13' x 10' Pergola Design - Free Materials List & Plans

Overview

This is a comprehensive guide for building your own wall-mounted 13x10 backyard pergola. It includes:

A materials list specifying everything you will need to purchase
A list of the basic tools you'll need for installation
Detailed and fully-illustrated instructions for assembling the pergola

Before we dive in, let's make sure you're on the correct design page for the type/style/dimensions of pergola you want to build (and send you to the right page if you're not).

The Finished Product

This pergola design will guide you in building a pergola with the following characteristics:

TYPE: Attached to the house (see these free-standing pergola plans instead)
COMPOSITION: Wood frame & slats with steel connector brackets
LUMBER SIZE FOR FRAME: Your choice of 4x4 posts (which actually measures 3.5" x 3.5") or 6x6 posts (which are actually 5.5" x 5.5")
ROOF & WALLS: Optional (this guide provide instructions for building the pergola's outer frame only, but it links to detailed instructions for adding your choice of several styles of roof slats/rafters/canopies and also one or more privacy walls)
HEIGHT: 8 feet (if you want your pergola to be 9 or 10 feet tall instead of the standard 8-foot height, simply swap out 3 of the 8-ft posts with 10-ft posts in the materials list below)
DIMENSIONS: 13' wide x 10' deep with roof slats (if desired) running the 13' width and therefore providing more shade when the evening sunlight comes from the 13' width side (see this 10x13 pergola design instead if your pergola will be oriented such that sunlight comes from the 10' side)

It's worth noting that the term "dimensions" could be interpreted to mean either:

The overall outside dimensions of the pergola structure (outside edge to outside edge), OR
The combined inside dimensions of the pergola's roof openings (inside edge to inside edge)

These pergola designs accommodate both options. You will just need to pay attention to which set of measurements you use in step 1 (below) when you trim the roof beams.

Materials List

Purchase either this 4x4 pergola bracket kit (if you want the pergola's frame to be made of 4x4s, which actually measure 3.5" x 3.5") OR this 6x6 pergola bracket kit (if you'd rather use 6x6 posts, which actually measure 5.5" x 5.5"). Both kits include all of the following:

3x post base brackets
3x wall mount brackets
2x corner 3-arm brackets
1x mid-wall 4-arm bracket
All of the screws you'll need (stainless steel)
Depending on which roof option you select, the kit may also include roof brackets or shade canopies

In addition to the Zen Pergolas brackets & hardware kit, you will also need to purchase the following items locally from a building supply warehouse or home improvement store (i.e. Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.):

5x 8-foot posts (your choice of 4x4s or 6x6s)
3x 10-foot posts (same post size as above)
12x ground anchors
12x ground fasteners

Note: This pergola design assumes that you'll be splitting the 13' width exactly in half such that both blocks are the same length width-wise. If you don't plan to make them the same length, you will need to adjust the materials list and instructions accordingly. Feel free to contact us if you need help with that.

While the materials cost will vary depending on your location, the type of wood you buy, local stores & availability, we estimate that the total cost for the above lumber and ground/wall fasteners will be about $260 (if you purchase smaller 4x4 posts) or about $478 (if you splurge for larger 6x6 posts). If you're unsure what type of wood to get or what type of ground and/or wall anchoring hardware to buy, please take a few minutes to go over our recommendations.

Please note that the materials list above only shows the lumber needed for the pergola's outer frame (i.e. the 3 vertical posts and the roof beams). If you plan to add a slatted roof and/or one or more privacy walls (see these wall kits for 4x4-frame pergolas or these wall kits for 6x6-frame pergolas), you will need to purchase additional lumber (likely either 2x4s or 2x6s).

Tools You'll Need for Assembly

You'll only need the following basic tools to construct your pergola:

Power drill
Chop saw (aka circular saw / miter saw)
Ladder
Tape measure
Level

If you don't have one or more of these tools, you can likely borrow them from a neighbor or friend (or rent them for a few hours from a local home improvement store).

Step-by-Step Building Instructions

Once you've received your Zen Pergolas bracket kit and purchased the necessary lumber and ground & wall anchors from a local store, you're ready to build your 13x10 back-deck pergola. The entire process should take no more than a couple hours. Let's get to it!

Step 1. Trim the Posts for the Roof Beams (if required)

This first step isn't the least bit difficult, but pay close attention to which of the following 4 sets of measurements you use. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

The required length for each of the roof beams depends on two things:

Whether you want the overall outside dimensions of the pergola to be 13' x 10' OR the combined inside dimensions of the roof openings to be 13' x 10'; and
Whether you're building the pergola frame with 4x4 posts (which are actually 3.5" x 3.5") or 6x6 posts (which are actually 5.5" x 5.5").

Make sure to use the correct set of measurements, paying close attention to the set title in the top-left corner of each of the following 4 tables...

SET #1 - 13' x 10' Outside Dimensions - 4x4 Wood Posts	# of Posts	Beginning Length	Amount to Trim	Length After Trimming
Posts for the 13' width roof beams (split into two equal halves)	2	96 inches (8 feet)	21 and 11/16 inches	74 and 5/16 inches
Posts for the 10' depth roof beams	3	120 inches (10 feet)	3 and 11/16 inches	116 and 5/16 inches

Using these measurements from SET #1, your pergola's outside dimensions will be exactly 13' wide x 10' deep and the roof openings will each be approximately 6' 2.3" wide x 9' 8.3" deep.

SET #2 - 13' x 10' Outside Dimensions - 6x6 Wood Posts	# of Posts	Beginning Length	Amount to Trim	Length After Trimming
Posts for the 13' width roof beams (split into two equal halves)	2	96 inches (8 feet)	23 and 11/16 inches	72 and 5/16 inches
Posts for the 10' depth roof beams	3	120 inches (10 feet)	5 and 11/16 inches	114 and 5/16 inches

Using these measurements from SET #2, your pergola's outside dimensions will be exactly 13' wide x 10' deep and the roof openings will each be approximately 6' 0.3" wide x 9' 6.3" deep.

SET #3 - 13' x 10' Roof Opening Dimensions - 4x4 Wood Posts	# of Posts	Beginning Length	Amount to Trim	Length After Trimming
Posts for the 13' width roof beams (split into two equal halves)	2	96 inches (8 feet)	18 inches	78 inches
Posts for the 10' depth roof beams	3	120 inches (10 feet)	0 inches (do not trim)	120 inches

Using these measurements from SET #3, your pergola's outside dimensions will be approximately 13' 7.3" wide x 10' 3.7" deep and the roof openings will each be 6.5' wide x 10' deep.

SET #4 - 13' x 10' Roof Opening Dimensions - 6x6 Wood Posts	# of Posts	Beginning Length	Amount to Trim	Length After Trimming
Posts for the 13' width roof beams (split into two equal halves)	2	96 inches (8 feet)	18 inches	78 inches
Posts for the 10' depth roof beams	3	120 inches (10 feet)	0 inches (do not trim)	120 inches

Using these measurements from SET #4, your pergola's outside dimensions will be approximately 13' 11.3" wide x 10' 5.7" deep and the roof openings will each be 6.5' wide x 10' deep.

Note: These pergola plans assume that your pergola will be 8 feet tall and that you purchased 8' posts to use as the 3 vertical posts, in which case there's no need to trim them. If you'd like the roof to be 10' tall (rather than 8' tall), you should have purchased three 10' posts (in place of three 8' posts) to serve as the vertical posts. If you'd like your pergola to be taller than 8' but shorter than 10', go ahead and trim the three 10' posts down to the exact height you want the pergola to be. We don't recommend using any longer than 10' posts.

Moving forward: To keep things as simple and concise as possible, even though you may have trimmed a few inches off the roof beams, the remainder of these instructions will still refer to the width-side roof beams as 13' beams (split into two equal halves) and will refer to the depth-side roof beams as 10' beams.

Step 2. Assemble the Roof Structure

You'll want to assemble the roof structure first while it's still on the ground and won't require you to be on a ladder.

Step 2a

Lay out the two 13' roof beams. Set a corner 3-arm bracket next to both ends of the two beams. Make sure that the bracket arm (channel) with only 2 holes on each side is facing down and touching the ground.

Step 2b

Slide the two brackets onto the ends of the beams until the beams butt up against the "lip" inside the brackets. Secure the post to the brackets using the stainless steel screws included with the bracket kit.

On the bracket faces with only 2 holes (which should be facing down towards the ground), put a screw in both holes.

On the bracket faces with 4 holes, you only need to place a hole in the two outermost holes (closest to the visible wood). That said, the kit includes enough screws to fill all 4 holes if you'd like to do so.

Step 2c

Now lay out the three 10' depth-side beams perpendicular to the first beam, with one end of each beam lying next to the open channels of the 3-arm brackets. Slide the 10' beams into the brackets until they butt up against the "lips" inside the brackets. Then use screws to secure the brackets to the beams (filling the same holes as you did in step 2b above).

You have now completed the frame of the roof. If you will be adding roof slats or a shade canopy to the roof, you will want to do that before proceeding to step 3. Here are links to instructions for several different roof styles/options:

After you have added your preferred roof, proceed to step 3.

Step 3. Assemble the Vertical Posts

Lay out the three 8-foot posts (unless you chose to replace them with taller 10-foot posts) that will serve as the pergola's vertical posts. Set a steel post base bracket next to each one. One by one, slide the bracket onto one end of the post base bracket and secure the bracket to the post using the screws provided in the kit. Fill both holes on each bracket face.

Once you've secured a post base bracket onto one end of all of the vertical posts, you're ready to move on to step 4.

Step 4. Connect the Vertical Posts to the Roof Structure

With the assistance of a couple/few helpers, lift up the side of the roof assembly that has the 3-arm corner brackets on the ends. Slide a vertical post into each of the 3-arm brackets on the raised side. The vertical posts should go all the way to the top of the brackets. Secure the posts to the 3-arm brackets using the screws included in the kit (filling both holes on each face). The pergola frame is now complete.

Step 5. Attach the Wall Mount Brackets to the Wall

Step 5a

With the assistance of a couple/few helpers (and using ladders as necessary), lift the two roof beams and set the pergola frame against the wall to which you'll be attaching the beams. Use a pen or pencil to lightly trace the left, bottom and right edges of the horizontal beams where they touch the wall to which you will be attaching the pergola.

Step 5b

On the wall to which you'll be attaching the pergola beams, line up two wall mount brackets with the marks you made in Step 5a (making sure to account for the thickness of the brackets). Attach the two wall mount brackets to the wall using appropriate anchoring hardware for the type of material you're going into.

Step 6. Attach the Roof to the Wall Mount Brackets

With the assistance of a couple/few helpers, lift up the non-bracketed ends of the roof beams so they're just above the wall mount brackets, and then lower the beams into the brackets. Secure the roof beams into the wall mount brackets with a screw in each hole.

Step 7. Anchor Post Bases to the Ground

Anchor each post base bracket to a solid base (i.e. cement slab, concrete footing, deck footing, etc.) using 4 ground fasteners per base bracket. With virtually any type of fastener, you'll want to drill a hole into the cement/concrete before securing the anchoring hardware.

Step 8. Add Privacy Wall(s) and/or Corner Supports - if desired

If you purchased a privacy wall kit for one or more of the sides of the pergola, follow these step-by-step instructions to install it/them.

If you purchased corner support brackets for the top corners of the pergola, follow these detailed instructions to add the corner supports.

DISCLAIMER: While we've made every effort to make these instructions and calculations complete and accurate, please be advised that you use them at your own risk. We recommend double-checking all of the calculations on this page before building your pergola.