The best garden gazebo is a savvy investment if you plan to host guests outside but are fretting over the weather app, and praying for sunshine. Thank you, garden furniture. Come rain or shine - now you can spend more time outside under a protective cover but still reap the benefits of being in your garden.
Gazebos also work perfectly for covering hot tubs or providing protection from wasps or bugs when you are out having a BBQ party. You can also turn it into your outdoor sanctuary with some lovely outdoor furniture. Whether you are on the hunt for a budget gazebo for camping or some shade, or if you are browsing for a luxury gazebo with curtains and bug nets, we have researched the best garden gazebos for your outdoor haven. If not, consider a sail shade.
The best garden gazebos at a glance:
• Best budget garden gazebo: Kingfisher Gazebo – View on Amazon UK
• Best garden gazebo with side panels: Argos Home 4m Hexagonal Garden Gazebo – View on Argos
• Best metal patio gazebo: Dakota Fields 3m x 3m Metal Patio Gazebo – View on Wayfair
Perhaps, you're thinking: what are the different styles of garden gazebos? Firstly, there is a pop-up gazebo, which has been designed to be set up in minutes. These gazebos are budget-friendly and great for setting up at summer gatherings, BBQs and parties. On the other hand, there is a patio gazebo, which is made typically from wood or metal, these freestanding gazebos require zero support and can be set up permanently on your patio.
Next, there is a gazebo tent, designed with fabric walls with windows, these are another great pick for gatherings and private parties on campsites. Lastly, did you know that there are grill gazebos? These are made to be placed over your BBQ or grill to protect it from impromptu rain or provide shade cover to the cook hard at work. With a gazebo, you can gather with your friends and family, park yourselves on beautiful wicker furniture and sip botanical gins... Bliss.
Take a peek at our favourites below...
Best garden gazebos
Best garden gazebo with curtains
This Horwood Metal Frame Gazebo is perfect for gardens with overlooking houses and for all kinds of weather. Spend your weekend comfortably in the shade or host BBQs by night. This is a great gazebo to escape day-to-day life.
Customer Review: "It's a touch of glamour in my garden. It did take two people to set it up, and luckily one knew how to extend the legs as instructions were not that clear. I love it - delivery was just two days."
Pros
- Effortless to put up
- Good value for money
- Will add some glamour to your outdoor space
Cons
- Not suitable for wind speeds exceeding 25mph
Best garden gazebo with nets and canopy
This trendy SunTime Polenza 2.5m Outdoor Garden Gazebo with a geometric design is a great centrepiece for your outdoor space. The cream canopy will give you privacy and protect you from the sun on hot days. It also features a bug net throughout so you can banish those pesky mosquitoes and wasps.
Customer Review: "This gazebo was super easy to put up; it is sturdy with a very neat fitting waterproof cover and insect mesh in the top vent. The insect netting sides zip together to provide very good midge protection. It has been perfect for lockdown, socially distanced outside meetings and BBQs. We love it and are very impressed with the build quality for the price. Highly recommended!"
Pros
- Easy to store
- Beautiful net curtain
- Good for shade
Cons
- Not the sturdiest option on this list
Best budget garden gazebo
AmazonIf you are on the hunt for a gazebo on a budget for camping trips or general use, then this basic Kingfisher Gazebo does the trick. It will protect you from rainy weather and give us that extra bit of protection from the sun's rays.
Customer Review: "I read reviews on many gazebo products on Amazon and settled on this one after much consideration. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't expecting much as people had described it as 'flimsy', but I have had it up now for over a week and it's standing tall even through the rain. It is very large and is great for protecting against the sun and even the rain."
Pros
- Great budget option
- Portable
- Ideal for camping
Cons
- Needs to be weighted down to prevent damage in the wind
Best garden gazebo with side panels
Argoswww.argos.co.uk
If total protection is what you are after, then this Argos Home 4m Hexagonal Garden Gazebo has side panels that will protect you whatever the weather. Also, even when leaving the sides open, it will keep the bugs out, so you don't have to spray on any bug repellent.
Customer Review: "Bought for a garden party, easily fit in eight-seater table and chairs. Sunday lunch in the garden with all the family, perfect. What more could you want?"
Pros
- Amazing value for money
- Set up in 15 minutes
- Roomy
Cons
- Not the sturdiest option on this list
Best metal patio gazebo
www.wayfair.co.uk
With the intricate metal construction, we've been transported to a Bridgerton garden! The Dakota Fields 3m x 3m Metal Patio Gazebo has a beautiful black frame, which contrasts against the beige roof and side panels that are water-repellent and ideal for ventilation.
Customer Review: "The gazebo was fairly easy to erect. Looks amazing in our garden and will be well used during the summer months. Thanks, Wayfair.”
Pros
- Stylish
- Great value
Cons
- Thin metal construction makes it less sturdy than some other freestanding gazebos
Best gazebo for privacy
www.argos.co.uk
Perfect for popping up on a campsite for some privacy, using at a car boot sale, or in your own garden, this lightweight and easy-to-transport gazebo has reinforced waterproof fabric panels to withstand wind and rain. The Argos Home 3m x 3m Pop Up Weather Resistant Garden Gazebo can be fixed to grass or decking and is easy to set up and takedown.
Customer Review: "Purchased over Christmas for outside gathering. Excellent quick service it was ordered and picked up the next day. Really pleased with the quality and so easy to pop up, great size for our small garden. Packing away was simple and easy to put back into the bag supplied. Great product!”
Pros
- Excellent shelter
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not to be used in high winds
Best retractable gazebo
www.robertdyas.co.uk
We love this attractive gazebo that looks like a pergola but has the shelter needed to keep the bright sun or rain at bay. The grey Grendale Seville Gazebo is fully retractable - keep it fully closed or open it up as much as you like to enjoy the perfect balance of light and shade.
Customer Review: "Perfect! This gazebo with its retractable cover is ideal for those areas of the garden where the sun doesn't always shine. Fun assembling with my son-in-law… definitely a two-man job and definitely recommend reading the instructions carefully if you don't want to be taking it apart again to add parts not installed properly."
Pros
- Stylish gazebo
- A great statement piece
Cons
- No side protection
Best gazebo for sturdiness
www.johnlewis.com
For protection from sunshine and showers, the KETTLER Panalsol Pagoda Gazebo is a sturdy and stable option to arrange over your garden furniture. It has a shower-resistant polyester parasol that can be removed with ease and for extra rigidity, it's recommended to fix the pagoda to the ground.
Customer Review: “Having reviewed many gazebos, I finally landed on this. I have pretty much stocked my garden with Kettler products. I have been very pleased with the quality of the brand and the outstanding customer service of Kettler GB. The build quality is 5-star, and the design is simplistic yet effective. In a courtyard area of my garden, it allows the dual functionality of 'light and shade' a perfect solution.”
Pros
- Sturdy and easy to store away
- 2-in-1 parasol and gazebo
- Shower-resistant
Cons
- Tricky assembly
Best statement garden gazebo
Not On The High Streetwww.notonthehighstreet.com
Looking to impress? This Wooden Geodesic Outdoor Garden Pod will definitely grab some attention. Crafted with a geodesic design, this statement piece will bring a little extra glamour to your garden. Either cover your hot tub or use it as a lounging area.
Pros
- The aesthetic is on point
- Choose three or five shade sails
- Shade sails available in light blue or light grey
Cons
- No customer reviews
How we chose the best garden gazebos
All of these garden gazebos have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the type of frame, construction, and size in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching garden gazebos to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
FAQs
Which is better: Gazebo or pergola?
The difference between pergolas and gazebos is that structurally, garden pergolas are much less cluttered and more elegantly built than gazebos. A pergola's main purpose is a statement piece that provides optimal space for plant growth. It will provide some shade, but the light is still likely to get through the roof slats.
On the other hand, gazebos can come in all sorts of shapes, from square to rectangular, hexagonal to octagonal, but are typically smaller in size than pergolas. Their sides may be entirely open or provide a half or full wall, with curtains or nets making them more practical.
The main purpose of a gazebo is to provide a seating area protected from the elements, come rain or shine.
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Ellen Kinsey is a Senior Health and Wellness Product Writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in sustainable living and health. She lives and breathes all things natural health, cooking and nature.