Choose aluminum when reducing refinishing work and buying a defined product system matter most. Choose wood when natural timber, custom dimensions, or a particular built-in appearance matter more. The better price is the complete installed price for the function the customer wants.
Before comparing dollars, ask one question: Is this shade, or is it a roof that also needs to manage rain? An open wood pergola and an adjustable-louver aluminum system do different jobs. A material comparison alone won't explain the difference in their quotes.
For published price references and a breakdown of assembly, foundations, and delivery, see our pergola installation cost guide.
Aluminum vs wood pergola at a glance
| Decision | Aluminum | Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Defined profiles and factory finishes; some systems offer wood-look finishes | Natural grain; species, grade, and finish change the look |
| Dimensions | Check available sizes and permitted modifications | A custom design can suit unusual dimensions, subject to structural design |
| Roof function | Open, fixed, or adjustable-louver options depend on the product | Often open beams or slats; extra roofing changes the design |
| Upkeep | Cleaning, finish inspection, and care for moving parts or drainage where fitted | Cleaning, connection checks, and maintenance of the chosen finish |
| Installation pricing | Include assembly, delivery handling, anchors, and foundations | Include cutting, assembly, hardware, finishing, and foundations |
| Weather suitability | Verify the exact model, anchoring requirements, and operating instructions | Verify the species, member sizes, connections, and design for the site |
| Warranty | Read separate terms for frame, coating, motors, and accessories | Distinguish kit or material coverage from installer workmanship |
Mirador's material comparison explains the maintenance and roof-function differences. Its claims about its own systems shouldn't be applied to every aluminum pergola.
Compare equivalent roof functions first
Make separate options if the customer is considering different functions:
| Customer wants | What to put in the quote |
|---|---|
| A shaded seating area with an open sky above | Open-roof structure; show beam or slat spacing and orientation |
| Adjustable sun exposure | The specific adjustable system and controls |
| Protection from ordinary rain | The manufacturer's stated roof performance, drainage route, and limitations |
| Screens, lights, heaters, or fans | Approved accessories, mounting provisions, wiring, and any additional design work |
Don't price a solid roof as a cosmetic add-on to an open-frame design. Have the structural and drainage requirements checked before offering it. Likewise, “12 × 12” might describe outside roof dimensions rather than clear space between posts. Compare plan drawings before promising the same usable area.
Example: two 12-by-12-foot open-roof pergolas
This example compares a hypothetical aluminum open-roof package with a custom wood open-roof package, both covering a nominal 144 square feet. It assumes straightforward access and separately designed foundations. It doesn't compare named products or include a closing louvered roof.
All prices and labor hours are illustrative USD inputs, not supplier quotes or measured installation times. Product information checked November 1, 2026. Use this as an estimate structure and replace the allowances for the actual site.
| Direct-cost item | Aluminum package | Wood package |
|---|---|---|
| Frame and open-roof material package, including above-base connection hardware | $3,000 | $1,800 |
| Delivery and handling allowance | $250 | $200 |
| Specified foundations and anchoring, installed allowance | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Assembly or fabrication labor at $55/person-hour | 16 hours: $880 | 32 hours: $1,760 |
| Initial finish materials | Included in package | $200 |
| Initial finish labor at $55/person-hour | Included in package | 8 hours: $440 |
| Total direct cost | $5,330 | $5,600 |
| Illustrative selling price with 30% markup | $6,929 | $7,280 |
The wood material package starts $1,200 lower, yet the finished customer price is $351 higher under these labor and finish assumptions. This is why comparing a kit box with a lumber list can mislead.
The equal foundation allowances make the example easy to follow. They don't mean the designs require identical footings. Foundation labor is already in that line; don't count it again in assembly hours. Taxes, permits, engineering fees, electrical work, patio construction, demolition, and accessories are excluded and must be added when applicable.
Here, the wood option's cost excluding assembly labor is $3,840. It matches the aluminum direct cost at about 27.1 assembly person-hours, given the other assumptions. That is a pricing sensitivity check, not a target your crew should rush to meet.
One person working eight hours is eight person-hours. Two people working eight hours is 16. Use that unit consistently, and check markup versus margin before applying a selling-price percentage.
Foundations and weather ratings belong in the scope
Check the exact model manual before ordering or fixing the installation price. Mirador says pavers alone generally aren't a suitable structural anchoring base without a solid foundation underneath, and its instructions vary by model. It also gives operating guidance for louvers during snow. Mirador installation and support guidance
That creates three practical estimating tasks:
- Locate the supports. Confirm post positions, underground services, finished elevations, and access for foundation work.
- Confirm the approved anchoring design. An existing patio or deck needs assessment; don't assume its surface can carry the new structure and connections.
- Record the exact product and conditions. Attach the applicable drawings and manuals. A headline wind speed isn't a substitute for checking the design against site requirements.
Ask the local building department about approvals for the actual size, location, and attachment. Requirements vary, so a manufacturer's general permit statement isn't a site approval.
If the project also needs a patio, price that scope separately using the pavers vs stamped concrete comparison. Coordinate foundations before the finish surface goes down.
Maintenance and lifespan: be specific about the finish
Don't promise a fixed lifespan from the material name. Exposure, construction, connections, finish, and care all matter. Warranty length is a contract term, not a service-life prediction.
For aluminum, document the cleaning method, coating care, replacement-part availability, and any louver or drainage maintenance. For wood, name the species and finish, and say whether the customer wants to retain a particular color or accept weathering.
The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association explains that leaving cedar unfinished is a valid choice in suitable conditions, with different appearance and maintenance expectations. That doesn't make every species or wood kit finish-optional. Follow the actual product requirements. Real Cedar finishing guidance
Make upkeep concrete. If a future wood refinishing visit is budgeted at $180 in materials plus eight person-hours at $55, its direct cost is $620. With the same example 30% markup, the visit is $806 before tax. The number of visits depends on the chosen coating and exposure; don't multiply it into a lifetime total without explaining that assumption.
What the customer should see before approving
The estimate should identify dimensions, clearances, roof function, material or model, finish, foundations, assembly, delivery location, and exclusions. Show accessory options separately. Attach a drawing so everyone agrees on where the posts and roof edges land.
For warranty comparisons, ask who covers the structure, finish, moving parts, and workmanship, and whether removal and reinstall labor is included. Don't reduce those different promises to one “years covered” number.
Use the scope-of-work guide to turn the decisions into a clear approval. If the outdoor project extends to decking, the Trex vs TimberTech guide uses the same complete-scope approach.
Common questions
Is aluminum cheaper than wood?
It can be after assembly and finishing, even when its package costs more. The worked example shows that possibility, not a universal price ranking. Compare local quotes with the same roof function and dimensions.
Is an aluminum pergola waterproof?
Aluminum describes the material, not the roof's weather performance. Check the exact roof system, drainage design, installation conditions, and manufacturer limitations before promising rain protection.
Can a pergola be anchored to patio pavers?
Don't assume the pavers themselves provide structural anchorage. Follow the product manual and the approved foundation design. The estimate should include any work needed below the patio surface.