It’s surprisingly hard to find a hardtop gazebo with lights already installed. While there are many beautiful gazebos that will look even more beautiful once you install string lights or a hanging lantern, as far as options that come with these features? Nope.
But that’s ok! Because it’s absolutely worth it to purchase your dream gazebo and then upgrade with customized lighting options. Here are our 5 favorite hardtop gazebos for most easily (and properly) installing string lights and/or a central lantern or chandelier.
Don’t have time to read? Here’s a quick summary of the products we recommend.
| Product Name | Grade |
| Yardistry Meridian Solid Wood Patio Gazebo | A+ |
| Outsunny Steel Patio Gazebo Canopy | A |
| Sol 72 Outdoor Wilmslow Aluminum Patio Gazebo | A |
| Sol 72 Outdoor Whitnash Metal Patio Gazebo | A |
Best Hardtop Gazebo With Lights
Yardistry Meridian Solid Wood Patio Gazebo
Solid wood gazebos are great options for a lot of reasons. Specifically in the context of lighting, a wooden frame is the ideal material for installing eye hooks/bolts which are necessary for properly hanging string lights on a gazebo.
A wood gazebo is one of the most durable gazebos as long as it is properly maintained. Wood is also obviously an extremely strong material so it can handle weight hung from it.
The Meridian by Yardistry has a hanging weight capacity of 50 lbs. You can easily hang a chandelier or lantern at its center. An additional ceiling fan is also a great possibility.
Lighting is necessary for 24/7 gazebo life and the Meridian is one of our overall favorites for its clean lines, beautiful artistry and solid craftsmanship.
Pros
- Interior hanging weight capacity of 50 lbs.
- Snow load capacity of 36 lbs.
- Cedar frame with weather-resistant aluminum roof
- Solid frame is ideal for installing eye hooks/bolts for lights around gazebo
- Wind resistant up to 75 mph
- 5 year manufacturer warranty
Cons
- Does not come with mosquito netting or curtains
- Requires 3-4 people and 12-18 hours to assemble
Outsunny Steel Patio Gazebo Canopy
With the Outsunny Steel Patio Gazebo Canopy, you get a powder-coated aluminum and steel frame, durable steel roof, zippered mosquito netting, privacy curtains, and two built-in hooks for central light fixtures.
The Outsunny has so many extra features for enjoying your gazebo at night. We really wonder why it doesn’t just come with lights!
While the gazebo’s materials are designed to keep you cool in the summer, its netting and curtains will keep you protected from bugs at night.
Be sure to use a high-speed steel drill bit when installing your eye hooks in the aluminum/steel frame. Then enjoy your gazebo year-round under twinkling lights.
Pros
- 2 built-in hooks for hanging chandeliers/lanterns
- Interior weight capacity of 30 lbs. (each hook can hold 15 lbs.)
- UV-, rust- and mildew-resistant
- Comes with mosquito netting and solid privacy curtains
- Clean sophisticated design with a dark brown finish
- Only requires partial assembly
Cons
- No commercial warranty
- Has not been tested to withstand high winds
Sol 72 Outdoor Wilmslow Aluminum Patio Gazebo
The sheerness of the Wilmslow’s polycarbonate plastic roof gives the interior of this gazebo a soft glow at all hours of the day and evening. Polycarbonate plastic is an especially durable material that is known for keeping hardtop gazebos cool on the hottest days.
This same ambience is why we love the Wilmslow for adding lights. The powder-coated aluminum frame means that drilling for the eye hook/bolts will be effortless with the right tools. Be sure to use a high-speed steel bit on any metal most especially soft metals like aluminum.
This gazebo doesn’t come with any built-in hooks for hanging a central light fixture but the especially high ceiling means that either a lantern/chandelier or ceiling fan would fit nicely.
Pros
- Interior hanging capacity of 20 lbs.
- Cooling polycarbonate roof and rust-resistant, powder-coated aluminum frame
- 2-track curtain/screen system
- Comes with mosquito netting screens
- Can be installed on any solid, permanent, and level surface
- Elegant, innovative design
Cons
- No roof vent
- Not tested to withstand high winds
Sol 72 Outdoor Whitnash Metal Patio Gazebo
The Whitnash from Sol 72 Outdoor was made for entertaining at dusk. The tinted panels of polycarbonate that comprise the roof keep the interior cool at all hours of day. When evening approaches, the tint makes the gazebo feel romantic especially when you close the included mesh curtains.
Like the Wilmslow above, this hardtop gazebo gets its strength and durability from an aluminum frame. That’s all you need to up the romance with a central lantern and commercial-grade string lights around the perimeter.
We can’t get enough of the sleek lines of the Whitnash. It only comes in one color but the dark gray finish of the frame will look stunning in almost every landscape and hardscape style.
Pros
- Tinted polycarbonate roof panels will regulate internal temperature while also pleasantly dulling sunlight
- Strong, rust-resistant aluminum frame makes it easy to install string lights
- 1 year manufacturer warranty
- Relatively easy assembly for 2 people to complete in about 5 hours
- UV-, rust- and mildew-resistant
Cons
- Curtains are not included
- Not tested to withstand high winds
Freeport Park Pickensville Hardtop Steel Patio Gazebo
The Pickensville Hardtop Steel Patio Gazebo by Freeport Park is as durable as they get. It also happens to be a wonderful option for installing lights. Like the Meridian above, the roof of the Pickensville has an interior hanging weight capacity of 50 lbs.
You must drill into the frame to install eye hooks/bolts so that your string lights stay as weather-resistant as your gazebo. It’s true that a steel frame isn’t as easy to drill as a wood frame, but it’s not a problem with a high-speed steel drill bit meant for hard and soft metals.
This design by Freeport Park has a snow load capacity of 2,000 lbs! We also love the built-in curtain track which makes for easy opening and closing of the included mosquito netting around the frame.
Once you’ve done some quick installations, there’s not much more you could ask for from this hardtop gazebo with lights.
Pros
- Interior hanging weight capacity of 50 lbs.
- Snow load capacity of 2,000 lbs.
- Weathered steel frame acquires an organic natural patina as it ages
- Comes with mosquito netting
- Built-in hook for hanging central lighting feature
- 1 year manufacturer warranty
Cons
- Requires a foundation for best installation
What To Consider When Buying A Hardtop Gazebo With Lights
The Best Way to Install String Lights on a Gazebo
There are many ways to suspend string lights from a gazebo. But there is only one proper way to do it.
By using the right tools and process, your lights will be around almost as long as your well-maintained gazebo.
When installing your string lights the right way, remember these 3 important rules:
- When drilling into an aluminum or steel frame to install your eye hooks/bolts, only use a high-speed steel (HSS) drill bit.
- Only use eye hooks/bolts made of aluminum or galvanized steel. Any other type of metal will prompt a corrosive process that will eventually damage your frame.
- Only use heavy-duty outdoor lights that can weather the elements. Most commercial-grade string lights also have a small eye at the top of each bulb to attach to your eye hook.
Roof Hanging Weight Capacity
If you want to hang a chandelier, lantern or fan inside your gazebo, you need confidence that the roof can accommodate the weight.
All of the options on this list of hardtop gazebos with lights have an interior hanging weight capacity of at least 20 lbs. This amount of load will allow you to install an outdoor chandelier or fan at the center of your gazebo.
Even if you don’t choose any of our recommendations, we strongly suggest that you purchase a gazebo with a hanging weight capacity of at least 20 lbs. And ideally higher.
You may have to do additional digging to find that information but it’s definitely worth it, if it means that there are no chandelier “mishaps” in the middle of a relaxing evening in your gazebo.
Final Thoughts
It’s a bummer that there are no great options for hardtop gazebos that come with lights already installed. There is no doubt that lighting makes your backyard gazebo really special at night.
We hope that we’ve helped you decide which hardtop gazebo with lights will fit your lifestyle. These designs are great for both installing string lights and a central lighting fixture because of their material, construction method and added features.
We’re confident that you’ll enjoy them as much as we did.
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!
