At a glance
- Built by a pro
- $30 – $60 / sq ft
- Labor alone
- $15 – $35 / sq ft
- Railing
- $20 – $50 / linear ft
- Stairs
- $150 – $300 / step
Pressure-treated wood costs least up front. Composite and PVC cost more but skip the staining, and ipe can last decades.
How much does a deck cost?
A professionally built deck typically costs $30 to $60 per square foot including labor, and national averages for a whole deck land around $8,250 to $14,000, depending on size and material. Pressure-treated wood is the budget choice; composite, PVC and tropical hardwoods cost more but last longer with less upkeep.
Labor alone usually runs $15 to $35 per square foot, which is why material choice changes the total less than many people expect.
Deck cost by material
| Material | Built per sq ft | 16 × 12 deck (192 sq ft) | Decking lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood | $20 – $45 | $3,850 – $8,650 | 10–15 yrs |
| Cedar or redwood | $25 – $50 | $4,800 – $9,600 | 15–20 yrs |
| Composite | $30 – $70 | $5,750 – $13,450 | 15–30 yrs |
| PVC | $35 – $70 | $6,700 – $13,450 | 15–30 yrs |
| Ipe hardwood | $50 – $70 | $9,600 – $13,450 | 30–75 yrs |
Built prices include framing, decking and labor for a low deck, but not railing, stairs or permits.
Deck cost by size
Low decks with a permit, no railing or stairs, at average prices:
| Size | Area | Pressure-treated | Composite | 16 ft boards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 100 sq ft | $2,200 – $5,500 | $3,200 – $8,000 | 15 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 144 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,500 | $4,500 – $11,100 | 21 |
| 16 × 12 ft | 192 sq ft | $4,050 – $9,650 | $5,950 – $14,450 | 28 |
| 20 × 14 ft | 280 sq ft | $5,800 – $13,600 | $8,600 – $20,600 | 41 |
| 24 × 16 ft | 384 sq ft | $7,900 – $18,300 | $11,700 – $27,900 | 56 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 400 sq ft | $8,200 – $19,000 | $12,200 – $29,000 | 59 |
Wood vs composite decking
- Pressure-treated wood is the cheapest to build but needs cleaning and restaining every 2 to 3 years, and the boards typically last 10 to 15 years.
- Cedar and redwood resist rot and insects naturally and look great, but still need regular sealing.
- Composite blends wood fiber and plastic. It costs more but needs no staining and typically lasts 15 to 30 years.
- PVC is fully synthetic, lighter than composite and highly moisture-resistant, which suits decks near pools.
- Ipe is an extremely dense tropical hardwood that can last 30 to 75 years with proper care, but costs the most and is hard to work.
Railing, stairs and other costs
- Railing costs about $20 to $50 per linear foot. Building codes generally require it once a deck is about 30 inches above the ground.
- Stairs run about $150 to $300 per step. A second-story deck usually needs 12 or more steps.
- Taller decks need stronger posts, footings and bracing, adding roughly $2 to $8 per sq ft.
- Removing an old deck costs about $500 to $2,000.
- Permits and inspections typically cost $200 to $1,000 or more.
Worked example
Replacing an old deck with a 20 × 14 ft raised composite deck, railing on three sides and 4 steps, at average prices:
- Deck built: 280 sq ft × $30 to $70 = $8,400 to $19,600.
- Raised framing and footings: 280 × $2 to $8 = $560 to $2,240.
- Railing: 20 + 14 + 14 = 48 linear ft × $20 to $50 = $960 to $2,400.
- Stairs: 4 steps × $150 to $300 = $600 to $1,200.
- Old deck removal: $500 to $2,000. Permit: $200 to $1,000.
- Total: about $11,200 to $28,450, with a typical price near $19,850.
How to save on a new deck
- Get at least three quotes that list the decking brand and grade, framing lumber, footing type, railing and stairs.
- Use pressure-treated framing under premium boards. Most composite and PVC decks are built this way.
- Keep it simple and low. Rectangles near the ground need less framing, no railing and fewer stairs.
- Compare cost per year, not just price. The comparison table above shows how low-maintenance decking can pay for itself.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 12x12 deck cost?
A 12x12 (144 sq ft) low deck built by a pro typically costs about $3,100 to $7,500 in pressure-treated wood, or $4,500 to $11,100 in composite, including a permit but not railing or stairs.
How much does a deck cost per square foot?
A professionally built deck usually costs about $30 to $60 per square foot, including labor. Pressure-treated wood starts around $20, while premium composite, PVC and ipe can reach $70.
Is composite decking worth the extra cost?
Composite costs more up front but needs no staining or sealing, and typically lasts 15 to 30 years versus 10 to 15 for pressure-treated wood. If you'd otherwise restain every 2 to 3 years, the lower upkeep can make composite worth it.
How much of a deck's cost is labor?
Professional labor typically runs about $15 to $35 per square foot, often half or more of the total for wood decks.
Do I need a permit to build a deck?
Most towns require a permit for decks attached to a house or raised off the ground. Permits and inspections typically cost about $200 to $1,000 or more.
How many deck boards do I need?
With standard 5.5-inch boards and a small gap, you need about 2.1 linear feet of board per square foot of deck, plus 10% extra. A 12x12 deck takes about 21 boards 16 feet long.
How we calculate
Built prices per square foot blend Angi's $30 to $60 professional range (via NerdWallet) with material costs from NerdWallet, Inch Calculator and HomeAdvisor, labor of $15 to $35 per sq ft, and Advantage Lumber's March 2026 installed prices for composite, PVC and ipe. Railing, stairs, removal, taller-framing and permit costs come from Advantage Lumber and Inch Calculator. Decking lifespans come from HomeAdvisor and Advantage Lumber.
Some inputs are our own planning assumptions, stated so you can judge them: railing runs along the three open sides of a deck attached to the house, second-story decks use the same framing add-on as raised decks plus more steps, the board estimate uses 5.5-inch boards with a 3/16-inch gap and 16-inch joist spacing, and the cost-of-living setting moves prices by −10% or +15%. The "typical" price is the midpoint of the range.
This is an estimate, not a quote. Footings, soil, ledger attachment and local codes vary a lot. Always get written quotes and a permit, and call 811 before digging footings.
Sources
- NerdWallet: The cost to build a deck (November 2025, citing Angi)
- Advantage Lumber: How much does it cost to build a deck in 2026?
- Inch Calculator: Cost to build a deck
- HomeAdvisor: Best decking materials