Is It Cheaper to Build a Pergola or Buy a Kit? Let’s Break It Down

Bjørn Content Team
May 5
3 min read

If you’re thinking about adding a pergola to your outdoor space, chances are you’ve already asked the big question: Should I build it from scratch or just buy a kit?

Spoiler alert: It depends on your budget, skill level, and how custom you want to get—but if you're using Bjorn Woodworks, you kind of get the best of both worlds.

Let’s break it down.

The Case for Buying a Pergola Kit

DIY Pergola kits tend to be far more cost-effective than fully custom builds when you factor in saved costs on labor, wasted materials, and mistakes. Kits also:

Come with preconfigured with all the right pieces needed for your build
Include all necessary hardware
Are designed to be assembled quickly (often in a weekend)

Basically, kits are great if you want a clean, safe solution with minimal hassle.

But here’s the rub: many kits you may find at Home Depot, Lowes, Wayfair and more come in only a few standard sizes. If you’ve got a weird-shaped patio, want to build around a hot tub, or need something specific—tough luck.

The Custom Build Route

Custom pergolas give you total freedom. You pick every measurement, every cut, every finish. But with that freedom comes:

More planning
More margin for error
More money if you mess something up

If you’re hiring a contractor to build it? Expect to spend $5K–$10K+ easily for something high-quality. Plus, you're still limited by someone else's ideas of how it should look.

Enter Bjorn Woodworks: The Sweet Spot

Here’s where Bjorn Woodworks swoops in like a DIY superhero. We sell bracket pergola kits—also known as a wood pergola bracket kit—which means you:

Get easy-to-assemble, ultra-strong 12-gauge, powder coated, steel brackets
Pick and source your own lumber (pressure treated, cedar, douglas fir, or whatever wood you'd like) locally
Build your wooden pergola to your exact size and shape needs
Save big by skipping the contractor markup

And we don’t just mean basic four-post builds either. With our pergola bracket kits, you can bring just about any idea to life:

Want a pergola with a roof for extra shelter? Done.
Fancy a pergola with louvers for adjustable shade? Absolutely.
Dreaming up privacy walls or even integrating your pergola with an outdoor kitchen? Yes and yes.

You still get the simplicity and savings of a kit, but with full customizability and zero compromise on quality. Whether you're building a 10x10 pergola, a hexagon around a firepit, or a lean-to carport—our bracket system makes it possible (and awesome).

But Wait—What About Quality?

One of the biggest risks of DIY builds is ending up with a pergola that leans, wobbles, or just looks... off. A poorly built pergola won’t last long and can be a serious eyesore—or worse, a safety risk.

That’s where Bjorn’s Pergola Bracket Kits shine. Our bracket system helps you build like a pro, even if you’re not one. The structure stays square, the lines stay crisp, and the whole build stays rock-solid for years to come. And with a 10-year structural warranty, we’ve literally got your back.

Pre-fab kits = fast, but often generic and un-customizable
Custom builds = flexible, but $$$ and complex and a big margin for error
Bjorn Woodworks = the perfect blend of DIY savings, full customizability, and pro-level results. Our brackets make your build and you look GOOOD.