Hexagon or octagon posts, hip-roof rafters converging on a hub, roofing and cost.
Estimates are planning aids, not a professional quote. Double-check quantities and product coverage — and any local code or permit requirements — before you buy.
| Lumber & Decking | $684–$926 |
| Roofing | $428–$580 |
| Connectors & Brackets | $406–$549 |
| Concrete & Footings | $173–$233 |
| Fasteners & Hardware | $117–$159 |
| Finishing & Sealant | $102–$138 |
| Siding & Trim | $82–$110 |
| Total | $1,992–$2,695 |
Excludes tools, delivery, tax and permit fees. Labor not included — this is a DIY materials estimate.
These are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the calculator recommends — the shopping list comes from your dimensions, not from what pays.
About this calculator
Pick a hexagon or octagon span and eave height and the Gazebo Builder lays out the whole hip-roof structure: post count and footings, a doubled ring beam, hip rafters converging on a center hub, roof sheathing and your choice of shingle or metal covering, plus every connector, tool, cost range and build time.
This is a genuine hip roof, not a flat pergola slat deck — the calculator derives side length, corner radius and hip rafter length from true regular-polygon geometry. Open advanced options to add a framed wood floor, adjust pitch, post size, footing depth and waste.
Step by step
A step-by-step walkthrough to go with your plan above. Follow the product instructions and any local code or permit requirements as you work.
Mark the center point, then swing an arc to set each corner at the calculated radius. Measure every side and every diagonal between opposite corners — a true regular polygon has matching diagonals, which confirms it's square to itself before anything goes in the ground.
Auger each pier below your frost line, set a standoff post base or anchor bolts, and pour the concrete. Let it fully cure before loading posts onto it.
Stand each post in its base, brace it temporarily, and plumb it on two faces. Leave posts long here — you'll cut them to a common height next.
Mark all posts to one height with a water level or laser, cut them, then run the doubled ring beam around the full perimeter, lapping the joints over the posts.
Temporarily support the center hub block at its calculated height, then cut and fit each hip rafter from a corner of the ring beam up to the hub. Strap every rafter into the hub — this joint carries the whole roof.
Cut sheathing panels to fit each triangular hip bay, working around the hub, then roll out underlayment from the eave up toward the peak, overlapping each course.
Shingle or panel each hip bay working eave to peak, then finish with hip cap shingles or metal hip trim over every ridge line where the bays meet.
Install rails and balusters between posts, leaving one bay open as the entry, then apply two coats of exterior stain to all exposed wood, including cut ends.
Equip the job
Hand-picked categories that match the shopping list above. Links open a current selection so you can compare brands and prices.
These are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the calculator recommends — the shopping list comes from your dimensions, not from what pays.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn from other retailer links here. This doesn’t change your price and helps keep these planners free.
Keep planning
Decks & Structures
Answers
A hexagon is simpler: fewer corners, fewer hip rafters, and easier angle math (60° between sides). An octagon reads as more formal and gives a rounder footprint for the same span, but adds two more posts, footings and hip rafters, and the compound angles are slightly tighter. For a first gazebo build, the hexagon is the more forgiving choice.
The same way as a house roof — rise in inches per 12 inches of horizontal run, measured from the eave straight in toward the center. A 6/12 pitch is a common, moderate choice for a small structure; steeper pitches shed snow faster and read as more traditional but need more roofing material and taller hip rafters to the hub.
Often yes, especially once it's larger than a small kit or permanently anchored rather than freestanding on pavers. Requirements vary a lot by size, whether it's attached to utilities (electrical for lighting, for example), and local setback rules. Check with your local building department before you dig footings, and call 811 to locate utilities first.
Yes — leave 'framed wood floor' off and the calculator skips joists and decking, assuming the posts anchor into an existing concrete slab, paver patio or gravel pad with post bases instead of buried footings. If you need to build that base too, pair this with the Concrete Slab Builder or Paver Patio Builder to size it first.
A pergola is a flat, open-slat roof that filters light but doesn't shed rain — this is a real hip roof with sheathing and shingle or metal covering that keeps weather out, built on a hexagon or octagon footprint instead of a rectangle. The framing is also different: a pergola's rafters run parallel between two beams, while a gazebo's hip rafters converge on a single center hub.
It's the block at the peak where every hip rafter lands and ties together — structurally, it's doing the job a ridge board does on a gable roof, but concentrated into one point instead of a line. Undersizing it or the straps that tie the rafters into it is the most common weak point in a DIY hip roof, so don't skip the hub ties even though they look minor next to the rafters.