How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck in 2026?
You have the backyard, the grill, and a summer's worth of plans — and then the first deck quote arrives, far higher than you expected.
A deck price can double just by changing the material.
All prices are national US estimates checked Nov 2, 2026, from Angi, TradeCalc, and RemodelCalculators. Your quote will vary by city, height, and ground conditions.
The Quick Answer
Angi puts the national average for deck building in 2026 at $8,322, based on 20,403 verified projects. Most homeowners pay between $4,339 and $12,653.
Use this simple formula to budget:
Total = deck area in square feet × price per square foot installed + railing + stairs + permit + old deck removal
A 12 by 16 foot deck is 192 square feet.
Deck Cost Per Square Foot by Material
Installed means materials plus labour; the frame is pressure-treated lumber either way, so the gap is almost all in the decking boards and railing.
| Material | Per sq ft installed | For a 192 sq ft deck |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood | $25 – $60 | $4,800 – $11,520 |
| Cedar or redwood | $30 – $60 | $5,760 – $11,520 |
| Composite (Trex, TimberTech) | $35 – $80 | $6,720 – $15,360 |
| PVC or exotic hardwood | $40 – $80 | $7,680 – $15,360 |
TradeCalc lists pressure-treated at $30 to $60 and composite at $50 to $90 per square foot installed; RemodelCalculators puts them at $25 to $55 and $35 to $80. The honest planning band is $25 to $80 per square foot across materials.
Pressure-Treated Wood: $25 to $60 Per Square Foot
Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest decking material. Boards cost about $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot in materials alone, and a contractor-installed deck runs $25 to $40 per square foot in many areas.
Wood needs stain or seal every 2 to 3 years, and boards can warp, split, or rot — though repairs are cheap, one board at a time. With care, it lasts 15 to 20 years.
Composite: $35 to $80 Per Square Foot
Composite decking costs roughly twice as much as pressure-treated upfront, but it lasts 25 to 30 years with no staining, sealing, or sanding. Entry-level boards like Trex Enhance sell for about $3.50 to $4.50 per square foot in materials; mid and upper lines run $5 to $14.
Composite is heavier than wood and needs closer joist spacing, adding a little to the frame cost. It can also get hot under bare feet in direct sun, so think about shade if your deck faces south or west.
Cedar, Redwood, PVC, and Exotic Hardwood
Cedar and redwood sit between pressure-treated and composite on price, at roughly $30 to $60 per square foot installed. They look and smell better than pine and resist rot naturally, but they still need regular sealing.
PVC and exotic hardwoods like ipe are the premium end at $40 to $80 per square foot installed. PVC never rots and needs almost no care. Ipe is extremely hard and dense and lasts decades, but is heavy and slow to install, pushing labour up.
Deck Cost by Size
Smaller decks cost more per square foot because fixed costs like footings, permits, and stairs do not shrink.
| Deck size | Square feet | Pressure-treated installed | Composite installed | |---|---|---| | 10 × 10 | 100 | $4,000 – $6,000 | $6,000 – $9,000 | | 12 × 12 | 144 | $3,500 – $8,000 | $6,500 – $11,500 | | 12 × 16 | 192 | $6,500 – $9,000 | $13,000 – $18,000 | | 16 × 20 | 320 | $8,000 – $17,500 | $14,500 – $25,500 | | 20 × 20 | 400 | $10,000 – $22,000 | $18,000 – $30,000+ |
A small ground-level pressure-treated deck can start near $2,500, while a large, elevated composite deck with stairs can reach $64,000, according to RemodelCalculators.
Worked Example: A 12 × 16 Deck
A common job: a 12 by 16 foot deck (192 square feet), ground level, one set of stairs, and a railing on three sides.
Pressure-treated wood, mid-range:
- Decking and frame at about $40 per sq ft: $7,680
- Railing, about 44 linear feet at $25 per foot: $1,100
- Stairs, one short flight: $500
- Permit: $350
Total: about $9,630
Composite, mid-range:
- Decking and frame at about $65 per sq ft: $12,480
- Railing, about 44 linear feet at $40 per foot: $1,760
- Stairs, one short flight: $750
- Permit: $350
Total: about $15,340
Both totals sit inside the published ranges for a 12 by 16 deck; a high-cost city, raised deck, or premium railing pushes you to the high end. If a quote for basic pressure-treated is far above $10,000 before extras, get a written breakdown and two more quotes.
What Else Affects the Price?
Railing. Basic wood railing costs $15 to $30 per linear foot; composite runs $30 to $50, and aluminium or cable railing $50 to $75 or more. Railing on a big deck can add thousands.
Stairs. A standard 3-foot rise needs 4 to 5 steps and costs $200 to $1,000. A tall or second-story deck needs longer, more expensive stairs.
Height. A ground-level deck is cheapest; a raised or second-story deck needs taller posts, more bracing, and harder access, raising labour. Multi-level decks cost more again.
Permit. Nearly all jurisdictions require a building permit for a deck. Angi lists permit fees at $230 to $500; other sources put the range at $50 to $600 depending on the area and the size of the build.
Old deck removal. Replacing a deck costs about the same as building new, plus $5 to $8 per square foot to tear out and haul away the old structure. Tearing out a 200 square foot deck adds roughly $600 to $2,000.
Location. Labour is roughly half to 70% of a professional build, and rates vary widely — the same deck can cost 20% to 40% more in a coastal metro than in a rural area.
Does a Deck Add Value to a Home?
Yes — a deck is one of the better home improvement investments for resale. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report from Zonda puts a 16 by 20 foot wood deck at $18,263 nationally, with 94.9% of the cost recouped at resale. A composite deck of the same size costs $25,096 and recoups 88.5%.
That is a loaded build — built-in bench and planter, stairs, and a full railing — which is why it runs higher per square foot than a plain rectangular deck. A simple deck costs less and still adds curb appeal and usable outdoor space.
DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Labour is typically 50% of a deck project, so DIY looks tempting. TradeCalc puts DIY materials for a 192 square foot pressure-treated deck at about $2,900, against about $7,000 contractor installed — a saving of roughly 50 to 60%.
But DIY is not free: the work takes 40 to 60 hours, and tools you do not already own can add $500 to $1,000. Footings, framing, and ledger-board attachment are structural work — a mistake can mean a deck that sags, pulls away from the house, or fails inspection.
DIY makes sense for a small, ground-level wood deck on flat ground if you are comfortable with power tools and local code allows homeowner builds. For a raised or second-story deck, composite decking, or anything needing engineered footings on a slope, a pro with a workmanship warranty is usually the safer choice.
How to Get an Accurate Price
Measure your space, choose a material and size, and count railing and stairs. Then get at least three written quotes listing materials, labour, permit, railing, stairs, and removal separately.
Ask how long the job will take, what warranty is included, and who handles the permit. Bids for the same job routinely vary 30 to 40%, so the cheapest quote is not always best value if footings are shallow or the ledger board is poorly attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest deck to build?
Pressure-treated pine, at $25 to $60 per square foot installed — the cheapest material by a wide margin, but it needs staining or sealing every 2 to 3 years.
How much does a 12 × 16 deck cost?
About $6,500 to $9,000 installed in pressure-treated wood, or $13,000 to $18,000 in composite, according to TradeCalc. Railing, stairs, and permits cost extra.
Does a deck add value to a home?
Yes. Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value report puts resale recoup at 94.9% for a wood deck and 88.5% for a composite deck. A well-built deck also adds curb appeal and usable outdoor space.
How long does it take to build a deck?
A professional crew can often build a standard 300 square foot deck in 2 to 5 days, once materials and permits are ready. The same job as DIY often takes several weekends, mainly because digging footings and setting posts is slow work.
Do I need a permit to build a deck?
Yes, in nearly all jurisdictions. Permit fees typically run $230 to $500 according to Angi, though some areas charge as little as $50 and complicated builds can reach $600. Your contractor usually handles the paperwork, but the fee goes on your bill.
Sources: Angi, TradeCalc, RemodelCalculators, and Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value report. Prices are national US estimates checked Nov 2, 2026, and are not a quote for your property.