How much does a deck cost?
Typical US ranges from cost guides reviewed in 2025–2026, for a professionally built deck (not counting railing and stairs): pressure-treated pine about $15 to $35 per square foot, cedar about $25 to $40, composite about $30 to $60 and PVC about $35 to $100 or more. Published guides disagree widely, and PVC estimates in particular range from the mid-$30s to over $100, and most overall figures include different things. Prices also vary 30–50% or more by region, season, site and contractor. Treat every number here as a planning estimate, not a quote.
The calculator above uses editable example prices. Replace them with written quotes from local builders and current prices from your lumber yard, and make sure each quote says whether railing, stairs, permit and demolition are included.
How the estimate works
Railing = linear ft × price per ft
Stairs = steps × price per step
Pro total = deck + railing + stairs + permit + demolition
DIY total = deck materials + railing + stairs + permit + demolition + tool rental
The DIY price per square foot is for everything in the deck itself: decking, framing, footings and fasteners. It does not include your labor. Railing, stairs and the permit are entered separately because published totals include them inconsistently.
Worked example: a 12 × 16 ft pressure-treated deck
These are the calculator's defaults: 192 sq ft of pressure-treated decking at $22 installed or $13 in DIY materials per square foot, 28 ft of railing at $60 installed or $40 in materials per foot, 3 steps at $120 installed or $45 in materials, a $300 permit, and $150 for tool rental and extras in the DIY total.
- Pro deck: 192 × $22 = $4,224. Railing: 28 × $60 = $1,680. Stairs: 3 × $120 = $360. Permit: $300.
- Professional total: $4,224 + $1,680 + $360 + $300 = $6,564, or $34.19 per square foot overall.
- DIY deck materials: 192 × $13 = $2,496. Railing: 28 × $40 = $1,120. Stairs: 3 × $45 = $135.
- DIY total: $2,496 + $1,120 + $135 + $300 permit + $150 tools = $4,201, or $21.88 per square foot overall.
- Difference: $6,564 − $4,201 = $2,363, before the value of your time.
With the same size, railing and stairs, composite decking comes to $10,980 installed versus $6,313 in DIY materials. Cedar gives $8,484 versus $5,545, and PVC gives $13,860 versus $7,465.
Deck cost ranges by decking material
These are for the deck itself on 192 sq ft, without railing, stairs or permit. The materials column is the cost of the decking boards alone, not framing.
| Decking | Boards only per sq ft | Installed per sq ft: budget / typical / high | 192 sq ft installed: budget / typical / high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine | $3 to $8 | $15 / $22 / $35 | $2,880 / $4,224 / $6,720 |
| Cedar | $4 to $15 | $25 / $32 / $40 | $4,800 / $6,144 / $7,680 |
| Composite | $5 to $20 | $30 / $45 / $60 | $5,760 / $8,640 / $11,520 |
| PVC (capped, cellular) | $5 to $13 (one guide) | $35 / $60 / $100 or more | $6,720 / $11,520 / $19,200 or more |
Published figures for the extras: railing is commonly quoted at about $20 to $80 per linear foot for basic wood or metal, and well above $100 for glass or cable. Stairs run anywhere from about $25 to $150 per step, and the sources disagree. Permits are often $50 to $500, and demolition of an old deck about $5 to $15 per square foot.
What drives the cost
- Decking material. It sets the price tier. Composite and PVC cost more up front than wood but need less upkeep.
- Height and structure. A deck high above the ground needs taller posts, bracing and often stairs and a stronger railing.
- Size and shape. Small decks cost more per square foot. Curves, multiple levels and diagonal boards add labor and waste.
- Railing and stairs. On an elevated deck they can be a large part of the total.
- Footings and frost depth. Cold-climate footings have to go below the frost line.
- Demolition and permits. Removing an old deck and paying for permits and inspections are usually extra.
- Region and timing. Labor and lumber prices vary a lot by metro area and season.
DIY or hire a pro?
A low, freestanding deck is a realistic DIY project if you can read plans, frame accurately and work with help. A deck attached to the house, tall above the ground or carrying a hot tub is a structural project. The ledger connection to the house, footings, joist spans, railing strength and stair geometry are all governed by local building code, and failures of these parts are among the most common causes of serious deck failures.
Check local code first. Most towns require a permit and inspections for a new deck, often starting at a modest height or size, and railings are commonly required once the deck is more than about 30 in. above grade. Hire a pro, or at least an engineer or permit reviewer, for elevated decks, decks attached to the house, hot tubs and anything complicated. Call 811 before digging footings. The ledger connection needs proper flashing and structural fasteners, not nails.
How to save money on a deck
- Get three written quotes that list decking, framing, footings, railing, stairs, permit and cleanup separately.
- Keep it simple: a rectangular, low deck with straight boards uses less material and labor than curves or diagonals.
- Use pressure-treated framing under any decking. Spending more on the visible surface and not the hidden framing is usually the better trade.
- Build lower. A deck under the height at which code requires a railing saves the cost of railing and often some stairs.
- Do the demolition and site prep yourself and hire a crew for framing, or the other way around.
- Compare lifetime costs. Add up staining, sealing and replacement over the years against a higher up-front price for composite or PVC.
- Order during the off-season and ask lumber yards about delivery and contractor pricing.
Where these numbers come from
The installed ranges above come from published consumer cost guides reviewed in 2025–2026 (including RemodelAI and Bob Vila), which report installed prices per square foot and extras for railing, stairs, permits and demolition. The decking-board prices are materials-only figures from published guides (including NerdWallet). The sources disagree, particularly for PVC and stairs, so the installed defaults sit in the overlapping middle of each range, rounded, and the PVC preset is at the upper end of the most common estimates. The DIY deck prices, the DIY railing and stairs prices and the tool allowance are our own estimates that add framing, footings and fasteners to the published decking-board prices, so replace them with a real materials list. For exact board counts, joists and screws, use the deck calculator, and for footing concrete the concrete calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 12x12 deck cost?
A 12 × 12 ft deck is 144 sq ft. At the example prices, the deck itself costs about $3,168 installed in pressure-treated wood ($22 per sq ft) or $6,480 in composite ($45 per sq ft), plus railing, stairs and permit. Published ranges of roughly $15 to $35 per sq ft for pressure-treated and $30 to $60 for composite would put those between $2,160 and $5,040, and $4,320 and $8,640.
How much does a 400 sq ft deck cost?
At the example installed prices, 400 sq ft is $8,800 for pressure-treated or $18,000 for composite, before railing, stairs and permit. Published ranges of $15 to $35 per sq ft for pressure-treated and $30 to $60 for composite give $6,000 to $14,000 and $12,000 to $24,000.
Is composite decking worth it?
It costs more up front. With the example prices, composite is $45 per sq ft installed versus $22 for pressure-treated, or $8,640 versus $4,224 for 192 sq ft. In return you skip staining and sealing and may get a longer warranty, but composite still needs cleaning, can fade or stain, and has installation rules. Whether it pays back depends on your climate, how long you will own the house and what you would spend on wood upkeep, so total those costs for yourself.
How much does deck railing cost?
Published ranges for basic wood or metal railing are roughly $20 to $80 per linear foot installed, and well above $100 per foot for glass or cable. The calculator's example is $60 per foot installed or $40 in DIY materials. A 12 × 16 ft deck with railing on two sides needs about 28 ft.
Do I need a permit to build a deck?
In most US towns, yes, especially for decks attached to the house, higher than a set height off the ground or above a certain size. Permit fees are commonly $50 to $500, and inspections cover footings, framing and the ledger connection. Check with your local building department before you start.
What is the cheapest decking material?
Pressure-treated pine is usually the cheapest, at roughly $3 to $8 per square foot for boards and about $15 to $35 per square foot installed in published guides. Cedar, composite and PVC cost more up front.
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