If you have narrowed your shortlist to two specific designs, this is exactly the kind of decision where a side-by-side spec view saves a weekend of second-guessing. Both plans below are complete, code-aware DIY builds, but they differ on the things that matter for a backyard project — total cost, raw labor hours, footprint, and the wood species on the cut list.
Side-by-side specs
| 5x5 ft Picket-Sided Wedding Arbor Plan (Black Locust) | 5x5 ft Round-Top Garden Arbor Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Arbors | Arbors |
| Style | Picket-Sided Wedding | Round-Top Garden |
| Footprint | 5x5 ft (25 sq ft) | 5x5 ft (25 sq ft) |
| Wood species | Black Locust | White Oak |
| Roof finish | clear EPDM membrane | aluminum louvered system |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Build time | ~33 hrs | ~38 hrs |
| Materials cost | $600–$950 | $550–$875 |
| Footing depth | 36″ × 2 posts | 36″ × 2 posts |
| Concrete | 4 × 60-lb bags | 4 × 60-lb bags |
| Cut-list items | 5 | 5 |
| Build steps | 9 | 9 |
Cost & budget
The 5x5 ft Picket-Sided Wedding Arbor Plan (Black Locust) lands in the $600–$950 range for materials in Black Locust, while the 5x5 ft Round-Top Garden Arbor Plan runs $550–$875 in White Oak. The second plan is approximately 7% more expensive at typical 2026 lumber-yard pricing — driven mostly by the choice of Black Locust over White Oak and the difference in cubic concrete volume between 2 and 2 footings.
Labor & difficulty
At ~33 hours, the 5x5 ft Picket-Sided Wedding Arbor Plan (Black Locust) is rated Intermediate. The 5x5 ft Round-Top Garden Arbor Plan takes ~38 hours and is rated Intermediate. The labor delta is roughly 5 hours, or one extra working day on the 5x5 ft Round-Top Garden Arbor Plan. Both plans require the same skill level, so the deciding factor is footprint and aesthetics rather than your comfort with carpentry.
Footprint & site fit
At 25 sq ft vs 25 sq ft, you are choosing between a focal-point garden structure and a focal-point garden structure. Allow at least 24 inches of clearance on every side for furniture and walking paths — that means the 5x5 ft Picket-Sided Wedding Arbor Plan (Black Locust) needs a clear area of approximately 9×9 ft and the 5x5 ft Round-Top Garden Arbor Plan needs 9×9 ft.
Material & durability
The 5x5 ft Picket-Sided Wedding Arbor Plan (Black Locust) is built from Black Locust, while the 5x5 ft Round-Top Garden Arbor Plan calls for White Oak. The species choice drives the cost delta and the maintenance schedule. Pressure-treated southern yellow pine is the cheapest and most rot-tolerant for in-ground posts; western red cedar is the DIY favorite for visible parts; redwood and white oak are heritage choices that command a premium.
Verdict
For a builder weighing these two specifically, these two plans are close in cost and effort — your choice comes down to style and footprint. If both fit your budget and yard, default to the design whose style language matches the rest of your house — a Craftsman bungalow looks awkward beside a modern slatted pergola, and vice versa.
Read each plan in full before committing: the complete 5x5 ft Picket-Sided Wedding Arbor Plan (Black Locust) page and the complete 5x5 ft Round-Top Garden Arbor Plan page. Both ship with full cut lists, hardware schedules, footing specs, and step-by-step build instructions.