Guides / Sheds, pergolas and gazebos · Updated
Hardtop gazebo snow and wind ratings
From each maker's own product page or manual, November 2026. Pounds per square foot worked out by us where the maker gives a total.
Short answer
Ratings range from not rated for snow at all to 52 to 54 lb per square foot. Backyard Discovery's Barrington is the strongest we found; Purple Leaf, Kozyard and Sunjoy's cedar kit come out at 10 to 17 psf, about a foot of average snow.
By model
| Gazebo | Snow, as the maker says it | Per sq ft | Wind | Anchoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backyard Discovery 16x12 Barrington | “up to 10,100 pounds or up to 30 inches of snow load” | 52.2 psf (over 194 sq ft) | “winds up to 100 mph*”, if anchored per the manual | As specified in the manual |
| Backyard Discovery 12x10 Barrington | “up to 6,500 pounds or up to 30 inches” | 53.6 psf (over 121 sq ft) | “winds up to 100 mph*”, if anchored per the manual | As specified in the manual |
| Yardistry 12x14 Meridian | Brand page: “tested to hold up to 36" of snow”; manual: “Accumulated snow must be removed from roof.” | Depth only | Brand page: most durable products “engineered to endure winds of 100 mph” (not model-specific) | Post brackets with 1/2 in holes; anchors not included |
| Sunjoy 12x14 Cedar Wood Hardtop | “Snow load: 16.4lbs./square foot” | 16.4 psf | “Wind resistance: 31.1MPH” | Not stated on the page |
| Purple Leaf 12x14 double-roof hardtop | “Snow Load Capacity 2500 LBS” (same figure for every size) | 15.1 psf (over 166 sq ft) | Not stated on the page | “Anchor the gazebo as soon as finish the installation.” |
| Kozyard Alexander 12x20 | “engineered to handle a 2,500-lb snow load” | 10.4 psf (over 240 sq ft) | “up to 60 MPH” when properly anchored | Recommended |
| Sunjoy 10x12 Steel Hardtop (BJ’s) | “not designed to withstand harsh weather, including high winds, rain and snow” | Not rated | None given | Stakes into the ground; not permanently attached to concrete |
Makers quote snow three ways and none of them says how it was tested. A total in pounds assumes the snow sits evenly; drifts don't. A depth in inches depends on the snow: a foot of fluffy snow is about 7 psf, a foot of wet, icy snow 40 or more (NDSU and UW-Madison Extension).
What the manuals say
Yardistry's manual: "Accumulated snow must be removed from roof." Sunjoy's manual for its steel hardtop: it is "not designed to withstand harsh weather, including high winds, rain and snow." Backyard Discovery's 100 mph wind figure comes with "Product must be anchored as specified in the Backyard Discovery instruction manual."
Put your own snow into the gazebo snow load check, and see whether you need a permit.