SunVilla Stratus vs Fairmont: Costco Pergolas 2026
Both are aluminum louvered pergolas and both are excellent buys. The Stratus 10x13 (~$2,500) wins on features — motorized louvers, integrated LEDs, gutter system. The Fairmont (~15x10, ~$3,000) wins on footprint. Pick by patio size first, features second. Neither includes installation.
Costco finally brought louvered-roof pergolas — the kind that used to be a $10,000+ custom patio-cover quote — down to warehouse pricing, and the two models everyone is cross-shopping are SunVilla's Stratus and Fairmont. We install both across California, so this is the comparison from the crew that unboxes them, not the catalog copy.
Quick Comparison
| SunVilla Stratus | SunVilla Fairmont | |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | 10' x 13' (~130 sq ft) | ~14.9' x 9.7' (~145 sq ft) |
| Louvers | Motorized aluminum | Louvered aluminum roof |
| Extras | Integrated LED lighting, gutter system | Larger coverage, beefier spans |
| Costco price | ~$2,499.99 | ~$2,999.99 |
| Install (CA, pro) | $999–$1,399 | $1,399–$1,800 |
Stratus Wins on Features
The Stratus is the one that feels like a custom outdoor room: louvers open and close from a remote, LED lighting is built into the frame, and a gutter system carries rain off the closed roof instead of sheeting it onto your patio edge. At roughly $2,500 that electronics package is the story — comparable motorized louvered systems from patio-cover dealers start north of $8,000 installed.
Fairmont Wins on Coverage
The Fairmont trades the electronics for square footage and span. At roughly 15 feet across it covers a full dining table and a lounge corner, where the 10-foot-deep Stratus really shelters one zone. If your furniture layout is wide — or you're covering an outdoor kitchen run — the Fairmont's shape simply fits more of California patio life under it.
What the Listings Don't Say: The Install
Both ship curbside on a pallet, installation not included. Honest expectations, from crews that build them weekly:
- These are not weekend solo projects. The posts and beams are manageable, but louver panels must be seated in sequence in a frame that is dead square — an out-of-square frame binds the louvers and strains the motor.
- Anchoring is not optional. A closed louvered roof has the sail area of a small billboard. Slab gets wedge anchors, decks get structural lags, pavers need poured footings at the posts.
- Motorized means electrical. The Stratus's actuator and LEDs need power at a post — plug-in kit at best, a proper hardwired run for a clean permanent setup.
Professional installation in California runs $999–$1,399 for the Stratus and $1,399–$1,800 for the Fairmont, including anchoring and the power connection — full breakdown on our Costco pergola installation page.
Buying the Stratus or Fairmont?
We assemble, square, anchor, and wire Costco pergolas across California — structure and electrical in one visit, flat rate approved before we arrive.
Book Pergola Installation →Alternatives Worth a Look
If neither footprint fits, PURPLE LEAF's louvered pergolas on Amazon come in more sizes (10x10 through 12x20) at similar per-square-foot pricing, and Yardistry's cedar kits at Costco cover the warm-wood look — see our Yardistry vs PURPLE LEAF comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SunVilla Stratus worth it?
At $2,499.99 with motorized louvers, integrated LED lighting, and a gutter system, the Stratus undercuts custom louvered-roof quotes by thousands. If a 10x13 footprint covers your seating area, it's the best value in Costco's lineup.
What's the difference between the Stratus and the Fairmont?
The Stratus is 10x13 with motorized louvers and LED lighting for about $2,500. The Fairmont is larger at roughly 15x10 for about $3,000, trading footprint for the Stratus's electronics package. Pick by patio size first.
Do Costco pergolas come with installation?
No — they ship curbside on a pallet with no installation. A louvered pergola is a 2–3 person structural build plus an electrical connection on motorized models. Professional installation runs $999–$1,800 in California.
Does a motorized pergola need an electrician?
The louver motor and LEDs need power at a post — either an outdoor-rated plug-in kit or a hardwired run. A hardwired connection should be done by a qualified electrician; installers who handle both trades finish it in one visit.
Mirador picks on Amazon, and the premium one that is not
MIRADOR (also sold as SORARA Mirador at Costco) shows up on 39 of the gazebo and pergola records in our booking system, second only to Yardistry. Three families on Amazon, same louvered roof, different frame.
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes your price.
Gazebo buying guides from our crews
Written from real California assembly jobs: which sizes and brands people buy, what goes wrong on site, and how to measure so the kit you order is the kit you keep.
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- Measure before you buy checklist
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