Both structures give you a permanent roof over a patio, but they get there differently. A louvered pergola has rotating aluminum or steel slats you can open for sun or close for shade. A hardtop gazebo has a fixed metal, panel or polycarbonate roof. The difference shows up in price, in how the roof copes with weather, and in how you use the space.
What each one is
A pergola is traditionally an open frame of posts and crossbeams that shades a walkway or seating area. Louvered versions replace the open lattice with slats. In our data the slats rotate between 90 and 135 degrees depending on the model, and most are manual. Only the Mirador 111S E-Motion is listed as motorized.
A gazebo is a roofed, usually open-sided pavilion, and a hardtop gazebo swaps the old shingled or fabric canopy for a metal roof. Several of these models, such as the Sunjoy Meridian and Solaria, include netting or curtains. Others mount against a house wall, like the Domi wall-mounted units.
Price per square foot at the same size
All numbers are as of November 8, 2026. Price per square foot here is price divided by covered area. The table compares every listed model that is sold as 10' x 12'.
| Model | Type | Price | Covered area | Price / sq ft | Wind | Snow | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domi Outdoor Living Galvanized Steel Wall-Mounted Hardtop Gazebo 10' x 12' | Hardtop gazebo | $649.99 | 120 sq ft | $5.42 | 60 mph | 22 lb/sq ft | 5 yr |
| Sunjoy Vista PC-Roof Wall-Mounted Gazebo 10' x 12' | Hardtop gazebo | $822.25 | 120 sq ft | $6.85 | 50 mph | 1,900 lb total roof | not stated |
| Domi Outdoor Living Aluminum Hardtop Gazebo Dark Gray with Drainage Gutters 10' x 12' | Hardtop gazebo | $999.99 | 120 sq ft | $8.33 | 40 mph | 22 lb/sq ft | 5 yr |
| Sunjoy Solaria Eco-Solar Aluminum Gazebo 10' x 12' | Hardtop gazebo | $1,482.40 | 120 sq ft | $12.35 | 50 mph | 2,900 lb total roof | not stated |
| Paragon Outdoor Santa Monica Hard Top Gazebo 10' x 12' | Hardtop gazebo | $1,999.99 | 113 sq ft | $17.70 | 65 mph | 8 lb/sq ft | 5 yr |
| Kozyard Elizabeth Louvered Pergola 10' x 12' | Louvered pergola | $1,679.98 | 120 sq ft | $14.00 | 65 mph | not stated | 1 yr |
| Mirador Outdoor 80S Steel Pergola 10' x 12' | Louvered pergola | $1,799 | 120 sq ft | $14.99 | 78.5 mph | 15.7 lb/sq ft | 2 yr |
| Paragon Outdoor Grand Tuscan Louvered Pergola 10' x 12' | Louvered pergola | $2,249.99 | 120 sq ft | $18.75 | 73 mph | 15 lb/sq ft | not stated |
| Purple Leaf Athena Louvered Pergola 10' x 12' | Louvered pergola | $2,499 | 120 sq ft | $20.83 | 72 mph | not stated | 1 yr |
| Paragon Outdoor Suprema Louvered Pergola 10' x 12' | Louvered pergola | $2,519.99 | 120 sq ft | $21.00 | 82 mph | 19 lb/sq ft | 6 yr |
| Paragon Outdoor Lugano Louvered Pergola 10' x 12' | Louvered pergola | $3,199.99 | 120 sq ft | $26.67 | 82 mph | 17 lb/sq ft | 4 yr |
The cheapest hardtop gazebo costs $5.42 per square foot. The cheapest louvered pergola in this size costs $14.00. Hardtop gazebos start lower because a fixed roof has no moving parts. You pay more for louvers because of the slat hardware and the extra frame strength needed around it.
Weather performance
Wind ratings in the 10' x 12' table run from 40 mph to 82 mph. The two Domi aluminum gazebos at 40 mph are the weakest, while the Paragon Suprema and Lugano pergolas reach 82 mph. Across the whole data set, the highest rating is 102 mph, held by several Mirador louvered pergolas. Hardtop gazebos can be strong too: the Mirador 111A Offset Hardtop Gazebo 10' x 16' lists 90.2 mph and 41 lb/sq ft of snow load, the top snow figure in the data.
Snow is where you must read carefully. Some makers state snow load in pounds per square foot, others only a total weight the whole roof can carry. The Sunjoy gazebos state a total roof load, for example 2,900 lb for the Solaria, and we do not convert that into a per-square-foot figure. Our snow load and wind rating guide explains how to compare them.
Which fits which buyer
Pick a louvered pergola if:
- You want sun in winter and shade in summer from the same structure.
- You will pay for flexibility: in the 10' x 12' table, louvered pergolas run from $1,679.98 to $3,199.99.
- You want the higher wind ratings, since the 10' x 12' pergolas reach 82 mph.
Pick a hardtop gazebo if:
- Budget matters most. The Domi wall-mounted 10' x 12' costs $649.99 and the 12' x 16' costs $1,029.99.
- You want a fixed, fully covered roof with curtains or netting for bugs.
- You are attaching it to the house, which the wall-mounted models allow.
A word on permits
A fixed roof is more likely than an open pergola to trigger local building rules. Rules vary by city. As one example, the City of Piedmont, California states that a detached accessory structure may skip a permit only if it is single story, under 7 feet tall and under 120 square feet. Every model here that lists a height is taller than 7 feet, so call your building department before you order.
