Wood vs. Aluminum Pergola Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Wood vs. Aluminum Pergola Cost in 2026 Wood pergolas cost $25 to $55 per square foot installed in 2026, while aluminum pergolas cost $30 to $60 per square foot -- making them nearly equal in upfront cost. The real cost difference emerges over time: a $5,000 wood pergola requiring $300/year in maintenance costs $11,000 over 20 years, while a comparable $7,000 aluminum pergola costs $7,300 total. Aluminum wins the long-term value contest. I tracked 5 pergola projects last year -- 3 cedar, 2 aluminum -- and the maintenance reality is what changes most homeowners' minds after year 3. A beautiful cedar pergola in Virginia looked stunning at installation. By year 2, the UV had grayed the wood and the homeowner spent a weekend and $400 on power washing and staining. The aluminum pergola next door? A 30-minute hose-down twice a year. Same look, zero weekends lost. Use our Pergola Calculator(/construction/pergola-calculator)...
How Much Does a Pergola Cost in 2026? (National Averages & Real Pricing)
How Much Does a Pergola Cost in 2026? A pergola costs $25 to $85 per square foot installed in 2026, with most projects ranging from $3,000 to $8,500 for a standard 100-200 sq ft structure. Pressure-treated wood pergolas run $25-$40/sq ft installed, cedar costs $35-$55/sq ft, aluminum runs $30-$60/sq ft, and motorized louvered pergolas reach $60-$200/sq ft. Materials account for 60-80% of total cost. I priced 5 pergola projects in the mid-Atlantic last year, and the item that surprises everyone is the post footings. A 12x14 cedar pergola in Virginia came to $7,200 installed. The cedar itself was $2,800. The 4 concrete footings (36 inches deep for frost line), post brackets, and structural hardware added $1,600. Labor for a 2-man crew over 2 days was the remaining $2,800. Homeowners who think "it's just 4 posts and some beams" consistently underestimate the foundation work. Use our Pergola Calculator(/construction/pergola-calculator) to get a...