How much does it cost to wire an outdoor pergola or gazebo with lights and outlets?

Wiring an outdoor pergola or gazebo with lighting and a couple of outlets typically costs $1,200 to $3,500 in the GTA, depending on the distance from your main panel, the number of circuits, and whether you need underground conduit runs. A simple setup with string light outlets and one general-purpose receptacle on the lower end; a full installation with recessed ceiling lights, a ceiling fan, multiple outlets, and a sub-panel on the higher end.

The biggest cost variable is how far the structure is from your main electrical panel. A pergola attached to the back of the house — where the electrician can run conduit directly through the exterior wall — might need only 3 to 5 metres of wire and conduit. A freestanding gazebo at the far corner of the yard could require 15 to 25 metres of underground conduit buried to Toronto's 48-inch frost depth. Trenching to that depth across a yard costs $30 to $50 per linear metre for the digging alone, and more if the route crosses a patio, walkway, or established garden. Coordinate with your landscaper if you are building both the structure and the landscape at the same time — having the electrical trench dug before hardscaping saves significant money.

For a typical pergola or gazebo electrical setup, your electrician will likely run a single 20-amp circuit from the panel, which provides enough capacity for LED lighting (minimal draw) plus a couple of outlets for a blender, speaker, phone charger, or small portable heater on cool evenings. If you plan to run higher-draw appliances — an electric heater, a hot plate, or a TV — you will need a second dedicated circuit or a small sub-panel at the structure. Every outlet in the structure must be GFCI-protected since it is an outdoor or semi-outdoor location, and all receptacles need in-use weatherproof covers.

Lighting options range from simple weatherproof outlets mounted at the beam or rafter level for plug-in string lights ($200 to $400 for the outlet installation) to hardwired recessed or surface-mount LED fixtures with a dimmer switch ($1,000 to $2,000 for a typical 4-to-8 fixture layout). If you want a ceiling fan in a covered gazebo, verify the fan is rated for damp or wet locations depending on how exposed the ceiling is to wind-driven rain. A fan rated only for dry locations will corrode and fail within a year or two in GTA conditions.

All wiring within the structure should run through conduit or be properly secured with cable staples rated for outdoor use. If the pergola or gazebo is wood, all junction boxes and device boxes must be securely mounted to the framing with proper outdoor-rated hardware. The conduit entry point from underground to the structure needs a weatherproof fitting and should rise vertically to prevent water from following the conduit into the box.

An ESA permit is required for this work, typically $100 to $200 for a residential outdoor circuit addition. Get matched with a licensed electrician through Toronto Electrical Repair — find electrical professionals in the Toronto Construction Network directory at torontoconstructionnetwork.com/directory?trade=electrical.