Cost guide
Backyard ramada cost in Phoenix (2026)
A permitted backyard ramada in the Phoenix metro runs $18,000–$32,000 for an entry size (10×12 to 12×14) and $28,000–$55,000 for 14×18 to 16×20. Large custom ramadas with kitchens, fireplaces and electrical reach $55,000–$120,000+.
In the Phoenix metro: ramadas and shade structures from about $18,000, with a written quote before any work. Installation is done by a licensed Arizona contractor. Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler. Call (602) 557-3625
How much does a ramada cost in Phoenix?
A ramada is a freestanding roof on posts, open on the sides, and in the Valley it’s usually built with engineered footings, stucco or steel columns and a tile, metal or foam roof. Published Phoenix prices by size:
| Size | Typical installed range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10×12 (small) | $18,000–$26,000 | AE Outdoor Living |
| 10×12 to 12×14 (entry) | $18,000–$32,000 | AE Outdoor Living |
| 12×16 (standard) | $26,000–$38,000 | AE Outdoor Living |
| 14×18 to 16×20 (mid-size) | $28,000–$55,000 | AE Outdoor Living |
| 16×20 and larger, with lighting, fans or a kitchen counter | $38,000–$60,000+ | AE Outdoor Living |
| 16×24 to 20×30, solid roof | $18,000–$55,000 | Fenn Rogers |
What moves the price of a ramada
- Size. Roof area drives framing, footings and roofing.
- Roof. Tile, metal and foam roofs differ in weight, cost and the footings they need.
- Columns. Stucco-wrapped block or stone columns cost more than steel or aluminum posts.
- Electrical. Fans, lights and outlets add a circuit and an electrical permit.
- What goes underneath. Outdoor kitchens, bars and fire features are usually quoted separately.
- Permits. A permit for a structural ramada typically runs $500–$1,500 in Scottsdale and Phoenix.
Does a ramada need a permit?
Phoenix’s building code names ramadas among the detached structures that skip a permit up to 200 square feet, if they’re unwired and meet setbacks. Most backyard ramadas are larger or wired, so they need one. Chandler requires a building permit for any open-air ramada, caps them at 10 feet tall with 5-foot setbacks, and counts them toward lot coverage. See the permit guide.
What’s included in a ramada quote
A ramada quote usually includes the posts or columns, the solid roof and the footings; electrical work, outdoor kitchens and permits are usually quoted separately.
| Usually included | Quoted separately |
|---|---|
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Ramada or pergola?
A ramada gives full shade and rain cover away from the house; a pergola gives filtered or adjustable shade for less, or similar money for a louvered roof ($12,000–$34,000 for about 12×12). Compare them in detail.
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
- AE Outdoor Living, Ramada Installation Phoenix
- AE Outdoor Living, Ramada Builders Phoenix
- Fenn Rogers Custom Homes, Outdoor Living Spaces in Arizona
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)