Question
Hello. I am measuring for a pergola and can not figure out what the measurements are that are listed.  If a pergola is 10 x 16, is this measurement the length and width of the top of the pergola and if so, how would i figure out the base?  Thanks for your help

Answer
The "base" of a pergola is the post/ground connection, which isn't going to be much more than a few square feet where the post meets the ground...and you can put anything under the structure that you wish - it doesn't have to be patio or concrete, and doesn't have to match what the structure looks like at the top.

Here is a nice set of plans and a 3D image of a "standard" 12x15 pergola from Reader's Digest:

http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=17835

If you mean, how does somebody lay out the posts, then I'd follow your plans - usually on the sheet or section called "Layout" or "Site Plan", etc.

Height is up to you, but any taller than about 12 feet, and you'll have to also consider wind loads on the structure.

Give me a reply if this isn't quite what you needed help with.  Regards, ~Marc