How Much Does a Custom Pergola Cost in Denver?
A custom pergola is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a Denver backyard usable through the summer, and pricing is more predictable than most homeowners expect. A cedar pergola starts at $32 per square foot installed, and from there the number moves based on size, stain, and the upgrades you add. Below is how pergola pricing actually works across the Denver metro, plus a real project from our gallery broken down line by line.
What Determines Pergola Pricing
Size is the main factor. Pergolas are priced by the square foot, and the figure that matters is the roof size — not the post layout. That distinction catches people out. A pergola whose canopy overhangs well past its posts is priced on the full canopy footprint, because that is where the material and labor go. Moving posts inward for a cleaner look or to clear a patio edge does not reduce the price, and it does not increase it either.
Material is the second lever. Cedar is the most popular choice in the Denver metro for its grain and its natural resistance to weather, and it starts at $32/sq ft for a full install. Pressure-treated pine starts at $30/sq ft and takes stain well, which makes it a sensible pick when the whole structure is getting a solid color anyway.
Everything after that is upgrades: stain, a privacy wall, a solid roof, tighter top slats, a finished ceiling. Each is priced per square foot of the upgrade itself, so you can scale a project up or down without redesigning it. Note that pergola pricing covers the structure — roofing is quoted separately, since plenty of pergolas are built open on purpose.
A Real Denver Pergola, Priced Out
Here is an actual build from our gallery, completed in September 2025 — a modern-style pergola with a two-tone stain and a matching cedar privacy wall — with every line item shown at our current rates.
| Cedar pergola — 16' × 10' (160 sq ft) $32/sq ft |
$5,120 |
| Two-tone stain — 160 sq ft $8/sq ft |
$1,280 |
| Cedar privacy wall — 16' × 5' (80 sq ft) $18/sq ft |
$1,440 |
| Approximate total | $7,840 |
Taxes included. Price shown before any permitting fees, which vary by jurisdiction across Denver, Jefferson County, Douglas County, and Arapahoe County. No combo discount applied — this was a standalone pergola with no deck in the same project.
A note on pricing: the figures on this page reflect our rates as of July 2026. Material costs move with inflation and supply, and lumber and composite pricing in particular can shift a fair amount year to year — so current numbers may be higher or lower than what you see here. Use this as a planning baseline, and treat your written estimate after a free on-site visit as the real figure.
Pergola Upgrade Pricing
These are the add-ons we quote most often on Denver pergola projects. Each is priced per square foot of the upgrade, not of the whole structure.
| Stain & finish — single color or two-tone | from $7/sq ft |
| Cedar slat privacy wall | from $18/sq ft |
| Additional top slats — tighter spacing for more shade | from $4/sq ft |
| Polycarbonate roof — Hercules premium poly | $16/sq ft |
| Metal roof — R-panel or standing seam | from $12/sq ft |
| Tongue & groove ceiling | from $25/sq ft |
| Custom shape, angled corners & stairs | quoted per project |
Full photos and descriptions of every option are on our upgrades page, and the complete rate card lives on our pricing page.
Ways to Bring the Cost Down
If a pergola is going over a new deck, build them together. We take 10% off the total when you combine a deck and pergola — or any two structures — into one project, because it is one mobilization, one crew, and one set of footings.
Pressure-treated pine instead of cedar saves a couple of dollars per square foot and takes a solid stain beautifully. And because we are a small, family-run company in Littleton with low overhead, we will attempt to match any legitimate quote from a licensed, insured local competitor on an equal product.
Getting an Exact Number for Your Property
Square-foot pricing gets you a reliable planning number, but the final quote depends on your site. Grade, access, existing patio or deck conditions, attachment points on the house, and local permitting all factor in — and they vary a lot between a flat lot in Centennial and a granite hillside in Evergreen or Morrison.
Deck Giant builds custom pergolas throughout the Denver metro and the Colorado Front Range, including Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Lone Tree, Parker, Castle Rock, Englewood, Lakewood, Golden, Evergreen, and Morrison. We offer free on-site consultations and free preliminary quotes by email or phone on every project, large or small.