Is the BD Sarasota worth it?
Our verdict: The best published ratings under $2,000: 100 mph and 2,100 lb of roof load, anchored per the manual. $1,999 for 12×10 on Nov 15, 2026, with a 5-year warranty and an optional $649 assembly service. The catch: it is steel, not aluminum, and returns carry a 15% restocking fee.
Galvanized steel, 100 mph and a 5-year warranty for $1,999 at 12×10, with an optional $649 assembly service from the brand. It scores 8.8/10 on our published formula, No. 5 of 15 kits. Best for: a 100 mph rating under $2,000, freestanding.
The catch: Steel louvers and frame: heavier (530 lb) and a scratch needs touch-up. 15% restocking fee on returns.
Who should buy the BD Sarasota, and who should not
Buy it if
- You want strong published numbers on a budget
- You like the idea of outlets and USB ports on a post
- You would rather pay $649 than build it yourself
Skip it if
- You want aluminum (no rust risk)
- You need it attached to the house: see the Evanston
- You might return it
Not the right fit? The Backyard Discovery Evanston is the alternative we would look at first: the same steel kit attached to the house, $1,799 for 12×10.
How much does the BD Sarasota cost?
Prices of every size at the Backyard Discovery store on November 15, 2026, kit only, before tax and installation. The price per square foot is our own calculation on the roof size.
| Size (ft) | Roof area | Price | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 | 100 sq ft | $1,899 | $18.99 |
| 12×10 (reference) | 120 sq ft | $1,999 | $16.66 |
| 14×10 | 140 sq ft | $2,199 | $15.71 |
| 16×10 | 160 sq ft | $2,399 | $14.99 |
| 18×10 | 180 sq ft | $2,599 | $14.44 |
| 20×10 | 200 sq ft | $2,799 | $14 |
Where to buy it
- Backyard Discovery store: $1,999 for 12 × 10 ft (the store showed a $2,499 list price; we use the price you pay).
Home Depot, Lowe's, Wayfair and Amazon also list many of these brands; their prices and sellers change often, so we only quote stores we checked on the day. Our louvered pergola cost guide adds the pad, anchors and installation.
Sizes and clearance height
The BD Sarasota comes in 6 sizes: 10×10, 12×10, 14×10, 16×10, 18×10, 20×10 ft. Backyard Discovery lists 140.55 × 117.38 × 99.61 in; 529.78 lb (12×10). That is about 8 ft 4 in of height, so check doors, windows and gutters nearby before you order.
Frame and louvers: aluminum or steel?
Everything is powder-coated galvanized steel: posts, beams, louvers and the anchoring plates. At 12×10, Backyard Discovery lists 140.55 × 117.38 × 99.61 inches and 529.78 lb, shipped in four boxes of 118 to 158 lb. That weight is part of why the ratings are high, and part of why you want three people for the roof beams.
This site leans toward aluminum because it does not rust. Steel is a reasonable choice if you live inland and will touch up chips; Backyard Discovery says the coating resists rust and corrosion, which holds as long as the coating is intact.
Crank, wand or motor?
An included wand opens and closes the louvers, from fully open for sun to fully closed for shade and rain. One zone. No crank, no motor.
Does the BD Sarasota keep the rain out?
Built-in gutters channel rain into downspouts inside the posts, and gutter guards keep leaves out of them, a detail few brands think of. Backyard Discovery promises "total shade and rain protection" with the louvers closed; it does not say waterproof.
Wind rating and snow load
The ratings come with an asterisk: the product "must be anchored as specified in the Backyard Discovery instruction manual". The snow figure grows with size: 2,100 lb at 12×10, 2,700 lb at 14×10, 3,100 lb at 16×10, 3,800 lb at 20×10, or 12 inches of snow. Our per-square-foot figure (17.5 psf at 12×10) is our own division. A 20×10 owner on r/DIY says Backyard Discovery told him to close the louvers in windy conditions (thread, late 2025); ask the brand for your own case.
We never call a pergola "wind-proof": these are the brand's figures, under the brand's conditions. Our wind rating and snow load guide puts every kit side by side.
How hard is the BD Sarasota to install?
Pre-drilled, pre-cut parts and guided 3D instructions in the BILT app. If you would rather not, Backyard Discovery sells an assembly service at $649, scheduled on a different day than delivery.
Step-by-step advice for any kit is in our louvered pergola installation guide.
Options: screens, walls, lights
The patented PowerPort mounts on a post with 3 outlets and 3 USB ports (power source not included). Black only. Six sizes from 10×10 ($1,899) to 20×10 ($2,799).
Warranty, returns and delivery
5-year warranty. Returns within 30 days of receipt, with a 15% restocking fee and shipping paid by you. Free shipping, but not to Alaska or Hawaii.
What owners say
Beyond the wind question above, we did not read owner reports on the Sarasota in full. Backyard Discovery is a large brand (swing sets, gazebos), so most online reviews concern other products; check that a review names the Sarasota.
What's in the box, and the costs on top
In the box
- Galvanized steel posts, beams and louvers
- Wand for the louvers
- Heavy-duty anchoring plates
- PowerPort (no power source)
- BILT app instructions
Hidden costs to plan for
- An outdoor outlet to feed the PowerPort
- Anchors per the manual for your surface
- $649 assembly if you want it
- 15% if you return it
Questions to ask the seller before you pay
- Which anchors does the manual specify for my surface?
- Is the $649 assembly available in my ZIP code?
- Open or closed louvers in high wind for my size?
BD Sarasota vs its closest rivals
The same facts for the BD Sarasota and the two kits we would compare it with, prices checked the same day.
| Criterion |  Mirador 111DA9.2/10 · $2,39910 × 13 ft · Nov 15, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.8/10 · Very good | 8.9/10 · Very good | 9.2/10 · Excellent | 8.0/10 · Fair |
| Price checked | $1,999 for 12 × 10 ft Nov 15, 2026, kit only | $1,799 for 12 × 10 ft Nov 15, 2026, kit only | $2,399 for 10 × 13 ft Nov 15, 2026, kit only | $2,499 for 10 × 12 ft Nov 15, 2026, kit only |
| Price per sq ft | $16.7 | $15 | $18.5 | $20.8 |
| Sizes sold | 10×10, 12×10, 14×10, 16×10, 18×10, 20×10 | 10×10, 12×10, 14×10, 16×10, 18×10, 20×10 | 10×10, 10×13, 10×20, 13×13, 13×20 | 10×12, 10×14, 11×13, 11×14, 12×12, 12×14, 11×15, 10×16, 12×16, 12×20, 12×24, 14×20, 14×24 |
| Frame / louvers | Powder-coated galvanized steel / Galvanized steel | Powder-coated galvanized steel / Galvanized steel | Aluminum / Double-layer aluminum | Powder-coated aluminum / Aluminum |
| Roof control | Included wand opens and closes the louvers | Included wand | Hand crank, louvers open to 98° | Two independent roof zones adjusted with poles, 0–90° |
| Mounting | Freestanding | Wall-mounted (attaches to the house) | Freestanding | Freestanding |
| Wind (brand) | 100 mph | 100 mph | 102 mph | 72 mph |
| Snow (brand) | 17.5 psf (our calc.) | 17.5 psf (our calc.) | 26.6 psf | Not published |
| Warranty | 5-year warranty | 5-year warranty | 4+1 years: 4 years, plus 1 with product registration | 1 year (Purple Leaf comparison table on the product page) |
| Returns | Returns within 30 days of receipt; 15% restocking fee and shipping paid by the buyer | 30 days; 15% restocking fee | Return, refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt | 30-day refund for unopened, unused items; return shipping paid by the buyer |
| Buy | Check price at Backyard Discovery | Check price at Backyard Discovery | Check price at Mirador | Check price at Purple Leaf |
- Backyard Discovery Evanston (8.9/10): The same steel kit attached to the house, $1,799 for 12×10.
- Mirador 111DA (9.2/10): Aluminum louvers, 102 mph, $2,399 for 10×13.
- Purple Leaf Athena (8.0/10): All-aluminum, more sizes, 1-year warranty.
Head-to-heads: Purple Leaf Athena vs BD Sarasota · Purple Leaf Athena vs Mirador 111S.
BD Sarasota specifications
| Brand / model | Backyard Discovery Sarasota |
|---|---|
| Sizes sold (ft) | 10×10, 12×10, 14×10, 16×10, 18×10, 20×10 |
| Price at reference size | $1,999 for 12 × 10 ft (checked November 15, 2026) |
| Price per square foot | $16.66 (our calculation) |
| Frame | Powder-coated galvanized steel |
| Louvers | Galvanized steel |
| Post section | Not published |
| Metal thickness | Not published |
| Roof control | Included wand opens and closes the louvers |
| Mounting | Freestanding |
| Drainage | Gutters to downspouts in the posts, with gutter guards |
| Wind rating (brand) | Winds up to 100 mph* — *Product must be anchored as specified in the Backyard Discovery instruction manual |
| Snow load (brand) | Up to 2,100 pounds or 12 inches of snow load* — Our per-square-foot figure divides 2,100 lb by the 120 sq ft of a 12×10 roof |
| Dimensions | 140.55 × 117.38 × 99.61 in; 529.78 lb (12×10) |
| Weight | 529.8 lb |
| Assembly (brand) | Guided 3D instructions in the BILT app; optional assembly service at $649 (scheduled separately). |
| Colors | Black |
| Options | PowerPort with 3 outlets and 3 USB ports (power source not included) |
| Warranty | 5-year warranty |
| Returns | Returns within 30 days of receipt; 15% restocking fee and shipping paid by the buyer |
| Availability | "On sale & in stock" on the Backyard Discovery store |
| Sold by | Backyard Discovery store |
Sources, read on November 15, 2026: backyarddiscovery.com, backyarddiscovery.com.
BD Sarasota: questions buyers ask
Is the Backyard Discovery Sarasota aluminum?
No. It is powder-coated galvanized steel throughout, including the louvers.
What is the Backyard Discovery louvered pergola wind rating?
Up to 100 mph, anchored as specified in the instruction manual.
How much snow can the Sarasota hold?
2,100 lb at 12×10 and up to 3,800 lb at 20×10, or 12 inches of snow, per Backyard Discovery.
Backyard Discovery Sarasota 20x10: how much?
$2,799 on November 15, 2026, kit only.
Written by Laura Benson for the Best Louvered Pergola editorial team. Updated November 15, 2026. Scores come from our methodology; prices move, so check the seller's page before you buy.