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Pergolas & shade
What Does a Pergola Cost in the Phoenix Area?
· 2 min read · Deck Builders LLC
Pergola prices seem to be all over the place because pergolas are. A small kit and a large custom structure share a name and little else. Here is what moves the number.
What drives the price
- Material: The biggest factor. A standard aluminum kit is often the most affordable and needs almost no upkeep. Cedar and redwood usually cost more and need a finish. Custom aluminum costs more again.
- Size and design: A simple 10-by-10 freestanding pergola costs far less than a large attached one with decorative details.
- Foundation: Anchoring to a sound existing slab is cheaper than digging and pouring new footings, especially in hard ground.
- Permit and engineering: Larger or attached structures may need both.
- Extras: Fans, lighting, misters, privacy screens, a retractable shade or a solid roof section.
Typical ranges
As a rough guide to installed prices in this area:
- Basic aluminum pergola, about 10×10 to 12×12: $3,500 to $7,000.
- Custom aluminum, same size: $6,000 to $12,000 or more.
- Basic cedar or redwood, same size: $4,500 to $9,000.
- Large or complex wood pergola, 15×20 and up: $10,000 to $25,000 or more.
- Lattice top or retractable shade: Adds roughly $800 to $3,000.
These are general market ranges, not a quote. Material prices change and every yard is different. A site visit gives you a real number.
What a quote should show
Materials and dimensions, how the posts are anchored, labor, permit fees if any, the warranty on materials and workmanship, and a payment schedule. A single number with no breakdown cannot be compared with anything.
How not to overpay
- Get more than one detailed quote: From licensed, insured builders.
- Be specific: Bring measurements, photos and the features you want, so every builder prices the same thing.
- Compare materials, not just totals: A cheaper quote may be a thinner post or a lesser wood.
- Take your time: A builder who pressures you is not doing you a favor.
