12×16 gazebos

Apart from the Domi and the Paragon, the aluminum and steel kits sit within about $800 of each other, so choose by what comes in the box: curtains and netting are included with the Kingston and the Alexander, which saves buying them later. The Domi kit is the cheapest because its roof is polycarbonate rather than steel, which lets light through. On the cedar side, the step from Sunjoy to Backyard Discovery buys thicker posts, outlets in a post and a heavier wind rating.

A 12×16 has room for a dining table for six with its chairs, or a table and a small seating group under one roof, which a 10×10 can’t do. But 12×16 is the roof, not the room. The posts stand inside the roof line, so the clear floor is closer to 14 by 10 feet, and that is the figure to measure your furniture against.

Aluminum needs only a hose and weighs less to carry and build, and at this size Sunjoy’s aluminum and cedar Kingstons leave the same room between the posts. Cedar looks warmer, but it needs restaining every year or two, and the most common complaint from cedar owners is boards that arrive warped or split, or crack within months. Some owners also report steel roof panels arriving dented or scratched, so open the roof boxes first. For more on each, see metal gazebos and wood gazebos.

Every brand rates its gazebo differently, so the numbers don’t line up. Sunjoy rates the Kingston for 50 mph winds and 3,000 pounds of snow on the roof, Kozyard rates the Alexander for 60 mph and 2,500 pounds, and Backyard Discovery rates the Barrington and Norwood for 100 mph and more than 10,000 pounds. Backyard Discovery and Kozyard tie their ratings to proper anchoring, so treat the anchors as part of the rating. In heavy-snow country, clear the roof after big storms rather than relying on the rating.

You need a level slab or a solid deck at least as big as the base, and anchors to suit it. Yardistry, for one, leaves the anchoring hardware out because surfaces vary. Kits arrive in several heavy boxes, and a cedar 12×16 like the Barrington weighs more than 900 pounds, so plan help for the delivery.

Building one is a job for two or three people over a weekend or longer, and owners of cedar kits often report several days. Paid assembly costs about $1,000 from Backyard Discovery and Yardistry, which is worth adding to the price before you compare.

The permit. Many towns let you build a small freestanding structure without one, but the limit is often set by floor area, and 192 square feet is close to it in many places. Ask your building department.

Your slab or deck. Measure it against the kit’s base size, not the roof, and make sure you can bolt into it.

What’s in the box. Curtains, netting and gutters are included with some kits and sold separately with others.

Every part, before you start. Missing pieces and damaged boards are the most common complaints, and they are easier to replace before the frame is half up.