How Much Does It Cost to Build an Arbor in 2025?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

On average, it costs $2,800 to build an arbor, with an average range between $1,600 and $3,500. The cost to build an arbor can run as low as $300 and as high as $8,000.

An arbor is a structure that can provide outdoor spaces with decorative appeal or additional plant space. Arbors may also add outdoor seating space to your property. Size, material, and design complexity are the main cost factors, and hiring a pro can add $50 to $120 per hour. Knowing these figures up front helps you budget with confidence.

Cost Factors for Building an Arbor

How much you’ll spend on building an arbor depends on a variety of factors. Here’s a closer look at how your total breaks down.

Arbor Type

The type of arbor you build is one of the main cost drivers, and the most common arbor types are attached and freestanding.

Attached

The average cost for an attached arbor is $800 to $4,000, including labor and materials. An attached arbor secures directly to a wall or structure, which provides support, thus requiring fewer legs than freestanding arbors and making them less expensive.

Freestanding

The average cost for a freestanding arbor, including labor and materials, is $1,000 to $3,500. Since the material costs are higher for attached arbors, freestanding arbors cost more.

A freestanding arbor is not attached to any structure or wall. This structure doesn’t have limits on its height, size, or orientation. One potential drawback is that your arbor may block your neighbor’s views.

Arch

An arch arbor costs $600 to $1,800 on average, including materials. An arch arbor has straight walls and a rounded, arched top and is available in practically all materials and several widths. You’ll find both decorative and plain arched arbors. It's common—particularly at weddings—to cover arch arbors with vines, shells, branches, or other decorative items.

Moon Gate

Moon gate arbors cost an average of $600 to $1,800, including materials. Moon gate arbors are very wide and resemble a half- or three-quarter moon, with all sides curved. A moon gate arbor is frequently made of metal but is available in other materials.

Grape

On average, grape arbors cost $700 to $2,000, including materials. Grape arbors feature flat tops and often hold fruit-bearing vines. These arbors can enhance your garden space and provide you with additional space to grow fruits and plants.

Gabled

On average, it costs $750 to $2,000 to build a gabled arbor, including materials. Gabled arbors have pitched-style roofs that extend past the arbor sides into the gables. These are often made of wood but are available in other materials.

Arbor With a Bench

Building an arbor with a bench costs $850 to $2,500 on average, including materials. These types of arbors offer additional seating for friends and family and more space to grow plants. This type of arbor has sides, a top, and a bench installed along the back wall.

Materials

Your arbor’s material will affect the project’s total cost. Expect vinyl to be the budget pick and premium woods or ornate metal to push the high end. 

Vinyl

Vinyl arbors are great for spaces that experience extreme weather, since the elements don’t easily impact these types of arbors. Additionally, vinyl doesn’t easily decay and won’t need repainting. Unlike materials such as wood, vinyl arbors won’t require yearly maintenance.

One downside to vinyl, though, is the narrow range of available colors and styles. You cannot customize vinyl arbors, and they’re less eco-friendly than other styles.

Composite

Composite weathers extreme climates without warping or fading, so you won’t be repainting every few years. Like vinyl, customization is limited, but if you want long-lasting color with zero rot, composite is a solid pick.

Wood

Nothing beats wood for a warm, rustic look—and you can stain or paint it to match any backyard style. Be ready for annual cleaning and the occasional touch-up to keep rot and mold at bay.

Metal

Metal offers bold design options and serious strength, so heavy vines won’t be a problem. Keep an eye out for rust; a quick wash and seal when needed will protect your investment.

Labor

Arbors are commonly built by landscapers, general contractors, or carpenters, with rates ranging from $50 to $120 per hour. Accessibility, complexity, and location all impact labor rates. Areas with a higher cost of living often command higher labor prices.

Ways to Save on the Cost to Build an Arbor

Consider these cost-saving strategies when planning your arbor installation project:

• Obtain multiple detailed quotes from local arbor and pergola builders. Compare quotes to ensure competitive pricing. 

• Choose lower-cost materials instead of high-end options.

• Opt for a prefabricated kit or a standard design over a complex or custom build.

DIY Arbor vs. Hiring a Pro

Arbor kits run $400 to $600. Add $50 to $300 for tools if you don’t already own them. Just budget extra time—DIY assembly usually takes a full weekend.

While DIY kits save an average of $300 to $1,500 on labor costs, many homeowners don’t have the proper tools or the experience, especially when working with overhead heights. Hiring a pro to build your arbor ensures a safe and structurally sound result that you can confidently enjoy for years to come.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.