Is the Purple Leaf Athena worth it?
Our verdict: All-aluminum, two independent roof zones and 13 sizes from 10×12 ($2,499) to 14×24 ($5,699). Purple Leaf publishes 72 mph when fully secured on a hard floor, and no snow figure. The catch: a 1-year warranty and 4–6 people to assemble it.
Thirteen sizes, four colors, two independent roof zones and aluminum throughout, from $2,499 for 10×12. It scores 8.0/10 on our published formula, No. 12 of 15 kits. Best for: the widest choice of sizes and colors.
The catch: A 1-year warranty, no published snow load, and 4–6 people to install.
Who should buy the Purple Leaf Athena, and who should not
Buy it if
- Your patio is an odd size: 13 sizes means less wasted roof
- You want aluminum louvers that will not rust at a scratch
- You like a choice of colors (Grey, Bronze, White, Champagne)
Skip it if
- You want a long warranty (1 year)
- You need a published snow load
- You have only one helper
Not the right fit? The Mirador 111S is the alternative we would look at first: stronger published ratings and 3+1 years for $2,399 at 10×13.
How much does the Purple Leaf Athena cost?
Prices of every size at the Purple Leaf store on November 15, 2026, kit only, before tax and installation. The price per square foot is our own calculation on the roof size.
| Size (ft) | Roof area | Price | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10×12 (reference) | 120 sq ft | $2,499 | $20.83 |
| 10×14 | 140 sq ft | $2,599 | $18.56 |
| 11×13 | 143 sq ft | $2,679 | $18.73 |
| 11×14 | 154 sq ft | $2,849 | $18.5 |
| 12×12 | 144 sq ft | $2,919 | $20.27 |
| 12×14 | 168 sq ft | $2,899 | $17.26 |
| 11×15 | 165 sq ft | $3,079 | $18.66 |
| 10×16 | 160 sq ft | $3,409 | $21.31 |
| 12×16 | 192 sq ft | $3,499 | $18.22 |
| 12×20 | 240 sq ft | $4,369 | $18.2 |
| 12×24 | 288 sq ft | $5,049 | $17.53 |
| 14×20 | 280 sq ft | $5,099 | $18.21 |
| 14×24 | 336 sq ft | $5,699 | $16.96 |
Where to buy it
- Purple Leaf store: $2,499 for 10 × 12 ft (the store showed a $3,299 list price; we use the price you pay).
Home Depot, Lowe's, Wayfair and Amazon also list many of these brands; their prices and sellers change often, so we only quote stores we checked on the day. Our louvered pergola cost guide adds the pad, anchors and installation.
Sizes and clearance height
The Purple Leaf Athena comes in 13 sizes: 10×12, 10×14, 11×13, 11×14, 12×12, 12×14, 11×15, 10×16, 12×16, 12×20, 12×24, 14×20, 14×24 ft. Purple Leaf lists Height 94.5 in. That is about 7 ft 11 in of height, so check doors, windows and gutters nearby before you order.
Frame and louvers: aluminum or steel?
Purple Leaf builds the Athena entirely in aluminum: powder-coated frame, aluminum louvers, 4.33 × 4.33 inch posts with a 1.5 mm column wall, and a clearance height of 94.5 inches. Those are useful numbers, and more than several bigger brands publish. The posts are slimmer than PERGOLUX's 4 23/32 inches, which you will see in person on the larger sizes.
Purple Leaf is the most visible brand in Google's shopping results for louvered pergolas, and the shop's range is wide: this Athena series, the Caesar series (from $2,129 for 10×12 on the day we checked), lean-to and lights versions. This review covers the Athena, the one Purple Leaf calls its louvered pergola. Our Purple Leaf brand guide compares the series.
Crank, wand or motor?
The roof is split into two zones that you adjust independently with the supplied poles, from 0° to 90°. Two zones is a real advantage over single-crank kits: shade the table, leave the lounge corner open. Poles are also the least convenient control in this comparison; there is no crank and no motor option on this series.
Does the Purple Leaf Athena keep the rain out?
Purple Leaf describes a "concealed drainage system" that splits water to the four posts and out through notches at the base, and says it works "without any leakage" even on uneven surfaces. That is a strong claim; Purple Leaf does not use the word waterproof on the page. Our guide on whether louvered pergolas are waterproof explains what to expect at the edges.
Wind rating and snow load
72 mph is a mid-pack number, and it comes with a clear condition: fully secured by expansion screws on a hardened floor. Purple Leaf publishes no snow load and asks owners to open the louvers in snow and extreme weather. The Caesar series lists 70 mph "when properly installed".
We never call a pergola "wind-proof": these are the brand's figures, under the brand's conditions. Our wind rating and snow load guide puts every kit side by side.
How hard is the Purple Leaf Athena to install?
Purple Leaf recommends four to six people and does not install itself; it points buyers to third-party assemblers. One owner who bought a 14×24 on Amazon and built it himself rates quality and instructions "7 out of 10", says he snapped a couple of bolts during assembly and received a few damaged pieces (r/patio, July 10, 2026). Order spare bolts from your hardware store before the build day.
Video: “[PURPLE LEAF] See louvered pergola in Action | Easy Assembly & Product Demo” (PURPLE LEAF_OFFICIAL on YouTube). Plays from youtube-nocookie.com after you click.
Step-by-step advice for any kit is in our louvered pergola installation guide.
Options: screens, walls, lights
Roller blinds from $219, shutter walls and curtains are sold separately. Four frame colors, with stock varying by size: on November 15, 2026 the Grey frame was in stock in most sizes and several Bronze sizes were sold out.
Warranty, returns and delivery
The comparison table on the product page gives 1 year. Unopened, unused items can be refunded within 30 days; you pay return shipping. That short warranty is the main reason the Athena sits below steel kits with 5-year warranties in our ranking, despite its aluminum build.
What owners say
The owner quoted above sums up a common theme: the finished pergola is "fine", assembly is long, and he never opens the louvers, so he wonders whether a fixed roof would have done. If you plan to leave the roof closed all season, that is worth a thought.
What's in the box, and the costs on top
In the box
- Aluminum frame, beams and louvers
- Adjustment poles for the two roof zones
- Hardware and expansion screws
- Manual
Hidden costs to plan for
- Assembly help (4–6 people) or a third-party installer
- Roller blinds from $219 if you want side shade
- Return shipping if you change your mind
Questions to ask the seller before you pay
- Is my size and color in stock now, or a pre-order?
- Do you sell spare bolts and louvers?
- Is the warranty longer when bought on Amazon or Lowe's?
Purple Leaf Athena vs its closest rivals
The same facts for the Purple Leaf Athena and the two kits we would compare it with, prices checked the same day.
| Criterion | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.0/10 · Fair | 8.7/10 · Good | 8.8/10 · Very good | 8.2/10 · Good |
| Price checked | $2,499 for 10 × 12 ft Nov 15, 2026, kit only | $2,399 for 10 × 13 ft Nov 15, 2026, kit only | $1,999 for 12 × 10 ft Nov 15, 2026, kit only | $1,949.99 for 10 × 13 ft Nov 15, 2026, kit only |
| Price per sq ft | $20.8 | $18.5 | $16.7 | $15 |
| Sizes sold | 10×12, 10×14, 11×13, 11×14, 12×12, 12×14, 11×15, 10×16, 12×16, 12×20, 12×24, 14×20, 14×24 | 10×10, 10×13, 10×20 | 10×10, 12×10, 14×10, 16×10, 18×10, 20×10 | 10×10, 10×12, 10×13, 12×16, 12×20 |
| Frame / louvers | Powder-coated aluminum / Aluminum | Powder-coated aluminum / Galvanized steel | Powder-coated galvanized steel / Galvanized steel | Aluminum / Aluminum |
| Roof control | Two independent roof zones adjusted with poles, 0–90° | Hand crank, louvers open up to 93° | Included wand opens and closes the louvers | Manual louvers |
| Mounting | Freestanding | Freestanding | Freestanding | Freestanding |
| Wind (brand) | 72 mph | 90.2 mph | 100 mph | 50 mph |
| Snow (brand) | Not published | 20.8 psf | 17.5 psf (our calc.) | 15 psf |
| Warranty | 1 year (Purple Leaf comparison table on the product page) | 3+1 years: 3 years, plus 1 year when you register the product with Mirador | 5-year warranty | 5 years on the hardtop roof and frame on the product page, but "Warranty Time 1 year" on the store refund policy; we score the lower figure |
| Returns | 30-day refund for unopened, unused items; return shipping paid by the buyer | Return, refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt (Mirador store) | Returns within 30 days of receipt; 15% restocking fee and shipping paid by the buyer | 30-day refund for unopened, unused items |
| Buy | Check price at Purple Leaf | Check price at Mirador | Check price at Backyard Discovery | Check price at Domi |
- Mirador 111S (8.7/10): Stronger published ratings and 3+1 years for $2,399 at 10×13.
- Backyard Discovery Sarasota (8.8/10): 100 mph and 5 years for $1,999, in steel.
- Domi Louvered Pergola (8.2/10): Aluminum with curtains included, $1,949.99 for 10×13.
Head-to-heads: Purple Leaf Athena vs Mirador 111S · Purple Leaf Athena vs BD Sarasota.
Purple Leaf Athena specifications
| Brand / model | Purple Leaf Athena |
|---|---|
| Sizes sold (ft) | 10×12, 10×14, 11×13, 11×14, 12×12, 12×14, 11×15, 10×16, 12×16, 12×20, 12×24, 14×20, 14×24 |
| Price at reference size | $2,499 for 10 × 12 ft (checked November 15, 2026) |
| Price per square foot | $20.83 (our calculation) |
| Frame | Powder-coated aluminum |
| Louvers | Aluminum |
| Post section | 4.33 × 4.33 in |
| Metal thickness | 1.5 mm column thickness |
| Roof control | Two independent roof zones adjusted with poles, 0–90° |
| Mounting | Freestanding |
| Drainage | Concealed drainage split to the four posts, out through notches at the base |
| Wind rating (brand) | Can withstand wind speeds of 72 mph — when fully secured by expansion screws on hardened floors (Purple Leaf product page) |
| Snow load (brand) | Not published — Purple Leaf asks owners to open the louvers in snow and extreme weather |
| Dimensions | Height 94.5 in |
| Weight | Not published |
| Assembly (brand) | Purple Leaf recommends 4–6 people and does not offer installation itself; it points to third-party assemblers. |
| Colors | Grey, Bronze, White, Champagne |
| Options | Roller blinds from $219, shutter walls, curtains (sold separately) |
| Warranty | 1 year (Purple Leaf comparison table on the product page) |
| Returns | 30-day refund for unopened, unused items; return shipping paid by the buyer |
| Availability | Grey frame in stock in most sizes; several Bronze sizes sold out on Nov 15, 2026 |
| Sold by | Purple Leaf store |
Sources, read on November 15, 2026: purpleleafshop.com.
Purple Leaf Athena: questions buyers ask
Is Purple Leaf a good pergola brand?
It publishes more structural detail than many rivals (post size, wall thickness, clearance) and sells the widest size range here. Its weak points are a 1-year warranty and no published snow load.
What is the Purple Leaf louvered pergola wind rating?
72 mph when fully secured by expansion screws on hardened floors, per the Athena product page.
Does the Purple Leaf pergola handle snow?
Purple Leaf publishes no snow load and asks owners to open the louvers in snow and extreme weather.
Purple Leaf Caesar or Athena series?
Athena has two independent roof zones and more sizes; Caesar is cheaper (from $2,129 at 10×12) with 4.53 in columns and a 70 mph rating. Both carry a 1-year warranty.
Written by Laura Benson for the Best Louvered Pergola editorial team. Updated November 15, 2026. Scores come from our methodology; prices move, so check the seller's page before you buy.