Deck cost per square foot by material
Installed prices include materials, framing and labor, as published by each guide.
| Material | Installed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All decks | $25–$50/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| All decks | $30–$60/sq ft | Angi |
| Pressure-treated pine | $25–$50/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Pressure-treated; average $40 | $15–$75/sq ft | Angi |
| Cedar | $30–$47/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Redwood | $28–$54/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Composite | $40–$80/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Composite, including substructure | $40–$80/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Trex composite | $45–$70/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Ipe | $50–$70/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Aluminum | $100–$125/sq ft | HomeGuide |
Materials only
Guides measure materials differently: HomeGuide's pressure-treated figure covers the whole deck structure, while Angi's “decking material” rows are the deck boards alone.
| Material | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated, DIY materials for the whole deck | $14–$28/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Pressure-treated materials | $10–$25/sq ft | Angi |
| Composite deck materials | $16–$32/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Pressure-treated decking material | $2–$5/sq ft | Angi |
| Cedar decking material | $3–$7/sq ft | Angi |
| Redwood decking material | $5–$35/sq ft | Angi |
| Composite decking material | $12–$22/sq ft | Angi |
| Tropical hardwood (ipe) decking material | $10–$20/sq ft | Angi |
| PVC / metal decking material | $15–$20/sq ft | Angi |
| Trex boards | $5–$15/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| TimberTech/AZEK boards | $6–$13/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Fiberon boards | $7–$14/sq ft | HomeGuide |
Deck cost by size
HomeGuide's published installed totals, composite prices derived from HomeGuide's $40–$80 per sq ft, and our own DIY materials estimate from the deck calculator (the longer side along the house, 16 ft boards parallel to the house, joists 16 in on center — 12 in where the deck is deeper than a 2×10 can span at 16 in — beam and 6×6 posts on 16½ × 24 in footings, screws — at the low and high shelf prices we collected).
| Deck | Installed (HomeGuide) | Composite, installed (derived) | DIY, pressure-treated (our estimate) | DIY, composite (our estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft (100 sq ft) | $2,500–$5,000 | $4,000–$8,000 | $911–$1,206 | $1,229–$1,668 |
| 12 × 12 ft (144 sq ft) | $3,600–$7,200 | $5,760–$11,520 | $1,070–$1,389 | $1,503–$1,998 |
| 12 × 16 ft (192 sq ft) | $4,800–$9,600 | $7,680–$15,360 | $1,258–$1,611 | $1,692–$2,220 |
| 16 × 20 ft (320 sq ft) | $7,000–$14,000 | $12,800–$25,600 | $2,676–$3,405 | $3,693–$4,864 |
| 20 × 20 ft (400 sq ft) | $10,000–$20,000 | $16,000–$32,000 | Needs a second beam | Needs a second beam |
Angi's published sizes: 10×10 $4,000–$6,000; 12×20 $9,600–$14,400; 20×20 $16,000–$24,000. Angi reports an average deck cost of $8,318, with most projects between $4,339 and $12,651.
DIY vs hiring a contractor
| Labor | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Labor | $11–$22/sq ft | HomeGuide |
| Labor | $15–$35/sq ft | Angi |
| Pressure-treated deck labor (50%–70% of total) | $8–$40/sq ft | Angi |
| Composite deck labor | $24–$48/sq ft | HomeGuide |
Our calculator's materials estimate for a 16 × 12 ft pressure-treated deck is $1,407, about $7.33 per square foot. That is well below HomeGuide's $14–$28 per square foot for DIY materials because it counts only the deck platform: add railings, stairs, ledger flashing and bolts, post bases, hanger nails, stain and tool rental and the gap narrows quickly. Hiring out typically adds $11–$35 per square foot in labor. Our DIY vs hiring guide breaks the materials list down line by line.
Permits
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | $50–$150 | HomeGuide |
| Permit fees | $230–$500 | Angi |
What affects the price
- Material. The biggest lever: HomeGuide's installed ranges run from $25–$50 per sq ft for pressure-treated pine to $40–$80 for composite and $100–$125 for aluminum.
- Height and structure. Taller decks need longer posts, bracing and often larger footings; decks deeper than a joist can span need an extra beam.
- Extras. Railings, stairs, built-in benches, lighting and multi-level designs add materials and many labor hours.
- Site. Slopes, poor soil, deep frost lines and hard-to-reach yards increase footing and labor costs.
- Where you live. Ranges here are national; lumber prices and labor rates vary by region and season, so compare local quotes.
Deck framing is structural: check local building codes before you build.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a deck cost per square foot in 2026?
HomeGuide puts a new deck at $25–$50 per square foot installed and Angi at $30–$60. By material, HomeGuide lists pressure-treated pine at $25–$50, cedar $30–$47, redwood $28–$54, composite $40–$80 and ipe $50–$70 per square foot installed.
How much does a 12×16 deck cost?
HomeGuide lists $4,800–$9,600 for a 12 × 16 ft deck installed. Building it yourself, our deck calculator prices the boards, framing, posts, hangers, footing concrete and screws for a pressure-treated 16 × 12 ft deck at $1,258–$1,611 ($1,407 at median shelf prices), or $1,692–$2,220 with composite boards — before railings, stairs, hardware, tools and permits.
Is it cheaper to build a deck yourself?
Usually by about half. HomeGuide estimates labor at $11–$22 per square foot and DIY materials for a pressure-treated deck at $14–$28 per square foot; Angi reports labor making up 50%–70% of a pressure-treated deck's cost. DIY still needs tools, time, a permit and inspections, and mistakes in footings or ledger attachment are expensive to fix.
How much more does a composite deck cost than wood?
HomeGuide lists composite at $40–$80 per square foot installed versus $25–$50 for pressure-treated pine. The boards themselves cost $5–$15 per sq ft for Trex, $6–$13 for TimberTech/AZEK and $7–$14 for Fiberon. Composite needs no staining or sealing, which offsets part of the difference over the deck's life.
Do I need a permit to build a deck?
In most places, yes — especially for decks attached to the house or more than about 30 inches above the ground. HomeGuide lists permits at $50–$150 and Angi at $230–$500; check with your local building department, which also sets the footing depth and framing rules your deck must meet.
Sources and method
Installed-cost ranges are copied from each cost guide as published, with the guide named in every row; we don't average guides together or estimate missing numbers. Where a row says “our estimate”, it comes from this site's own calculator using shelf prices collected on September 17, 2026. Totals labeled “derived” multiply a published per-unit range by the size shown.
All sources for this page (24)
- HomeGuide — Cost to build a deck accessed 2026-09-17 · page dated 2026-02-10
- Angi — How much does it cost to build a deck? accessed 2026-09-17 · page dated 2026-08-03
- Angi — Pressure-treated decking cost accessed 2026-09-17 · page dated 2026-07-09
- HomeGuide — Composite decking prices accessed 2026-09-17 · page dated 2026-02-10
- The Home Depot — Pressure-treated deck boards accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — 5/4 in. x 6 in. wood decking accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Trex composite decking boards accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Fiberon composite decking boards accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Composite decking boards accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Pressure-treated 2 in. x 8 in. accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Pressure-treated lumber, 12 ft accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Pressure-treated 2 in. x 10 in. accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Pressure-treated lumber accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Pressure-treated 6 in. posts accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Simpson Strong-Tie 2x8 joist hangers accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Concrete Mix category listing accessed 2026-09-16
- Schillings — Sakrete Concrete Mix 80 lb accessed 2026-09-16
- HomeGuide — Concrete prices accessed 2026-09-17 · page dated 2026-01-06
- Cox Hardware — Sakrete Hi-Strength Concrete Mix 80 lb accessed 2026-09-16
- Ace Hardware — QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 80 lb accessed 2026-09-16
- Denver True Value — QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 80 lb accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — #10 x 3 in. deck screws accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Wood deck screws accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Trex composite deck screws 350-count accessed 2026-09-16
Estimates for planning purposes only, not professional construction advice. Check local building codes and your product's instructions before you build. Prices are national averages collected from public retail listings and cost guides and will differ in your area. BuildHowMuch is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by or paid by any retailer or manufacturer mentioned on this page. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.