THE MYTH OF THE HARDTOP GAZEBO WITH ELECTRICITY
I’m going to burst your bubble. Unless you want to purchase a fully enclosed, literal room for your backyard, there is no such thing as a hardtop gazebo with electricity.
Even then, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that already comes wired and ready to go.
If you want to power lights, fans, hot tubs and/or kitchen equipment from within your gazebo, you’ll have to run a new circuit or extend an existing one from your home’s main electrical panel. There’s no way around it.
When you install or extend circuits in your home, there is wiring involved. You have to get electricity from the electrical panel to the device you want to power.
How we’re defining “best”
The five gazebos in the list below are the best for installing electricity because they are wall-mounted, or sit flush to, an external wall of your home.
In other words, they are closest to your electrical panel.
The shorter the distance a wire has to travel, the less digging to bury wires and/or the fewer feet of unsightly conduit you’ll have to camouflage above ground.
Wall-mounted gazebos will make the installation of electricity much easier for you or your electrician, and the final result will look better.
Don’t have time to read? Here’s a quick summary of the products we recommend.
| Product Name | Grade |
| Sojag Budapest Aluminum Patio Gazebo | A+ |
| Gazebo Penguin Metal Patio Gazebo | A+ |
| Sojag Charleston Aluminum Patio Gazebo | A |
Best Hardtop Gazebos with Electricity
Sojag Budapest Aluminum Patio Gazebo
We love the Budapest Aluminum Patio Gazebo from the masters at Sojag. There are many different types of gazebos, and in addition to its innovated wall-mounted design, Budapest pushed the boundaries of gazebo design in other ways.
This wall-mounted model does not screw into an exterior wall, so it does need to be anchored to the ground (with the provided hardware). The Budapest is made entirely of powder-coated aluminum, both its frame and steel.
Budapest’s roof is truly remarkable. It’s comprised of retractable aluminum composite panels. You have complete control over the interior temperature of your gazebo.
The Budapest comes with mosquito netting and polyester privacy curtains. In short, there’s no reason why you can’t get the utmost enjoyment out of this gazebo 24/7/365.
Pros
- Retractable roof for full sunlight and temperature control
- Wall-mounted design that doesn’t require drilling into your home’s exterior wall
- Stunning contemporary design
- No foundation needed
- Weather- and rust-resistant materials
Cons
- The roof requires manual retraction
- No manufacturer warranty
Gazebo Penguin Metal Patio Gazebo
Unlike the Budapest above, this wall-mounted aluminum and polycarbonate option from Gazebo Penguin should be physically affixed to any brick or cement exterior wall. This key difference will significantly improve your ability to control and regulate your interior temperature.
The gazebo is constructed with seven panels, including one locking door. A window and a screen make up each panel. The panels and doors are flexible in their orientation, so you have options about where you want to enter the structure.
With a snow load capacity of 100 lbs, this option from Gazebo Penguin is decidedly durable in all four seasons.
We love that the aluminum frame comes in 2 finishes, brown and gray. Color options are especially important when your gazebo will directly abut your home.
Pros
- The snow load capacity of 100 lbs
- Locking door and flexible configuration options
- Elegantly functional design
- Securely mounts to an exterior wall for maximum temperature control
- Polycarbonate roof for maximum durability, temperature control, and filtered light
- Wind resistance up to a Level 8 on the Beaufort Wind Scale
- Product warranty
Cons
- Interior hanging load capacity cannot accommodate a ceiling fan
Sojag Charleston Aluminum Patio Gazebo
We love Charleston for its size, timeless design, and customizable options. This gazebo makes you sit up and take notice. The Charleston doesn’t attach to the exterior walls of your home, but it does closely about it without the need for a foundation.
There are ten surrounding panels, including two sliding doors. Each panel includes a cooling polycarbonate window and a mesh screen.
Each panel can be configured in 3 ways so you can regulate cool or hot air circulation.
The Charleston is a beautiful gazebo that feels like a true sunroom without the sunroom price tag. No matter your needs or your climate, this gazebo will be a beautiful addition to your home because it looks like it’s always been there.
Pros
- Large footprint
- 8 panels with windows and screens
- 2 sliding doors that can be positioned on any side
- It does not require a foundation
- Optional winter posts included (their necessity depends on your average snowfall)
- Durable galvanized steel roof and powder-coated aluminum frame
Cons
- No product warranty
Gazebo Penguin San Polo Aluminum Wall Mounted Patio Gazebo
We love the simplicity and clean design of the San Polo from Gazebo Penguin. This model is the most wallet-friendly on our list because it doesn’t have many of the bells and whistles as others we recommend.
But you won’t miss them if you’re looking for the opportunity to extend your living space directly from your home without having to erect windows during installation.
The San Polo comes with zippered mosquito netting and privacy curtains that slide independently of each other along a double track. While it’s recommended that you remove the screens and curtains during the winter, the gazebo itself can be left up year-round.
The stark geometry of the roof is reminiscent of Budapest, which we love. The smoky black finish on the powder-coated aluminum frame is unique among the usual sea of dark brown and gray gazebos. We like that the polycarbonate roof is also finished in a complimentary smoky gray.
Pros
- It comes with zippered mosquito netting and mildew-resistant curtains and slides independently.
- Unique and sophisticated smoky black and smoky gray finishes
- Cooling polycarbonate roof
- Light yet durable powder-coated aluminum frame
- Physically anchors to an exterior wall
- Wind resistant up to 46 mph
Cons
- Cannot house a grill or fire pit
Sojag Portland Metal Patio Gazebo
The Portland is yet another wonderful design from the masters at Sojag. Their specialty is ease and simplicity, and this wall-mounted option is no exception.
This is a no-nonsense, cut-to-the-chase kind of gazebo. If you want the beginnings of a beautiful outdoor living or dining room, start with the Portland.
For an economical option, the Portland is a steal. While it’s technically a wall-mounted design, the only physical anchoring happens at the ground level (with the included hardware).
You also have great flexibility when it comes to enclosing the structure. The gazebo arrives with mosquito netting and polyester privacy curtains, which should be removed in the winter. Otherwise, Portland is an all-season wonder.
Pros
- Includes mosquito netting and privacy curtains
- Galvanized steel roof with light yet durable powder-coated aluminum frame
- Classic dark brown finish with clean roof design
- Perfect size to accommodate either dining room or living room furniture
- No need to drill into exterior walls during installation
Cons
- Should not be installed in especially high-wind areas
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A HARDTOP GAZEBO WITH ELECTRICITY
When purchasing a gazebo to install electricity, the most important decision you can make is its distance from a 20-amp outlet or from your main electrical panel.
If you have a turnkey 20-amp circuit ready to go, then you should be considering the distance between your gazebo and the corresponding 20-amp outlet.
If you need to run a new circuit, it’s best to place the outlet in the garage or breezeway where you don’t mind camouflaging conduit to route the requisite wires.
Here are some primary terms to know whether you’re installing electricity yourself or hiring a professional.
Know your Electricity Lingo
Electrical Panel = the electrical nerve center of your home. It’s that ominous black box that both supplies power to all of your outlets and limits power through the circuit breakers (fuses) inside.
The main electrical panel is fed unlimited electricity via three large conduits entering the box from your utility company.
Circuit = the wires that run from the main electrical panel to your home’s many outlets. In typical homes, you have 15-amp circuits and 20-amp circuits, each of which has a maximum number of amperes (unit of electric current) that can be run through it.
There are two types of circuits that run through your home:
- General = serves multiple outlets throughout your house and also usually lighting. These circuits are what power your hairdryer.
- Dedicated = serves large-draw appliances like dishwashers and built-in microwaves. These circuits are what power your home’s large appliances.
Circuit Breakers (aka Fuses) = these are the gatekeepers of power controlling the electricity running through your circuits. Breakers/fuses safely curb that unlimited power from the utility company so that electricity is delivered to outlets in doses that don’t overwhelm the circuit.
When too many devices are plugged into any given circuit, the breaker trips and shut off the entire thing. Breakers are safety features to help prevent electrical fires.
Outlet (aka Receptacle) = what you plug your blender into. Outlets that serve 15-amp circuits have two vertical slits and a u-shaped hole. When you think of an outlet, you’re picturing a 15-amp outlet.
In contrast, a 20-amp outlet has a distinctive horizontal slit perpendicular to one of the vertical “eyes.”
Important: If you need to install/run an additional circuit from your electrical box to power anything in your gazebo, you need to run a 20-amp circuit, not a 15-amp circuit.
Conduit = the tubing or other weather-proof sleeve that wraps and protects the raw electrical wires that run through your house.
If you install a circuit to power your gazebo, you will need to run your wire through the conduit to protect it.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE MYTH OF THE HARDTOP GAZEBO WITH ELECTRICITY
We’re still sorry for bursting your bubble about the “no real hardtop gazebo with electricity” thing. We know it’s a bummer.
But we hope that this list of gazebos and the information about installing electricity has helped you decide how to extend your living area to the outdoors.
We recognize that powering your gazebo will be a big project. As the saying goes, anything worth doing is worth doing well… especially if you have no other choice.
Good luck! That gazebo life is worth it.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
