Pergola prices run from about $1,000 for a small kit to more than $50,000 for a large motorized louvered roof. This guide puts the one Dallas figure we could verify next to the national tables and covers the Dallas line items: clay footings, heat, wiring, permits and HOA approval. If you want to see what we build, start with our page on the cedar and modern pergolas we build in Dallas.
Dallas TX pergola installation cost 2026: average for cedar, aluminum and louvered pergolas
Most standard Dallas pergolas land between about $3,000 and $8,000, based on HomeAdvisor's Dallas cost page, which puts the typical range at $3,093 to $8,072 with an average of $5,422. Louvered and motorized roofs cost much more: about $6,500 to $18,000 on average, and $18,000 to $72,000 at 20x20 depending on the guide and the system.
That is the only Dallas-specific pergola price we could verify. It comes from the page as archived in May 2024, because the live page would not open, and it blends arbors and trellises in with pergolas. Every other figure here is national.
| Type | Typical installed range | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Pergola, arbor or trellis, Dallas | $3,093 to $8,072, average $5,422 (low to high $1,200 to $13,200) | HomeAdvisor Dallas cost page, archived 2024 |
| Pro-installed pergola, about 100 sq ft | $2,118 to $6,435, most spend about $4,251 | Angi, 2026, national |
| Custom-built 12x12 wood pergola | $4,300 to $9,350 | HomeGuide, 2024, national |
| Louvered pergola, on an existing base | $6,500 to $18,000 on average ($45 to $125 per sq ft) | HomeGuide louvered guide, 2026, national |
| Motorized pergola | Average $13,700; $3,900 (8x8) to over $50,000 (20x20 smart) | Angi, 2026, national |
HomeGuide's overall range for any pergola is $10 to $65 per square foot installed.
2026 Dallas TX cedar pergola installation cost per square foot
Cedar runs about $25 to $35 per square foot by Angi's 2026 figures. HomeGuide puts cedar materials alone at $25 to $40 per square foot, and a custom-built pergola at $30 to $65 per square foot installed.
These are not the same measure. HomeGuide's $25 to $40 is materials only, and its $30 to $65 is the full custom-built price. Angi says labor is generally about 20% of a pergola project. On a 12x12 (144 sq ft):
- Custom-built at $30 to $65 per sq ft: $4,320 to $9,360 (our arithmetic). That lines up with HomeGuide's own 12x12 custom row of $4,300 to $9,350.
- Angi's cedar rate of $25 to $35 per sq ft: $3,600 to $5,040 (our arithmetic).
Fixr's older 2022 figure for an average cedar pergola is $1,900 to $6,500 all in. Angi notes cedar is insect- and rot-resistant and takes stain. For how cedar holds up next to composite in Dallas sun, see cedar vs composite in Dallas sun.
Pergola cost by size: 10x10, 12x12, 12x18 and 20x20
A custom 10x10 pergola runs about $3,000 to $6,500 and a custom 20x20 about $12,000 to $26,000 (HomeGuide, 2024, national). Angi's 2026 size table stops at 12x18, which it prices at $6,500 to $13,000.
| Size | Angi (2026) | HomeGuide custom build (2024) | HomeGuide kit installed (2024) | Fixr custom (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 (100 sq ft) | $3,000 to $6,000 | $3,000 to $6,500 | $1,000 to $4,000 | $1,700 to $4,500 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $4,300 to $8,600 | $4,300 to $9,350 | $1,450 to $5,750 | $2,000 to $7,000 |
| 12x14 (168 sq ft) | No row | $5,000 to $10,900 | See note below | $2,500 to $7,500 |
| 12x16 (192 sq ft) | $5,760 to $11,520 (our arithmetic: Angi's $30 to $60 per sq ft × 192) | No row | No row | No row |
| 12x18 (216 sq ft) | $6,500 to $13,000 | No row | No row | No row |
| 12x20 (240 sq ft) | No row | $7,200 to $15,600 | $2,400 to $9,600 | No row |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | No row | $9,600 to $20,800 | $3,200 to $12,800 | No row |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | No row | $12,000 to $26,000 | $4,000 to $16,000 | $5,000 to $15,000 |
Angi has no 12x16 or 20x20 row, so the 12x16 line is our own math from Angi's average of $30 to $60 per square foot. HomeGuide's 12x14 kit row ($1,700 to $2,700) comes out lower than its 12x12 kit row, which looks like an error on the source, so we left it out.
Fixr's numbers are the lowest and date from 2022, so budget from the newer figures.
Aluminum, vinyl, composite or fiberglass: pergola cost by material
Aluminum and vinyl are the cheapest at about $10 to $30 per square foot. Cedar and pine sit in the middle, and fiberglass, Trex composite and hardwoods cost the most.
| Material | Angi, per sq ft (2026) | HomeGuide, materials only, per sq ft (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum or metal | $10 to $30 | $10 to $30 |
| Vinyl | $10 to $30 | $10 to $30 |
| Cedar | $25 to $35 | $25 to $40 |
| Pine | $25 to $40 | $20 to $40 |
| Redwood | $40 to $50 | $40 to $50 |
| Fiberglass | Not listed | $50 to $70 |
| Trex composite | Not listed | $50 to $60 |
| Teak and other hardwoods | Not listed | $55 to $100 |
Fixr (2022) lists fiberglass kits at $1,500 to $10,000 and composite kits such as Trex at $1,500 to $3,000, and notes composite needs no paint or stain.
Dallas weather matters when you pick a material. Fixr says vinyl may soften and warp in heat and works best in moderate climates. Block Renovation's Dallas guide says Dallas UV is intense from May through September, materials that fade or warp show their age quickly, and composite decking handles UV better than wood.
Louvered and motorized pergola cost in Dallas
Manual louvered roofs run $45 to $110 per square foot installed and motorized ones $55 to $125, with smart systems that use sensors at $75 to $175 (HomeGuide louvered guide, 2026, national). Angi puts the average motorized pergola at $13,700.
| Size | Manual louvered (HomeGuide, 2026) | Motorized louvered (HomeGuide, 2026) | Motorized (Angi, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 | $4,500 to $11,000 | $5,500 to $12,500 | $6,000 to $18,000 |
| 12x12 | $6,500 to $15,800 | $7,900 to $18,000 | $8,640 to $25,920 |
| 16x20 | $14,400 to $35,200 | $17,600 to $40,000 | $19,200 to $57,600 |
| 20x20 | $18,000 to $44,000 | $22,000 to $50,000 | $24,000 to $72,000 |
HomeGuide's prices assume an existing base. The guides disagree at the top end: Angi's 20x20 motorized range reaches $72,000, HomeGuide's stops at $50,000.
The money buys shade and rain control. Fixr says louvers raise shade from 75% to 90% for open slats to about 90% to 95%. HomeGuide says adjustable louvers block rain when closed, while fixed beams let rain through unless you add a canopy.
Attached vs freestanding pergola cost
An attached pergola usually costs less, because the house carries one side and it needs two posts instead of four. Fixr (2022) puts attached pergolas at $1,700 to $5,000 and freestanding ones at $2,500 to $6,500.
HomeGuide agrees that attached pergolas have fewer columns, which lowers material cost. A freestanding pergola in the ground needs four concrete footers.
The permit side can flip the savings. Dallas's patio cover exemption covers structures under 200 sq ft that are not in a front or side yard setback, and our reading is that an attached pergola needs a permit while a small freestanding one may not. See our Dallas permit rules for pergolas for the full answer.
Footings in North Texas clay: what the base adds
If there is no slab or deck yet, budget for footings or a new base: about $125 to $300 per concrete pier footing, or $5 to $10 per square foot for a concrete slab (HomeGuide). Footings should be sized for Dallas's expansive clay.
- HomeGuide's pergola labor prices assume an existing deck or prepared base. A new deck or slab base adds $600 to $4,300, and a new foundation adds $4 to $30 per sq ft.
- HomeGuide's pavilion guide prices concrete pier footings at $125 to $300 each. Four piers for a freestanding pergola would be $500 to $1,200, and two for an attached one $250 to $600 (our arithmetic).
- Angi puts a new 100 sq ft slab at around $600 and yard leveling at $1 to $2 per sq ft.
The soil is the Dallas factor. Houston Black clay covers about 1.5 million acres of the Blackland Prairie, from north of Dallas to San Antonio. It shrinks and swells markedly as moisture changes, and the USDA says that commonly limits building site development. We found no source that sets a footing depth for pergolas in Dallas, so we won't quote one. Archetex sizes footings and framing to the load and the site, not a one-size prefab kit.
If you need a new slab, see a new stamped concrete patio under it. If the pergola goes on a deck, see building a pergola over a deck and what a deck costs in Dallas.
Wind, hail and heat: what Dallas weather changes in a pergola
Dallas heat and UV wear wood finishes quickly, hail is a real risk to any solid roof section, and high-wind sites need a stronger frame, with cemented posts under heavier roofs.
Block Renovation says DFW storm season brings hail, sometimes golf-ball sized, and metal roofing resists hail better than shingles. HomeGuide says high-wind sites need stronger louvered systems and extra reinforcing, which raises cost, and heavier roofs need cemented posts.
Shade is the honest tradeoff. An open pergola gives partial shade. Block Renovation calls the solid-roof covered patio the defining Dallas structure, "Not a pergola (too little shade for Texas summers)." If you want full shade and rain cover, compare what a 20x20 solid patio cover costs, or see our covered patios and pergolas in Dallas and covered deck or pavilion pages. A louvered roof sits between the two.
Electrical for fans and lights under a pergola
Plan the wiring before the beams go up. An outdoor outlet runs about $150 to $350, a ceiling fan $150 to $500 to install, and lights $80 to $300 per fixture, and hardwired work needs an electrical permit.
| Add-on | Published cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor outlet | $180 to $350 each (Angi: $150 to $260) | HomeGuide, 2024; Angi, 2026 |
| Outdoor light fixture | $80 to $300 each | HomeGuide, 2024 |
| Ceiling fan installation | $150 to $500 per fan | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Rain or wind sensor (louvered roofs) | $125 to $175 | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Misting system | $500 to $2,000 | HomeGuide, 2026; Angi, 2026 |
Block Renovation says electrical permits are needed for any hardwired lighting, outlets or appliance connections. If the pergola is part of a patio, kitchen or fire pit project, plan the whole backyard as one design so the wiring runs once. See our full outdoor living budget.
Staining and upkeep: what a cedar pergola costs to keep up
Expect to restain or reseal a wood pergola every few years. Angi says one to three years, and U.S. General Services Administration guidance says one coat of semi-transparent stain lasts 2 to 4 years on smooth wood.
- HomeGuide puts staining or painting a pergola at $2 to $5 per sq ft in one section and staining alone at $4 to $6 per sq ft in another. Fixr (2022) says $5 to $7 per sq ft, or $600 to $840 for a 10x12.
- Angi says most pergolas last about 15 to 20 years with maintenance.
- GSA says a two-coat system can last up to 8 years and southern exposures wear faster. That guidance is for exterior wood in general, not cedar pergolas.
- Removing an old pergola costs $150 to $700 (HomeGuide).
Dallas pergola permits and HOA approval
Plan on a permit for an attached pergola, and check with the city before building a freestanding one, because the Dallas code does not name pergolas.
The City of Dallas exempts patio covers under 200 sq ft on single-family and duplex lots that are not in a front or side yard setback. The exemptions don't apply in historic, conservation and planned development districts, and detached accessory structures need a one-hour firewall unless set back 5 feet. Dallas has no flat permit fee: the July 2025 schedule lists plan review at $0.046 per sq ft or a $577 minimum, plus a base fee and a minimum inspection fee of $125 per trade. Confirm with the city at 214-948-4480, and read our Dallas permit guide for the details.
HOAs in master-planned communities such as Frisco, McKinney and Allen commonly set maximum heights for patio covers and pergolas, setbacks often 5 to 15 feet from rear and side lines, and approved materials and colors (Block Renovation). Get HOA approval before you apply for a permit. We build in Plano, Frisco, McKinney and nearby towns, and our page on pergolas in Rowlett covers that city.
What a good written pergola quote should include
A good quote lists size, material, footings or base work, finish, electrical, permit and HOA steps, and cleanup as separate lines. Angi's advice is to "Request an itemized quote that includes labor, materials, permits, site cleanup."
- Size, and attached or freestanding.
- Material and roof type: open slats, louvered, motorized or canopy.
- Footings, or the existing slab or deck it sits on.
- Stain or paint.
- Outlets, fans, lights and the electrical permit.
- Building permit and HOA paperwork.
- Timeline. Angi says a custom pergola takes 8 to 16 hours to install, but a new slab, leveling or obstacle removal can stretch the project to several weeks.
Archetex does not publish set prices, because every yard is different. Matthew starts with how you use the yard, then accounts for grading, drainage and how the pergola connects to the house, and sizes the footings to the load and the site. The site visit is free and you get a written price with no obligation. See finished pergolas on our work page, read about our pergola builder in Dallas service, or ask for a free estimate.
