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Enjoy your outdoor space year-round with our top picks.
Warm weather means more fun outdoors, and for those times when you need a break from the hot sun (or a place to duck during inclement weather), a gazebo is a great addition to your patio or deck, creating a covered space for dining, grilling or relaxing.
Outdoor gazebos come in a range materials and constructions, so when shopping for one of these structures you'll want to consider a couple different factors: Pop-up varieties are intended for temporary use, while those that can be anchored to the ground function more like outdoor living rooms, with ample room for furnishings and electronics. Our list of the best gazebos you can buy includes winners for every scenario, hand-picked by the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab.
Once you've browsed our top picks, you can find more information on how we chose the best gazebos, plus everything you need to know about finding the perfect gazebo for your home, at the bottom of this guide. Looking for other ways to upgrade your backyard or patio? Check out our guides to the best outdoor furniture and our favorite decorating ideas for your outdoor space. Based upon our research and reviews, here are the best gazebos to buy in 2022:
This rectangular, wood-framed gazebo with durable matte-black steel hardtop is ideal for covered entertaining. The 2-tier roof lets in airflow while the solid structure keeps rainfall out. While we have yet to test this model out yet, our pros appreciate the special details incorporated, like a ceiling hook to add suspended lighting and built-in rails to allow for easy hanging of a mosquito netting (sold separately). The manufacturer claims the treated steel and cedar are helpful for weather resistance, though the manual does note it is not designed to withstand extreme inclement weather, like very high winds or heavy snowfalls.
This square gazebo is designed to be a semi-permanent structure, able to withstand most outdoor conditions while providing a shaded area. It has a 2-tier top to help provide stability when the winds blow. Our favorite part about this gazebo? No extra tools required! We also appreciate that it comes with a one-year warranty for both the frame and fabric, if you notice any defects.
This pop-up gazebo provides comfortable coverage for up to 12 people and comes with a removable mesh wall for added privacy or to keep bugs out. Like most of the other gazebos we recommend, this pick features a two-level roof canopy to help improve stability and ventilation. While we have yet to test this unit, we appreciate that it includes drainage holes designed to help prevent water from pooling on the roof. While you're getting a great value — and the convenience of easily popping it open and closed — note that this gazebo will not be as durable or as stable as the other semi-permanent and permanent fixtures on our list and is best suited for calm, sunny days.
Yoleny is a popular brand, and its products are available across online retailers including Amazon, Home Depot and Wayfair. While our pros have yet to get our hands on this model, we love that it comes with removable curtains, allowing you to craft the perfect environment depending upon the activity or climate at hand. Plus, this double-roof gazebo can cover up to 130 square feet, enough to comfortably fit seating for up to eight people. It has height clearance for 6.5', so most guests should be able to comfortably enter and hang out, too.
The Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab team has evaluated many of Backyard Discovery's outdoor products and we're always impressed by the quality of the construction. Though we haven't installed this particular unit yet, we expect the quality to be on par especially given the third-party testing we reviewed that validates its ability to withstand high winds and heavy snow. Similar to other Backyard Discovery products, it has a removable PowerPort feature, meaning you can place electrical outlets (nearby power source required for functionality) on any post to help power up lighting or easily charge phones.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab tests and reviews outdoor structures and gear of all kinds, from outdoor speakers to inflatable pools, evaluating products on factors like ease of setup and installation, weather resistance, structural integrity and more. When possible, we test products in our Lab, as well as in real-life scenarios to see how viable and practical they are.
While we have not yet performed an extensive category-wide test of outdoor gazebos, we have researched and reviewed all types of gazebos (standard soft top, pop-up soft top and hardtop) over the last two years, and our on-staff experts have extensive knowledge of the materials used in gazebo canopies and structural supports, allowing them to offer insights into what the best choices are for weather-resistance and durability. When reviewing the gazebo market, we looked at warranties, materials, special features and how many people would be needed to assemble. These picks are from brands that we have previously reviewed and feel good about recommending, that have unique features with stellar reviews from users or are personal favorites of Good Housekeeping Institute analysts and editors.
If you’re looking for shelter for your deck, patio or backyard, keep these factors in mind:
✔️ Style: For the canopy, you will see hard-top or soft-top, with hard-top being preferential for all-season use in areas with more wind or inclement weather. Some gazebos are permanent fixtures that anchor into the ground, while others can easily pop up and be disassembled for easy storage when not in use. Some of the soft-top canopies have removable canopies as well to remove during the off-season. Pop-up gazebos are generally made with lighter materials to allow for portability but the trade-off is they are usually less durable and stable.
✔️ Materials: Depending upon the structure and materials used, gazebos will offer varying levels of shade, weather-resistance, ease of setup and versatility. For the frame, you’ll see many are steel or aluminum as these materials are very durable, but there are also options featuring wood or vinyl frames. Most of the materials we reviewed were either naturally weather-resistant or had special coatings to help with water-, fade- and rust resistance. It’s important to check the product description, usage and care guidelines, as well as warranty information, to ensure you're using and caring for your gazebo correctly.
✔️ Size: When determining the appropriate size for your gazebo, you’ll want to think about where you will be installing it and what you plan on doing under its shade. For instance, do you just want a shaded area to sit with friends and family, or will it be used for large dining affairs? You’ll want to ensure the area you select is free of any physical obstructions and the ground is flat. Many of the gazebos included here will require at least two people to assemble and install properly, though some of the instructions call for upwards of five people teams to help with install.
✔️ Shape: While shape is largely an aesthetic decision, there is some practicality to consider when determining which shape is most suitable for your home. Rectangular structures are usually easier to set up and come in larger sizes to enable more room for coverage. Hexagonal, octagonal and round look classic, but may be a bit tougher to install and fit items underneath.
✔️ Ground: Besides ensuring a flat, clear space, you'll have to think about where the gazebo will placed to ensure you can properly anchor it if needed. Most gazebos do not include a floor, so if you do not like the ground underneath where you plan to use yours you’ll have to factor in building or installing a flat surface as well.
✔️ Additional features: Of the gazebos we reviewed, we noted added features like mosquito netting, double-roof designs, curtains and anchors for hanging lighting.
It’s important to check with your HOA or local government to ensure there aren't any special permits required for installing gazebos on your premises. While in most municipalities there is no need for a permit because there are no walls, it’s good to check in advance. From there, you need to think about where to best place is for your gazebo. When positioning a gazebo, you want to look for a flat, stable surface and ensure there is enough clearance.
Oftentimes, when someone is considering a covered outdoor structure, they have yet to decide if they want a pergola, pavilion or gazebo. While gazebos and pavilions are designed for more full-coverage from the sun, pergolas are designed for partial shelter. Most gazebos, like the ones on this list, have a fully closed, solid roof (even if two levels) with open sides. Some use curtains, nettings or other coverings for the side, of have these as add-on attachments. A pergola is likewise usually supported by beams and has a top, but it’s usually not solid or fully covered but rather features a lattice or trellis to offer partial shade.
Rachel Rothman has been with the Good Housekeeping Institute for more than 15 years, and has a B.S.E. in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics from the University of Pennsylvania. As the Chief Technologist and Head Engineer, Rachel oversees GH's testing methodology and protocols, and is the brand's lead expert across a number of categories, including electronics, tech, fitness gear, parenting products, toys and, yes, even gazebos.
In researching and writing this story, she worked with Dan DiClerico, the Director of Home Improvement & Outdoors at the Good Housekeeping Institute. For more than two decades, he has written about all things home-related, from big-ticket remodeling projects to routine home maintenance. Dan has reviewed thousands of consumer products across a wide range of categories, including building materials, fixtures, outdoor power equipment and more.