The short answer
Most permanent patio covers run $20 to $60 per square foot installed. That range is wide because a patio cover is really a small construction project: it has posts, footings, a roof, and often an engineered connection to your house. A simple aluminum cover on a small patio sits at the low end. A large wood structure with a shingle roof tied into your existing roofline sits at the high end.
Here are the typical ranges we see for common sizes and styles:
| Project | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Most permanent covers (per sq ft) | $20 to $60 |
| 10x10 cover (100 sq ft) | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| 10x20 cover (200 sq ft) | $10,000 to $22,500 |
| 20x20 cover (400 sq ft) | $20,000 to $60,000 |
| Prefab pergola | $1,450 to $5,750 |
| Attached gable roof cover | $14,000 to $31,000 |
Cost by material
Material is the biggest single decision. Aluminum is the workhorse: it shrugs off Texas sun with almost no upkeep. Insulated panels cost a bit more but keep the space under the cover cooler and arrive ready for fans and lights. Solid wood costs the most and needs periodic sealing, but nothing else matches its look on the right house.
| Material | Per sq ft installed |
|---|---|
| Aluminum | $20 to $50 |
| Insulated panels | $30 to $60 |
| Solid wood | $60 to $120 |
What moves the price
- Size. More square footage means more material, more posts, and more roof, though the price per square foot usually eases a little as the project grows.
- Attached vs freestanding. An attached cover has to be engineered into the house roofline, which adds design work, flashing, and structural connections. A freestanding pavilion skips all of that.
- Material. As the tables above show, the jump from aluminum to solid wood can double or triple the per-square-foot cost.
- Electrical. Ceiling fans, lights, and outlets need wiring run during the build. It is far cheaper to plan it now than to retrofit later.
- Roof tie-in style. A flat pan roof is the simplest. A gable that matches your shingles and blends into the existing roofline takes more framing and more skill, and prices accordingly.
A worked example
Say you have a typical 10x20 back patio and want an insulated panel cover attached to the house, with two ceiling fans and recessed lights. At around $45 per square foot, the 200 square foot cover itself lands near $9,000, and the electrical work and permit push the project into the $10,000 to $13,000 neighborhood. That sits comfortably inside the typical $10,000 to $22,500 range for a 10x20, with room left over if you later upgrade to a gable roof or add a fan on a second circuit.
Quick questions
Does a patio cover need maintenance?
Aluminum needs almost none: an occasional rinse keeps it looking new. Solid wood needs periodic sealing or staining to stand up to sun and rain, typically on a schedule your builder will recommend for the finish you choose.
Can I add fans and lights?
Yes. Fans, lights, and outlets are some of the best money you can spend on a cover. Plan the electrical during the build so the wiring runs hidden inside the structure instead of being tacked on later.
Is freestanding cheaper than attached?
Usually, yes. A freestanding cover skips the roof tie-in, the flashing, and the engineering into the house structure. The trade-off is that it stands apart from the home, so you walk to your shade instead of stepping straight out into it.
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