Cost guide
Pergola cost by size: 10×10 to 20×20
Size sets most of the price. A 20×20 (400 square feet) runs from about $10,000 as a lattice or solid aluminum patio cover to $22,000–$50,000 as a standard motorized louvered pergola, and more for premium brands. Sizes up to 200 square feet, such as 12×16 or 14×14, can skip the building permit in most Valley cities if they’re detached and unwired.
In the Phoenix metro: pergolas and patio covers, with a written quote before any work. Installation is done by a licensed Arizona contractor. Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler. Call (602) 557-3625
Pergola and patio cover cost by size
Pergola and patio cover prices by size come from each structure’s published per-square-foot rate multiplied by its area. Patio cover rates are Phoenix installers’ starting prices; the others are national installed ranges.
| Size | Lattice or solid aluminum patio cover | Insulated aluminum patio cover | Fixed aluminum pergola (heavier sections) | Louvered pergola, motorized | Louvered pergola, premium brand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 (100 sq ft) | From $2,500 | From $4,000 | $4,700–$8,400 | $5,500–$12,500 | $12,000–$20,000 |
| 10×12 (120 sq ft) | From $3,000 | From $4,800 | $5,640–$10,080 | $6,600–$15,000 | $14,400–$24,000 |
| 12×12 (144 sq ft) | From $3,600 | From $5,760 | $6,768–$12,096 | $7,920–$18,000 | $17,280–$28,800 |
| 12×16 (192 sq ft) | From $4,800 | From $7,680 | $9,024–$16,128 | $10,560–$24,000 | $23,040–$38,400 |
| 14×20 (280 sq ft) | From $7,000 | From $11,200 | $13,160–$23,520 | $15,400–$35,000 | $33,600–$56,000 |
| 16×20 (320 sq ft) | From $8,000 | From $12,800 | $15,040–$26,880 | $17,600–$40,000 | $38,400–$64,000 |
| 20×20 (400 sq ft) | From $10,000 | From $16,000 | $18,800–$33,600 | $22,000–$50,000 | $48,000–$80,000 |
Rates: lattice or solid aluminum patio cover From $25/sq ft; insulated aluminum patio cover From $40/sq ft; fixed aluminum pergola (heavier sections) $47–$84/sq ft; louvered pergola, motorized $55–$125/sq ft; louvered pergola, premium brand $120–$200/sq ft. Before permits, electrical and add-ons. Phoenix dealers mostly sell premium louvered brands: $12,000–$34,000 for about 12×12.
How much does a 20×20 pergola with a cover cost?
At 400 square feet, a 20×20 lattice or solid aluminum patio cover starts around $10,000, an insulated cover around $16,000, a fixed aluminum pergola $18,800–$33,600, a standard motorized louvered roof $22,000–$50,000, and a premium louvered system $48,000–$80,000. It will need a building permit in every Valley city, and in Scottsdale it counts toward the 30% rear-yard limit for accessory structures.
Sizes that stay under the 200-square-foot permit line
In Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and Gilbert, a detached, unwired structure under 200 square feet can usually skip the building permit (Scottsdale still requires plan approval). Common sizes that fit: 10×10, 10×12, 12×12, 12×16 (192) and 14×14 (196). A 12×17 (204) does not. Wiring for motors, lights or fans needs a permit at any size, and Chandler measures a ramada from the roof edge, overhang included, and requires a permit regardless. See the permit guide.
What size pergola do you need?
- Lay out the furniture you’ll put under it, and add room to walk around it.
- Check where the shade falls in the afternoon; a structure over a west-facing patio may need to extend past the seating, or add side screens.
- Check your yard limits: Scottsdale and Chandler cap accessory structures and ramadas at 30% of the rear yard, and every city has setbacks.
- Price the size against the table above, then use the cost calculator for your exact dimensions.
Sources
Prices are published figures, not quotes; checked September 29–30, 2026. Permit rules are paraphrased from each city’s own guidance, and they change, so the installer confirms them for your address.
Prices
- Royal Covers, Phoenix patio cover and pergola pricing
- Chillax Patios, Alumawood Pricing
- HomeGuide, Alumawood Patio Cover Cost
- EstimationPro, Pergola Cost Calculator (2026)
- HomeGuide, Louvered Pergola Cost (2026)
- EDG Patio Shade, Pergola Cost Guide 2026
- AE Outdoor Living, Phoenix pergola pricing
Permit rules
- City of Phoenix, Work Exempt from Permit (PBCC 105.2)
- City of Phoenix, Residential Patio Covers Guideline
- City of Phoenix, Residential Over the Counter Permits Guideline
- City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office, Approvals and Guidelines
- City of Scottsdale, Sheds, Detached Garages, Pergolas, etc.
- City of Scottsdale, Permit Services
- City of Mesa, Residential Construction FAQ
- City of Mesa, Residential Construction
- Town of Gilbert, Municipal Code & Land Development Code FAQ
- City of Chandler, Detached Buildings & Structures Chart (Jan 2025)