Deck Cost Calculator
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What will a new deck actually cost? Pick a material, enter your deck size and height — get materials + install labor + stairs + railing rolled into one honest total, with every step of the math shown. No email required.
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Worked example: 16×20 composite deck, fully itemized
Computed by the calculator above · composite standard tier @ $14.00/sqft materials · raised · pro install · 6 steps · 60 LF railing · October 2026 prices
| Line item | Math | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Deck area | 16 × 20 | 320 sqft |
| Decking materials (×1.30 raised) | 320 × 1.30 × $14.00 | $5,824.00 |
| Install labor (×1.30 raised) | 320 × 1.30 × $17.00 | $7,072.00 |
| Stairs | 6 × $75 | $450.00 |
| Railing | 60 × $45 | $2,700.00 |
| Permit | flat | $250.00 |
| Total — pro install | $16,296.00 | |
| Per sqft all-in | $16,296 ÷ 320 | $50.93 |
| Scenario | Total | Typical range (±25%) |
|---|---|---|
| DIY (materials + stairs + railing + permit) | $9,224 | $6,918 – $11,530 |
| Hire a pro | $16,296 | $12,222 – $20,370 |
Run the calculator above with these inputs and you'll get the same numbers. At $50.93/sqft all-in (raised, with stairs and railing), this lands inside the 2026 national composite range — the model checks out against published data.
Deck costs by region: same job, different labor market
Materials cost roughly the same everywhere — labor doesn't. This table takes the worked example above (a 16 × 20 ft raised deck) and scales only the labor portion by each region's labor multiplier, exactly as the calculator's ZIP adjustment does. Materials, stairs, railing and permit ($9,224) stay fixed.
| Region | Labor multiplier | Labor cost | Total (pro install) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | ×1.18 | $8,345 | $17,569 |
| Midwest | ×1.01 | $7,143 | $16,367 |
| South | ×0.89 | $6,294 | $15,518 |
| West | ×1.05 | $7,426 | $16,650 |
Regional multipliers are the mean of this site's state labor multipliers (BLS OEWS May 2023, construction laborers — the same data behind the ZIP adjustment). The Northeast–South gap on this job is $2,051, all labor. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your metro's exact multiplier.
What's included — and what isn't
✓ Included in every estimate
- Decking materials per square foot: boards, framing lumber, fasteners
- Pro install labor per square foot, when you select "Hire a pro"
- Height adjustment (raised ≈ +30%, rooftop/second-story ≈ +55% vs. ground-level)
- Stairs, at your step count and price
- Railing, at your linear footage and price
- Built-in benches, when you add them
- Old-deck tear-off & disposal, when you toggle it on
- Permit & fees, when you enter an amount
✗ Not included
- Permit drawings / engineered plans ($500–$2,500 where required)
- Lighting ($50–$200 per fixture installed) and electrical runs
- Pergolas or roof structures ($3,500–$15,000+)
- Hot tub or outdoor-kitchen structural reinforcement
- Landscaping repair, sod, or drainage work around the deck
If a contractor's bid covers items on the right-hand list and ours doesn't, ask them to itemize — that's exactly how you compare bids honestly.
The price data behind this calculator
Checked October 4, 2026
Data freshness: prices verified October 2026 · next scheduled re-check January 2027. Stale data is misinformation — our update policy is public.
| Material | Materials / sqft | Pro labor / sqft | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood | $4–$10 | $8–$14 | FixUpFirst 2026; HonestCasa 2026 |
| Cedar / redwood | $7–$14 | $10–$16 | FixUpFirst 2026; RemodelCalculators 2026 |
| Composite (Trex/TimberTech) | $10–$18 | $14–$22 | FixUpFirst 2026; IARemodelings 2026 |
| PVC / cellular vinyl | $13–$24 | $16–$26 | FixUpFirst 2026; HonestCasa 2026 (labor range — industry estimate) |
| Stairs | $50–$100 / step (default $75) | HonestCasa 2026 | |
| Railing | $25–$80 / LF (default $45; cable/glass $80+) | FixUpFirst 2026; HonestCasa 2026 | |
| Built-in benches | $500–$1,200 each (default $800) | HonestCasa 2026 | |
| Old-deck removal | $2–$5 / sqft (default $3.00) | Puetz Construction 2026 | |
| Permit | $100–$800 by municipality (default $250) | Home Depot install breakdown | |
Ranges move by store, region, and product line — every default above is editable in the calculator. Height multipliers (raised +30%, rooftop/second-story +55%) are industry rules of thumb, labeled as estimates. Full sourcing and update policy: methodology.
Three ways people get the math wrong
- Comparing board prices instead of installed prices. Composite boards at $12/sqft sound like 3× pressure-treated at $4 — but installed it's $31 vs. $18/sqft, because the frame is pressure-treated lumber either way. Always compare installed cost per square foot.
- Forgetting railing and stairs. A 320-sqft deck quote at $45/sqft = $14,400 — then 60 LF of railing ($2,700) and a stair run ($450) push it past $17,500. On small elevated decks, railing and stairs can rival the deck surface itself.
- Pricing a raised deck like a ground-level one. Posts, beams, deeper footings, railing, and stairs mean a raised deck costs roughly 30% more per square foot than the same deck at grade. Toggle your height above — it's the single biggest cost lever after material.
Deck cost FAQs
How much does a deck cost per square foot in 2026?
Installed at ground level: pressure-treated wood $15–$30, cedar/redwood $22–$45, composite $30–$58, PVC $35–$85 per square foot. Stairs, railing, height, old-deck removal, and permits add on top — punch your numbers into the calculator above.
Is a composite deck worth the extra cost over wood?
Often yes over a decade. A 400-sqft composite deck costs ~$12,400 installed with ~$100/yr upkeep; pressure-treated wood costs ~$7,200 installed but needs ~$1,000 in staining every 2 years plus a rebuild around year 12. Wood's total typically overtakes composite's around year 11 — see our 25-year head-to-head.
How much does deck height change the price?
A lot. Ground-level decks use simple footings. A raised deck (2–8 ft) needs posts, beams, railing, and stairs — roughly +30% on the deck-surface price. A rooftop or second-story deck needs engineering and deeper footings — roughly +55%. These are industry rules of thumb; toggle your height in the calculator.
Is it cheaper to build a deck yourself?
Labor is 40–60% of an installed deck quote, so DIY saves thousands — pressure-treated wood is the most DIY-friendly material. But framing mistakes are structural: elevated decks need code-compliant footings, proper ledger attachment, and railing. Toggle DIY/pro in the calculator to see both numbers, then be honest about your skill level.
Do I need a permit to build a deck?
Usually yes — typically $100–$800 depending on the municipality, with inspections at the footing and final stages. Low ground-level decks sometimes skip permits, but anything attached to the house or elevated almost always needs one. Contractors can usually pull it for you.
How accurate is this calculator?
It's a budgeting estimate built on October 2026 installed-price ranges and pro labor data — good for budgeting and sanity-checking bids. Every result shows a ±25% planning range because soil, access, height, and regional labor move real quotes. See how we compute costs for the full method and limitations.