Composite deck cost: national prices and local ranges
Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- US range (300 sq ft)
- $12,100 – $24,200
- Per sq ft
- $40 – $80
- materials and labor
- Cheapest metro
- $13,500
- Brownsville, TX
- Priciest metro
- $25,200
- Honolulu, HI
A composite deck runs $12,100 to $24,200 nationally for 300 sq ft, or $40 to $80 per sq ft for materials and labor. Where you live moves that number a lot: across 300 metros the midpoint runs from $13,500 in Brownsville, TX to $25,200 in Honolulu, HI.
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Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in the US average, standard level
$15,700 to $20,500
About $52 to $68 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,250 | $8,150 |
| Labor | $9,350 | $12,200 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $15,700 | $20,500 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in the US
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,800 | $7,200 | $9,600 | 40% |
| Labor | $7,200 | $10,800 | $14,400 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $12,100 | $18,100 | $24,200 | 100% |
What basic, standard and premium mean
Basic
$12,100 to $16,900
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$15,700 to $20,500
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$19,300 to $24,200
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
Cost by size and quality level
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,850 – $6,800 | $6,300 – $8,300 | $7,800 – $9,750 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,800 – $8,150 | $7,550 – $9,900 | $9,350 – $11,700 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $12,900 – $18,000 | $16,700 – $21,900 | $20,600 – $25,800 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $16,100 – $22,500 | $20,900 – $27,300 | $25,700 – $32,200 |
How a composite deck job goes, step by step
- Check the permit and footings. Same structure as a wood deck: footings, ledger, joists. Composite only changes the surface boards and the fasteners.
- Frame to the maker's spacing. Composite boards usually need closer joist spacing than wood and gaps for expansion. Follow the product's installation sheet or the warranty may be void.
- Lay boards and fascia. Hidden fasteners give a clean look. Cut ends and edges are covered with matching fascia.
- Rails and cleaning schedule. Composite does not need staining, but needs washing a couple of times a year. Rails are often a separate product at a separate price.
What changes the price of a composite deck
Board grade
Composite materials run $16-$32 per sq ft and the installed price is $40-$80 per sq ft, including the substructure (HomeGuide).
Labor
Labor for composite is $24-$48 per sq ft, higher than wood because the boards need extra parts and more careful assembly.
Drainage
Ground-level decks over poorly draining yards may need $1,000-$4,000 of drainage work first.
Engineering
Large or complex decks may need a structural engineer at $100-$220 an hour to get a permit.
Wages behind the national estimate
Carpenters (47-2031) do the largest share of the work, about 80% of the weighting. Their national median is $29.12 an hour. Among 300 metros with a published figure, the median runs from $17.13 in Brownsville, TX to $45.34 in Honolulu, HI, and the middle metro sits at $27.19. That ratio between the high and low end is 2.65 to 1, and it feeds straight into the labor line of the estimate.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.32 | $29.12 | $36.94 | $29.12 | 1.00 | US |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.57 | $22.66 | $28.72 | $22.66 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Add-ons and extras
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.00 for the US, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.00) and goods price index (1.00). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a deck railing (approx. 0.3 ft per sq ft) | $1,800 – $5,400 |
Does the season matter for composite deck?
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen. Using NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals for 300 metros, 40 have a comfortable season that lasts all year. A typical metro has 9 comfortable months. At the other end, Anchorage, AK, El Centro, CA, Yuma, AZ and Appleton, WI have the fewest (6 to 7).
Local pages show a month-by-month table for each metro. We do not change prices by month, because there is no reliable published seasonal price series.
How much the price varies by city
The national midpoint of $18,100 hides a wide spread. 40 of 300 metros come in at least 10% higher and 107 at least 10% lower; 153 land in between. The cheapest, Brownsville, is at $13,500, and the dearest, Honolulu, at $25,200. Half of all metros are above $17,300.
Most expensive metros for composite deck
| Metro | Range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $16,800 – $33,600 | $25,200 |
| San Francisco, CA | $16,000 – $32,000 | $24,000 |
| Kahului, HI | $15,700 – $31,400 | $23,500 |
| San Jose, CA | $14,800 – $29,700 | $22,300 |
| Chicago, IL | $14,700 – $29,500 | $22,100 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $14,600 – $29,300 | $21,900 |
| Napa, CA | $14,600 – $29,200 | $21,900 |
| New York, NY | $14,300 – $28,600 | $21,500 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $14,300 – $28,600 | $21,500 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $14,300 – $28,600 | $21,400 |
Least expensive metros for composite deck
| Metro | Range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | $9,000 – $18,100 | $13,500 |
| Albany, GA | $9,400 – $18,900 | $14,100 |
| Laredo, TX | $9,500 – $19,100 | $14,300 |
| McAllen, TX | $9,550 – $19,100 | $14,300 |
| El Paso, TX | $9,650 – $19,400 | $14,500 |
| Fort Smith, AR | $9,700 – $19,400 | $14,600 |
| Texarkana, TX | $9,700 – $19,500 | $14,600 |
| Dothan, AL | $9,700 – $19,500 | $14,600 |
| Abilene, TX | $9,800 – $19,700 | $14,700 |
| Dalton, GA | $9,800 – $19,700 | $14,700 |
Composite deck cost by state
| State | Range (300 sq ft) | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $10,400 – $20,800 | $15,600 |
| Alaska | $14,000 – $28,000 | $21,000 |
| Arizona | $11,600 – $23,300 | $17,500 |
| Arkansas | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 |
| California | $14,200 – $28,500 | $21,300 |
| Colorado | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,400 |
| Connecticut | $12,600 – $25,200 | $18,900 |
| Delaware | $11,700 – $23,400 | $17,600 |
| District of Columbia | $12,600 – $25,200 | $18,900 |
| Florida | $10,800 – $21,700 | $16,300 |
| Georgia | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 |
| Hawaii | $15,900 – $31,800 | $23,800 |
| Idaho | $11,100 – $22,100 | $16,600 |
| Illinois | $14,400 – $28,900 | $21,600 |
| Indiana | $12,100 – $24,300 | $18,200 |
| Iowa | $11,500 – $23,100 | $17,300 |
| Kansas | $11,300 – $22,700 | $17,000 |
| Kentucky | $11,100 – $22,200 | $16,600 |
| Louisiana | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 |
| Maine | $12,000 – $24,100 | $18,100 |
| Maryland | $12,400 – $24,800 | $18,600 |
| Massachusetts | $13,900 – $27,800 | $20,900 |
| Michigan | $12,000 – $24,100 | $18,100 |
| Minnesota | $12,900 – $25,800 | $19,400 |
| Mississippi | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,700 |
| Missouri | $12,200 – $24,400 | $18,300 |
| Montana | $11,800 – $23,600 | $17,700 |
| Nebraska | $10,800 – $21,600 | $16,200 |
| Nevada | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,200 |
| New Hampshire | $12,100 – $24,300 | $18,200 |
| New Jersey | $13,200 – $26,500 | $19,900 |
| New Mexico | $11,500 – $23,100 | $17,300 |
| New York | $13,800 – $27,600 | $20,700 |
| North Carolina | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 |
| North Dakota | $11,600 – $23,300 | $17,500 |
| Ohio | $12,000 – $24,100 | $18,100 |
| Oklahoma | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,300 |
| Oregon | $12,600 – $25,300 | $19,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 |
| Rhode Island | $12,200 – $24,600 | $18,400 |
| South Carolina | $10,800 – $21,700 | $16,200 |
| South Dakota | $10,600 – $21,200 | $15,900 |
| Tennessee | $10,900 – $21,800 | $16,300 |
| Texas | $10,600 – $21,300 | $16,000 |
| Utah | $11,100 – $22,200 | $16,600 |
| Vermont | $12,100 – $24,300 | $18,200 |
| Virginia | $11,500 – $23,000 | $17,300 |
| Washington | $13,900 – $27,800 | $20,800 |
| West Virginia | $10,600 – $21,300 | $15,900 |
| Wisconsin | $12,200 – $24,400 | $18,300 |
| Wyoming | $11,400 – $22,900 | $17,200 |
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Composite deck cost: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck?
$12,100 to $24,200 for 300 sq ft at national prices, including a permit of $50 to $150.
+What is the average cost per sq ft?
$40 to $80 per sq ft, materials and labor. The mid-range is about $60.
+How much does the price vary by city?
A lot. The most expensive metro we cover is 86% above the cheapest for the same 300 sq ft job. The cheapest is Brownsville, TX; the priciest is Honolulu, HI.
+How much of the cost is labor?
About 60% at the national midpoint ($10,800). Materials are 40%.
+What do carpenters earn on a composite deck job?
The national BLS median is $29.12 an hour for carpenters, with the middle half earning $23.32 to $36.94. Local wages are what move this estimate from town to town.
+How much more does a premium composite deck job cost than a basic one?
At the national level, basic runs $12,100 to $16,900 and premium $19,300 to $24,200 for 300 sq ft. Basic means: entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape. Premium means: premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners.
+Can composite deck work be done in winter?
It depends on where you are. Weather decides when exterior installation can happen. Using NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals for 300 metros, 40 have a comfortable season that lasts all year. A typical metro has 9 comfortable months. At the other end, Anchorage, AK, El Centro, CA, Yuma, AZ and Appleton, WI have the fewest (6 to 7).
Related projects
Largest metros: Composite deck prices
- New York, NY$21,500 midpoint
- Los Angeles, CA$21,300 midpoint
- Chicago, IL$22,100 midpoint
- Dallas, TX$16,500 midpoint
- Houston, TX$16,300 midpoint
- Washington, DC$18,500 midpoint
- Philadelphia, PA$18,400 midpoint
- Atlanta, GA$16,500 midpoint
- Miami, FL$17,000 midpoint
- Boston, MA$20,900 midpoint
- Phoenix, AZ$17,700 midpoint
- San Francisco, CA$24,000 midpoint
- Seattle, WA$21,200 midpoint
- Minneapolis, MN$20,900 midpoint
- Detroit, MI$19,200 midpoint
- Riverside, CA$20,200 midpoint
- Denver, CO$18,900 midpoint
- San Diego, CA$20,900 midpoint
- Tampa, FL$16,400 midpoint
- Orlando, FL$16,000 midpoint
- Charlotte, NC$16,400 midpoint
- Baltimore, MD$18,500 midpoint
- St. Louis, MO$20,400 midpoint
- Austin, TX$16,000 midpoint
- Portland, OR$20,700 midpoint
- Las Vegas, NV$18,100 midpoint
- San Jose, CA$22,300 midpoint
- San Antonio, TX$15,600 midpoint
- Pittsburgh, PA$18,400 midpoint
- Columbus, OH$19,100 midpoint
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Composite Decking Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020