Pergola/Gazebo footings

[badgerade]

I have some 8ft 4x4 fence posts which I plan to use as part of a pergola/gazebo type thing to house a couple of bbqs on a gravelled area.

I need all the height of these (not keen to buy longer posts due to the costs) so was thinking of digging a hole, adding concrete and then using post feet for the posts. This kind of thing:



Firstly, does this sound like a reasonable plan?

Secondly - what sort of size hole do I need to be digging?

Thanks!

[badgerade]

sherman said:

An 8ft post needs to go 2 ft into the ground for stability. You will only have 6ft out of the ground.
You dont need to have the footings. Just postcrete the posts in.

That's the issue - I already have posts and don't want them to be 6ft out the ground hence wanting to have them at ground leve (I am not tall, but a 6ft high roof would be pushing it a bit!)