ProductsCompare
Louvered vs retractable pergola: find your fit.
Should your patio get a louvered or a retractable pergola? This page compares our eight series side by side by roof type, movement, typical use and options, so you can see the differences at a glance. If you are still unsure, our team or the Sky Advisor will help.
- Eight series in one table
- Three system families
- Six questions to choose
Quick answer
Louvered vs retractable pergola: which one is right for you?
When you compare pergolas, start with what the roof should do. A motorized louvered pergola lets you dial in shade and closes into a roof when it rains. A retractable pergola, by contrast, folds its fabric roof back along rails to open the sky. Zip screens handle side sun and wind, while Toscana is a manual awning and the Carport shelters cars.
01Eight series
Eight series in one table.
| Series | Roof type | Movement and control | Typical use | Notable options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyMax | Aluminum louver panels | Rotate and retract, motorized with remote | Hotels, restaurants, cafés, large patios | Zip screens or glass on every side, LED, heaters |
| SkyPro | Double-walled aluminum louvers | Tilt on their axis and retract, motorized with remote | Homes and business patios | Closed, half-open or open settings, zip screens, glass, LED |
| SkyLounge | Aluminum louvers | Rotate only, motorized with remote | Pool decks and lounge areas | Built-in downspouts, screens in summer, glass in winter |
| Carport | Fixed aluminum panels | No movement, the roof stays closed | Cars, patios, hot tubs | Freestanding or attached, hidden drainage |
| Avantgarde | Retractable technical fabric roof | Gathers on rails, motorized with remote | Restaurants, cafés, hotels, patios | LED modules, glass on the lower sides, pairs with other enclosures |
| Elegant | Retractable technical fabric roof | Quiet, fast movement, motorized with remote | Backyards, balconies, porches, home patios | Wall-mounted or freestanding, LED spots or hidden LED, glass below |
| Toscana | Wave-pleated PVC fabric awning | Opens and closes by hand | Backyards, patios, beach decks, cafés | Fabric colors such as cream, gray and beige |
| i-Zip Screen | Vertical zip screen | Runs down in side tracks, motorized with remote | Pergola sides, porches, balconies, facades | Hidden motor housing, fabric colors, insect protection |
This comparison sums up our catalog information. Our technical team provides size limits and wind and snow ratings in writing for each project.
02Three families
Three system families side by side.
| Louvered pergola | Retractable pergola | Sun shading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series | SkyMax, SkyPro, SkyLounge, Carport | Avantgarde, Elegant | Toscana, i-Zip Screen |
| Roof | Motorized aluminum louvers, fixed panels on the Carport | Technical fabric that folds back along rails | Manual fabric awning and vertical zip screen |
| Movement | Motorized with remote, Carport fixed | Motorized with remote | Toscana by hand, i-Zip Screen motorized |
| Options | Rain and wind sensor, LED, heaters, zip screens or glass | LED, glass on the lower sides, side enclosures | Fabric colors, hidden motor housing on i-Zip Screen |
| Typical use | Year-round patios, hotels and restaurants, cars | Restaurant, café, hotel and home patios | Backyards and patios, pergola sides and facades |
A louvered or retractable pergola can also team up with shading. For example, zip screens can close the sides of a SkyMax patio, while Avantgarde pairs with other enclosures to create a fully enclosed space.
03How to choose
Six questions before you choose.
These questions make it easier to compare pergolas for your patio. You then confirm the answers with our team based on your drawings.
Should the roof move?
If you want to adjust the shade through the day, choose a motorized louvered pergola. If your car just needs a closed roof all year, the fixed-panel Carport does the job.
Do you want an open sky?
If open sky matters, look at the retracting panels of SkyMax and SkyPro or at the gathering fabric roofs of Avantgarde and Elegant. On SkyLounge, light comes through the gaps between open louvers instead.
Will you sit outside in the rain?
When closed, louvers form a sheltering roof and water drains through the posts. Among fabric roofs, Avantgarde also brings waterproof fabric and gutter profiles.
Will you use the patio in winter?
Side closure decides winter use, because zip screens or glass keep the wind out. On the louvered series, heater and LED options also stretch the evening.
Motor or manual?
Toscana opens and closes by hand, so installation stays simple. On the other moving series, a motor does the work while you control it by remote.
Wind, low sun or privacy?
If side sun, wind or the neighbors' view is the issue, look at the i-Zip Screen. Its fabric edges run in side tracks, so the screen stays taut and also keeps bugs out.
04Families
Pick your family, then go deeper.
Learn moreLouvered pergola
Motorized aluminum louvers and the fixed-panel Carport. Series SkyMax, SkyPro, SkyLounge and Carport.
Learn moreRetractable pergola
A technical fabric roof that gathers on rails. Series Avantgarde and Elegant.
Learn moreSun shading
The manual Toscana awning and the motorized i-Zip Screen.
Representative imageLearn moreAccessories
Once you compare pergolas and pick a series, plan LED lighting, heaters, sensors, zip screens and glass panels.
05FAQ
Asked while comparing.
Which handles rain: a louvered or a retractable pergola?
On the louvered series, closed louvers form a sheltering roof, and water collects in channels before it drains through the posts. Among fabric systems, Avantgarde offers waterproof fabric and gutter profiles, while Toscana's fabric is waterproof as well. However, if you live in a windy or wet area, choose the series with our team based on your site.
What is the difference between a louvered and a retractable pergola?
In a louvered pergola, motorized aluminum louvers adjust the shade and form a sheltering roof when closed. A retractable pergola instead folds its technical fabric back along rails to open the sky. So if you want adjustable shade, the louvered system leads, and if you love the look of fabric, the retractable pergola does. Size and use settle the rest.
SkyMax vs SkyPro: what is the difference?
Both series have aluminum panels that rotate and retract. SkyMax is the flagship of the Sky Series and targets hotels, restaurants and large patios. SkyPro, by contrast, is a balanced choice for homes and business patios with double-walled louvers. You can set its blades closed, half open or open, so the louver design also shapes the look of your patio.
How does the series affect pergola cost?
Besides the series, size, color and finish, side closure, extras like lighting and heating, and installation all shape the price. That is why we prepare an estimate for your size instead of ranking the series by price. Once you send the form, our team replies within one business day. A firm quote follows in writing after we review your drawings.
Who can help if I can't decide?
The Sky Advisor on every page answers questions about the systems and routes you to the right team, and you can also message us on WhatsApp. When you pick your role in the plan form, your request goes to the homeowner, architect, hotel and restaurant, dealer or contractor team. This way your louvered vs retractable pergola question ends with the right person.
07Plan
Picked your series? Let's plan your patio.
Tell us your patio size, how you use it and the series you have in mind. Our team then sends suitable options and an estimate within one business day, and you can also continue on WhatsApp.
Indicative only. A firm quote follows a review of your drawings.