Getting the right gazebo means getting the measurements right, so how are they measured?

Standard gazebos are measured corner to peak and corner to corner, with another measurement taken for depth. Two-tier canopy gazebos are measured corner to vent, vent opening, upper-tier width, and upper-tier corner to peak.

Let’s dive down into the subject of measuring gazebos in more detail, discover how to measure different types, and find out what’s the largest and smallest gazebo you can buy…

What Is the Standard Size of a Gazebo?

According to Home Depot, their popular gazebo sizes are 10 x 10 and 10 x 12. If you’re short of space, an 8 x 8 gazebo may fit in nearly, or if you really want to go for it and have the room, go large with a 12 x 12 or even 14 x 14. (All these measurements are in feet.)

Generally, the gazebo measurements we read about the most for the square or rectangular designs, as these are the most common style of pop-up gazebo. More traditional, permanent gazebos are often round or octagonal.

How Do You Measure a Gazebo Canopy or Roof?

Do you need to replace the canopy for a patio gazebo? You can buy covers in standard sizes; however, if you want something bespoke and need to order a replacement, you may need to measure your gazebo.

There are three main measurements:

1. Corner to peak: measure from the top of the leg to the top of the gazebo’s peak
2. Corner to corner: measure along the edge of the fabric between two adjacent corners (if you have a valance, measure along the seam)
3. Again, if you have a valance on your cover, measure its depth.

What if you have a two-tier canopy? You’ll need to get the corner to adjacent corner measurement, and the depth of the valance (if there is one). There are also a few other measurements to take:

1. Corner to vent: measure from a corner to the vent opening
2. Vent opening: measure the width of the vent opening on the lower tier
3. Upper tier width: measure between two adjacent corners, along the edge of the fabric
4. Upper tier corner to peak: Measure from the corner to the peak, along the seam

What Is the Circumference of a Gazebo?

The circumference is the measurement of the perimeter of your gazebo. If you have a round, octagonal or hexagonal gazebo, you may need to take its circumference measurement at some point, either for a new canopy or to fit flooring.

If you like math, you may prefer to measure the circular gazebo’s circumference by first finding the diameter (distance across the circle) and multiplying it by Pi (3.14). For an octagonal or similar design, find the circumference by measuring one of the eight sides, then multiplying it by eight.

How Do You Know What Size Gazebo to Buy?

Before choosing the size of your gazebo, there are two main things to take into account: the size of your yard and the size of your household. (And of course, the third factor: your budget! You can pick up a small pop-up gazebo for under $200, while a large one could cost ten times this amount.)

Ultimately, the yard size is the determining factor: if it won’t fit, it won’t fit. So, work out where the gazebo is going to go, then draw out a measurement. It can be helpful at this point to mark out the potential size of your gazebo on the ground, using string or old sheets. This will give you a more visual  idea of how much space it will take up.

Assuming your yard has enough room for you to have a choice of gazebo sizes, which is the best one to go for? Here’s a quick guide to choosing the right size gazebo:

• 8 x 8: good for small spaces, intimate dinners, and to keep the sun off the kids on a hot day in the yard
• 10 x 10: this is a good size for the family al fresco dining set
• 12 x 12: family plus friends for dinner
• 14 x 14: we’re heading towards serious outdoor socializing space here!
• 18 x 18: party tent.Large yard and long guest list needed

These are only rough ideas. Measure the space, mark it out, fill the template with your furniture (or mark that out, too, if you haven’t bought your new garden set yet), and you’ll get a very good idea about the size of gazebo you need to buy.

Just a side note. If you’re choosing a pop-up gazebo rather than installing a more permanent structure, it’s not quite so vital to get the perfect size. A large gazebo may be up only for parties, and a smaller one just for a few weeks in the summer for BBQ or playtime shelter. It’s not such a commitment as a wood or brick structure, which of course, will always be taking up the same proportion of your yard.

If you want to know more about the benefits of pop-up gazebos, take a look at our Take A Yard article.

What Is the Biggest Size Gazebo You Can Buy?

If you’re making or commissioning a bespoke gazebo, the limit is your space, budget, and local planning regulations. However, how large can you go if you’re buying a ready-made pop-up or a gazebo kit?

Well, you can actually buy a massive 12 x 16 hardtop gazebo on Amazon, if that gives you an idea of how easy it is to buy a big gazebo online. Home Depot has a wide choice of gazebos in the 12 feet plus range, as does Lowe’s. 

So, if you want a great party space this summer, you won’t struggle to find a good-size gazebo. Just bear in mind that if you choose a large gazebo, there’s more effort required to assemble, dismantle, and store it, as well as the fact that it takes up more lawn space.

What Is the Smallest Gazebo You Can Get?

Sometimes, we need a gazebo to do a specific job, and then the biggest isn’t always the best. You can get compact 7 x 4.5 and 8 x 5 gazebos, which are ideal for covering your grill. 

Because these are open at the sides, they’re ideal for keeping the rain off you while you cook, without allowing unpleasant smoke or potentially dangerous gasses to build up inside. Some models even come with useful shelves built into the legs for extra prep space. Grill gazebos are a great way to extend your outdoor cooking season.

For a more general-purpose gazebo, the 8 x 8 size tends to be the smallest “proper” gazebo on the market. This can be used for small dining sets or some comfy seating, and they’re a good size for shaded kids’ play space. 

If your garden is short of space, this compact design is an excellent choice. However, if you like to entertain outside, it may be worth trying to find the extra room and budget to go up to a 10 x 10 model. 

How Do You Measure an Octagon Gazebo?

While it’s pretty straightforward to work out the measurements and area of a square or rectangular gazebo, and we can even use high school math to calculate a circular gazebo’s dimensions, how do we measure an octagonal gazebo?

This is a really clear film about how to calculate the area of an octagon. If you need to work out how much space your new gazebo will take up, how much flooring you need, or what sort of size the canopy will need to be, this will show you how. 

Final Words

Gazebo measuring is pretty straightforward for both standard and two-tier gazebos. It only gets more complicated when you want to measure an octagonal gazebo.

Guess which one we’re getting? 🙂