Pergola Sizes: From a 7×7 Corner to a 24×12 Outdoor Room
The short answer
Size a pergola by the floor between the posts, not the roof outline. Around 7x7 frames a bench or a table for two, 10x10 to 12x10 covers a patio set for four to six, 14x10 takes a longer table, and a 24x12 splits into two zones; then check the headroom under the beam.
Pergola sizes run from a frame that fits over a single bench to a structure long enough to hold a lounge and a dining table end to end. The listed size is only the start: where it is measured, how high the beam sits and where the posts land all change how the space works. This guide compares pergola sizes in our range, from the 7×7 Kingston to the 24×12 Beaumont, and shows what to measure so the frame fits the way you will use it.
Inside the posts or outside the frame?
Makers measure in different places, so read the size line carefully:
- The Dura-Trel Kingston is listed as 7 by 7 ft inside the posts, which is the space you can actually furnish.
- The Backyard Discovery models give a nominal size plus assembled dimensions. The Delray 14×10, for example, measures 168.13 by 120.13 by 95.44 in assembled.
- The Evanston is listed at 12 by 10 ft and measures 11.75 by 10 ft.
Overall figures include beams and rafters that overhang the posts, so the furnishable floor is smaller than the overall size. When in doubt, plan your furniture around the post positions, not the roof outline.
Our pergolas by size
| Pergola | Listed size | Covered area | Height figure | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston (vinyl) | 7 x 7 ft inside | About 49 sq ft inside the posts | Not published | Not published |
| Beaumont 10×10 (cedar) | 10 x 10 ft | Roughly 100 sq ft | Not published | Not published |
| Evanston (steel, louvered) | 12 x 10 ft (11.75 x 10 actual) | About 117 sq ft | 8 ft 5 in overall | Wall plus posts |
| Delray (cedar) | 14 x 10 ft | 140 sq ft | Beam at 7 ft 11 in | 4, one per corner |
| Beaumont 24×12 (cedar) | 24 x 12 ft | 288 sq ft | Beam at 7 ft 11 in, headroom 7 ft 1 in | 6, 6 x 6 in |
Headroom under the beam
Height matters more on a pergola than buyers expect, because beams run across at a fixed level and a tall person, a patio umbrella or a hanging light all have to clear them. The Beaumont 24×12 is the clearest example: its beam sits at 7 ft 11 in, and Backyard Discovery states the headroom beneath it as 7 ft 1 in. The Delray 14×10 also lifts its beam to 7 ft 11 in. If you plan to hang a fan or pendant lights, subtract their drop from the headroom figure.
Post spacing decides the layout
Where the posts stand shapes the room more than the overall size. On the Beaumont 24×12, six 6 by 6 inch posts stand 10 ft 3 in apart along the long sides, which naturally divides the length into two bays. That suits a lounge at one end and a dining table at the other, with the middle posts marking the boundary. On a four-post pergola like the Delray, the floor between the posts is one open space.
Mark post positions on the ground with stakes before ordering, then set out the furniture you own. Check you can walk in on the sides you need and that no post lands where a chair has to be pulled back.
What each size class tends to suit
A corner or a bench: around 7×7
The Kingston’s 7 by 7 ft interior frames a bistro table for two, a garden bench, or a small seating corner on a deck. Its white vinyl frame suits a compact spot where a heavy timber frame would feel crowded.
A patio set: 10×10 to 12×10
A square or near-square of about 100 to 117 sq ft covers a dining set for four to six, or two lounge chairs and a table between them. The Beaumont 10×10 and the Evanston sit here.
A longer outdoor room: 14×10
The extra length of the Delray allows a longer dining table or a table plus a pair of chairs to one side, under 140 sq ft of purlin roof.
Two zones: 24×12
At 288 sq ft, the Beaumont 24×12 is a structure to plan around: a full outdoor kitchen side and a seating side, or a poolside run of loungers. It comes in four cartons with a combined weight of 762.8 lb, so plan how the cartons will reach the spot as well as the build itself.
Splitting a long pergola into zones
- Use the middle posts as the line between a dining zone and a seating zone.
- Put the zone used after dark nearest the PowerPort post, so lights and a speaker reach it.
- Keep a clear walkway along one long side so people can pass without crossing either zone.
Before you order
- Note whether the listed size is inside the posts, nominal, or assembled.
- Mark the post positions and set out your furniture.
- Check headroom against the tallest thing that will stand or hang beneath the beam.
- Confirm the ground is level across the whole footprint.
Compare every frame in our pergolas, and for materials, ratings and anchoring see the pergola buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much headroom is under the Beaumont 24×12 beam?
Backyard Discovery puts the beam at 7 ft 11 in and states 7 ft 1 in of headroom beneath it. Subtract the drop of any fan or pendant light you plan to hang.
Why is the Evanston listed as 12×10 but measured smaller?
Twelve by ten is the nominal size; measured, the frame is 11.75 by 10 ft, so set out furniture around that figure and the post positions.
How do I lay out a long pergola?
Use the middle posts as the line between dining and seating, keep a walkway clear along one long side, and give the area you use in the evening the corner with the PowerPort.
What does a 7×7 pergola fit?
The Kingston’s 7 by 7 ft interior, about 49 sq ft, frames a bistro table for two, a garden bench or a small seating corner on a deck.
