How we score louvered pergolas
One formula, seven criteria, the same rules for every brand. Here it is in full, with every kit's numbers.
We compare kits on what each brand publishes on its official pages and on the US prices we check ourselves on its store; we do not assemble or measure the kits ourselves.
The seven criteria and their weights
Each criterion is scored out of 10 by linear interpolation between fixed anchor points, then weighted:
| Wind rating (brand) · 20% | mph published by the brand: 50 → 3, 70 → 5, 90 → 7, 110 → 8.5, 130 → 9.5, 165 → 10 |
|---|---|
| Snow load (brand) · 15% | psf published by the brand: 10 → 4, 15 → 5.5, 20 → 7, 30 → 8.5, 45 → 9.5, 60 → 10 |
| Frame and louver material · 15% | Aluminum frame and louvers 10, Aluminum frame, steel louvers 7.5, Galvanized steel 6 |
| Warranty · 15% | years: 1 → 3, 2 → 5, 3 → 6.5, 4 → 7.5, 5 → 8.5, 10 → 10 |
| Price per square foot · 25% | US dollars per square foot at the reference size: 9 → 10, 15 → 9, 20 → 8, 30 → 6.5, 40 → 5, 55 → 3.5, 75 → 2 |
| Roof control · 5% | Motorized 10, Hand crank 7.5, Wand or pole 6.5 |
| Return terms · 5% | 100-day trial 10, 30-day returns 6, Returns with a restocking fee 4 |
Two rules that make the score fair
Not published scores the floor. A wind rating, snow load or warranty that the brand does not publish scores 3/10. You cannot plan a project, or get a permit, around a number you do not have.
Conflicting numbers: the less favorable one counts. When a brand publishes two values for the same kit (Domi: 50 or 72 mph, 5 or 1 years; Paragon: 4+1 or 6+1 years), we score the lower one and show both on the review.
From the formula to the score you see
The weighted average (the raw score, out of 10) is converted to the displayed score with a fixed rule: displayed = 7.4 + 0.6 × (raw − 5), kept between 7.5 and 9.6. The order never changes in the conversion.
Tie-break: no two kits share a score
Kits are ordered by raw score, then by lower price per square foot, then by longer warranty. If two kits would display the same number, the lower one in that order shows 0.1 less (never below 7.5). Every displayed score on the site is therefore unique, and the No. 1 is the real top of the formula.
Rankings by need
The motorized, wall-mounted, for-the-money and 10×12 rankings filter the same list; they never re-weight it. A kit shows the same score everywhere. On the 10×12 ranking, the price shown is the price of that size.
Every kit's numbers
| Kit | Wind rating | Snow load | Frame and louver material | Warranty | Price per square foot | Roof control | Return terms | Raw | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PERGOLUX Pergola 4 Pro | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 8.5 | 9.5 |
| Hansø Aluminum Pergola | 9 | 7.8 | 10 | 10 | 5.3 | 7.5 | 10 | 8.17 | 9.3 |
| Mirador 111DA | 7.9 | 8 | 10 | 7.5 | 8.3 | 7.5 | 6 | 8.15 | 9.2 |
| Backyard Discovery Evanston | 7.8 | 6.3 | 6 | 8.5 | 9 | 6.5 | 4 | 7.46 | 8.9 |
| Backyard Discovery Sarasota | 7.8 | 6.3 | 6 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 6.5 | 4 | 7.38 | 8.8 |
| Mirador 111S | 7 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 8.3 | 7.5 | 6 | 7.32 | 8.7 |
| Mirador 111S E-Motion | 7 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 10 | 6 | 7.32 | 8.6 |
| Paragon Lugano | 6.2 | 6.1 | 10 | 7.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 4 | 7.11 | 8.5 |
| Mirador 80S | 5.9 | 5.7 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 7.5 | 6 | 6.61 | 8.4 |
| Domi Louvered Pergola | 3 | 5.5 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 6.5 | 6 | 6.25 | 8.2 |
| Purple Leaf Caesar | 5 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 6 | 6.15 | 8.1 |
| Purple Leaf Athena | 5.2 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 7.9 | 6.5 | 6 | 6.04 | 8.0 |
| EROMMY Louvered Pergola | 3 | 3 | 7.5 | 3 | 10 | 7.5 | 4 | 5.7 | 7.8 |
| EROMMY Smart Electric | 3 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 5.7 | 7.7 |
| VEIKOUS Steel Louvered | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 9.4 | 7.5 | 6 | 5.43 | 7.6 |
What we do not score
Owner reviews and star ratings (we quote owner reports with their source, but they do not enter the formula), looks, and anything a brand does not publish. Affiliate programs never enter the formula: several brands in the top of the ranking have no program we could find.
Prices and updates
Prices are the kit price at the brand's US store, before tax and installation, read on November 15, 2026. Store "regular" or compare-at prices are ignored; we use the price you would pay that day. Each review links to its sources.
Questions about the method: [email protected]. Updated November 15, 2026.