Woodson & Son Oak · Buying guide
What Size Oak Pergola Do I Need?
Plan an oak pergola around furniture, access and overall dimensions, then choose your length and depth.
Start with how you will use the space
Measure the furniture or area you want the pergola to frame. For dining, include space to pull chairs out and walk around the table. For a hot tub, allow for its cover, servicing access and the route into the garden.
Mark the proposed footprint on the ground before choosing a size. Walk around it with the furniture in place and check that posts will not obstruct doors, paths or access.
Choose your length and depth
Use the length and depth dropdowns to select your pergola footprint in 100 mm increments. Available depth options depend on the selected length. You can select matching dimensions in the same configurator.
A 4 × 3 m footprint is one starting point for a dining area; a 6 × 4 m frame offers a larger footprint. The right choice depends on your measured layout, not a fixed number of seats. Ask us about dimensions outside the available options.
Overall size and clear space are different
The configurator shows the pergola footprint. The top beams overhang by 400 mm on each side, adding 800 mm to each footprint dimension at the top. Posts, braces and overhangs affect the clear usable space beneath the frame. Ask us to confirm the post layout and clear opening if a table, hot tub or access route must fit between posts.
Confirm the finished height as well as the footprint, including the effect of stone supports and ground levels. If the required height or layout falls outside the standard options, send a sketch for a bespoke quotation.
Choosing 150 mm or 175 mm oak
A 150 × 150 mm post has a lighter visual proportion than a 175 × 175 mm post. The heavier section creates a more substantial appearance. Final structural suitability depends on the whole frame, including spans, layout and loads.
Our standard kits are open-roof pergolas. If you want a roof covering, screens or another addition that changes loads, discuss the specification before ordering rather than assuming a standard kit is suitable.