, there are several factors to consider to ensure that it complements your patio and enhances your overall outdoor living experience.

Does the pergola look good with your home and patio setup?

You'll need to decide what style you're going for, and how it will fit into your yard and contrast against your home. A wood pergola can give that traditional and textured look, while a modern pergola with clean lines muted palette will be ubiquitous on most homes. Many pergola pergola companies offer multiple finish options in order to blend in with your home and desired color scheme. The Luxury pergola offers three options for the frame: Onyx (black), alpine (white), and bronze, and the additional option of sandstone for the louvers.

Can the pergola fit in your space?

Most DIY pergolas come in standard set sizes. Most of the time, if you want custom sizing and high quality, you'll have to go through an expensive dealer/installer. The Luxury Pergola is the only DIY American made pergola kit that offers custom sizing down to the half inch.

What material should you use?

Wood and vinyl are both popular and affordable, but the former requires a lot of maintenance while the latter won't last over the years. Aluminum pergolas are maintenance free, sturdy, and in many cases can last a lifetime.

What kind of shade would you like?

Traditional pergolas are slatted, so they don't provide consistent shade. Louvered roofs allow you to switch between sun and shade, or adjust the angle of the slat to provide both shade and ventilation.

Choosing the Right Pergola Size for Your Patio Size

How big should your pergola be in relation to your patio? Often the impulse is to simply say "as big a possible!" or "it should cover the entire patio!", but there are other things to keep in mind that may influence a decision to make the pergola a little smaller than your overall patio.

Visual style and feel

Consider the design of your pergola and how it will fit with your patio’s aesthetic and layout. A small pergola can sometimes create intimate spaces within your patio and enhance privacy and comfort, making the area more inviting. A giant pergola can be impressive, but it can also feel intimidating or over the top. Visualize how the pergola will look in proportion to the rest of your patio and use that to influence the sizer decision.

Budget and cost

It's a simple equation: The more pergola, the more material, the more expensive it will be. The simplest and most effective way to save money in your project is to only set up a patio cover over sitting areas where you'll get the most use out of them.

Complexity

A larger pergola is a more complex project. For all the square feet that your pergola covers, you have to validate it with design elements, patio furniture, or other ways to fill up floor space and give it purpose. A free standing pergola in the middle of the yard is also a lot simpler to set up and assemble than one that butts up next to your house, which may require attaching the structure to the house or integrating it into your house drainage system.

Measuring for a Pergola Installation

Measuring for a pergola is very simple, but there are some crucial steps to follow to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Measure Your Patio:

Whether you're installing a pergola on a sleek poured concrete patio, a spacious bluestone patio, or a wooden textured roughly circular patio layout, the first step is always the same: MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE. Your patio size and dimensions will help you determine the maximum size of your pergola and where you should place it.

Determine and measure the Pergola’s Location:

Now, decide where you want to place your pergola on your patio and then measure (and mark) that area.

Keep in mind margin:

Most pergolas (including ours) are measured from post corner to post corner, so if you buy a 10' x 15' pergola, you will have a 10' x 15' patio cover once its installed. But the base plates stick out an inch or two on each side

Measure for Obstructions:

Check for any potential obstructions that could affect the installation of your pergola, such as trees, gardens, or slopes.

Check Local Building Codes:

Before proceeding with your pergola installation, check with your local building department to ensure compliance with local building codes and regulations. This step is essential to avoid any legal issues and ensure the safety of your structure.

Integrating Your Pergola with Other Landscape Features

There are lots of things to keep in mind when it comes to integrating your pergola with other features in your patio design, particularly when it relates to the size of your pergola! Here are a few of them.

Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor kitchens are typically placed along an edge of the pergola, so that you can still have plenty of room for a seating area. If you're wanting to put counters that fit perfectly between the posts, it's probably a good idea to install the pergola first so that you can be sure to order the right size cabinets!

Fire Pits

Installing a fire pit under your pergola can create a cozy and inviting outdoor seating area. Make sure there's ample room inside the pergola around the fire pit, so that people can keep a safe distance from the fire, and still be sitting in the shade!

Seating Areas

With seating areas, it's not just about whether the table and chairs fit underneath the pergola, but also that there's enough room to comfortably walk around the furniture - even while they're being used. There's a fine line between cozy and cramped, after all.

Tips for a Successful Pergola Installation

When it comes to installing a pergola, there are several things to keep in mind to ensure a successful and stress-free experience.

Choose the Right Location: Consider the sun’s path and the surrounding landscape when selecting a location for your pergola. Ensure it’s situated in a spot that provides the desired amount of shade and sunlight. When setting up your pergola, make sure the louvers close towards the east as opposed to the west - and if that's not an option, they should close towards the north instead.

Consider the Size and Scale: Ensure your pergola is proportional to your patio and surrounding structures. A pergola that’s too large or too small can throw off the balance of your outdoor design. If you're installing next to your house, doublecheck the pergola isn't too tall for any nearby roof overhangs or gutters.

Plan for Drainage: Understand how the integrated gutter system of your pergola works, and how to install the pergola so that it drains where you want it to. With the Luxury Pergola, you choose one of the posts to the drainage post, where all the water that lands on the roof will be direct out of. Some customers like to integrate that drainage post into and existing or additional drainage system, routing the water to a spot in the yard where it won't mess with the landscaping.

Consider hiring a Professional: If you’re not experienced in construction or DIY projects, consider hiring a professional to install your pergola. Not everyone is super handy, and that's okay! If you're not sure who you should hire, give us a call and we might be able to track down someone in your area with experience installing our pergolas.