Composite deck cost in Alabama
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $10,400 – $20,800
- Per sq ft
- $34.50 – $69
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −14%
- US $18,100
- Metros covered
- 9
Across Alabama, a composite deck costs about $10,400 to $20,800 for 300 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 14% below the US figure of $18,100. Carpenters earn a median $23.18 an hour in Alabama (US: $29.12).
Inside Alabama, the metros we cover range from $14,600 (Dothan) to $16,000 (Decatur) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Alabama (statewide), standard level
$13,500 to $17,700
About $45 to $58.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $7,850 |
| Labor | $7,450 | $9,700 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $13,500 | $17,700 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Alabama
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,650 | $6,950 | $9,250 | 44% |
| Labor | $5,700 | $8,550 | $11,400 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $10,400 | $15,600 | $20,800 | 100% |
Wages behind the Alabama number
Alabama's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.79 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $23.18 an hour, 20% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.43 and $27.11 an hour. About 5,560 work in the state. That is 26.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $17.74 an hour, which is 22% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.41 and $21.75 an hour. BLS counts 18,400 of them working in the state, 87.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($27.11 an hour) would add about $1,150 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.43) would take off about $1,100. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,113,660 jobs across Alabama (May 2025), which is 1.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $19.43 | $23.18 | $27.11 | $29.12 | 0.80 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $14.41 | $17.74 | $21.75 | $22.66 | 0.78 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Weather windows across Alabama
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Alabama is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Daphne has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Alabama at 12 months; Dothan has the shortest at 9 (September through May). Rainfall runs from 49 inches a year in Decatur to 66 inches in Daphne.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 35 | 91 | 57 | 10: September through June |
| Huntsville | 33 | 92 | 54 | 10: September through June |
| Mobile | 43 | 92 | 61 | 9: September through May |
| Montgomery | 37 | 94 | 51 | 9: September through May |
| Tuscaloosa | 35 | 92 | 57 | 9: September through May |
| Daphne | 39 | 89 | 66 | 12: all year |
| Auburn | 35 | 89 | 56 | 12: all year |
| Decatur | 32 | 90 | 49 | 10: September through June |
| Dothan | 40 | 93 | 54 | 9: September through May |
Basic, standard or premium: Alabama prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from 10x12 (120 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$10,400 to $14,600
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$13,500 to $17,700
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$16,600 to $20,800
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,200 – $5,850 | $5,450 – $7,150 | $6,700 – $8,400 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,000 – $7,050 | $6,500 – $8,550 | $8,050 – $10,100 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $11,100 – $15,500 | $14,400 – $18,900 | $17,700 – $22,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $13,800 – $19,400 | $18,000 – $23,500 | $22,200 – $27,700 |
Extras that change the Alabama total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.88 for Alabama, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.79) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a deck railing (approx. 0.3 ft per sq ft) | $1,600 – $4,750 |
Alabama against its neighbors
Alabama ranks 49 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for composite deck, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $23,800 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $15,300, both for 300 sq ft at the midpoint. Alabama sits at $15,600. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 170 miles away | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | +3% |
| Mississippi | 180 miles away | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,700 | +1% |
| Tennessee | 190 miles away | $10,900 – $21,800 | $16,300 | +5% |
| Louisiana | 310 miles away | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | +1% |
| South Carolina | 350 miles away | $10,800 – $21,700 | $16,200 | +4% |
Alabama metro-by-metro prices
3 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $15,600, and the top-to-bottom gap is 10%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (300 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | +3% |
| Birmingham, AL | $10,600 – $21,300 | $16,000 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | +1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,700 | level |
| Mobile, AL | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,600 | level |
| Daphne, AL | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,500 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,500 | −1% |
| Dothan, AL | $9,700 – $19,500 | $14,600 | −6% |
If you are planning more than one job in Alabama
Each project weights the trades differently, so Alabama's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, gutters is −10% and concrete patio −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,700 – $13,500 | −11% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,450 | −13% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,750 | −13% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,100 – $3,800 | −10% |
Why two Alabama quotes can differ
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.
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Detailed composite deck report for Alabama, $9
The report lays out the composite deck numbers for Alabama line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Composite deck in Alabama: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Alabama?
$10,400 to $20,800 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Alabama can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Alabama is cheapest for composite deck?
Dothan at about $14,600 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Decatur at $16,000.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Alabama than the US average?
It is 14% cheaper: $15,600 against $18,100 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Alabama?
About 55% ($8,550). Materials are 44%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.79x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Alabama?
The BLS statewide median is $23.18 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.43 to $27.11.
+Where does Alabama rank for composite deck costs?
49th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $15,600 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Alabama?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,400 to $14,600 and premium work $16,600 to $20,800. Basic means: entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape. Premium means: premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners.
+Does the season matter for composite deck in Alabama?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Alabama metros we cover, Daphne has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add a deck railing" add in Alabama?
$1,600 to $4,750 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck by city in Alabama
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