Composite deck cost in Birmingham, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $10,600 – $21,300
- Per sq ft
- $35.50 – $70.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #230
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a composite deck in Birmingham, plan on $10,600 to $21,300 for 300 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $35.50 to $70.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $24.23 an hour in the Birmingham area, 17% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Birmingham, AL, standard level
$13,800 to $18,100
About $46 to $60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $7,850 |
| Labor | $7,750 | $10,100 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $13,800 | $18,100 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Birmingham, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,650 | $6,950 | $9,250 | 43% |
| Labor | $5,950 | $8,950 | $11,900 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $10,600 | $16,000 | $21,300 | 100% |
Why Birmingham prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Birmingham wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 56% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Birmingham metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $6,950, compared with $7,200 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.6) and land at $45 to $140.
Composite deck: what moves the price in Birmingham
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.
Add-ons priced for Birmingham
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Birmingham by the average of the local wage index (0.83) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.90. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a deck railing (approx. 0.3 ft per sq ft) | $1,600 – $4,850 |
Pick a size, pick a tier: composite deck pricing in Birmingham
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Birmingham wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$10,600 to $14,900
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$13,800 to $18,100
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$17,000 to $21,300
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,300 – $6,000 | $5,600 – $7,300 | $6,900 – $8,600 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,150 – $7,200 | $6,700 – $8,750 | $8,250 – $10,300 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $11,300 – $15,900 | $14,800 – $19,300 | $18,200 – $22,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $14,200 – $19,900 | $18,400 – $24,100 | $22,700 – $28,400 |
Birmingham labor market for composite deck
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Birmingham is 0.83 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $24.23 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.00 and $28.95 an hour. BLS counts 1,660 of them working in the area, 31.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $18.45 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $15.51 and $22.60 an hour. About 4,780 work in the metro. That is 91.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.95 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,400. At the 25th percentile ($22.00) it shrinks by about $660. The total moves by 8.8% or 4.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 520,290 jobs in the Birmingham area. That makes it the 50th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.33% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $22.00 | $24.23 | $28.95 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $15.51 | $18.45 | $22.60 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Climate in Birmingham: timing your composite deck job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Birmingham Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Birmingham (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Birmingham gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 1 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and July (5.7 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 4.0 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 65 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | 35 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 59 | 38 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 45 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 52 | 5.1 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 61 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 69 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 5.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 71 | 4.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 65 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 54 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 43 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 57 | 38 | 4.9 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Birmingham?
Because every project leans on different trades, Birmingham's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, wood deck runs −10% and paver patio −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,700 | −10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,500 | −11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,800 | −12% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,800 | −10% |
Birmingham against nearby metros and the rest of Alabama
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 300 sq ft range from $15,500 to $16,000 across Birmingham and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, ALthis page | $10,600 – $21,300 | $16,000 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL60 miles | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,700 | −2% |
| Decatur, AL75 miles | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | level |
| Montgomery, AL80 miles | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,500 | −3% |
| Huntsville, AL90 miles | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | −2% |
| Auburn, AL100 miles | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,500 | −3% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $10,400 – $20,800 | $15,600 | −2% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Birmingham comes in at #230 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $25,200; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $13,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Birmingham is 2% above the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | −2% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,600 | −2% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,500 | −3% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,700 | −2% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −3% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,500 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Birmingham's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Birmingham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $12,400 – $24,900 | $18,700 | +17% |
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $11,100 – $22,200 | $16,600 | +4% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $11,600 – $23,300 | $17,400 | +9% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | +13% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $13,800 to $18,100 for Birmingham, AL is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Birmingham, AL: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Birmingham: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Birmingham?
For 300 sq ft, expect $10,600 to $21,300 in the Birmingham area. A standard-spec job lands at $13,800 to $18,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Birmingham?
About $35.50 to $70.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $40 to $80.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Birmingham or Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $15,700, which is 2% less than Birmingham ($16,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Birmingham?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $8,950 out of $16,000. Materials are 43% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Birmingham?
$11,300 to $22,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Birmingham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $140 for fees in the Birmingham area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Birmingham expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Alabama?
Birmingham is 2% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($15,600 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Birmingham?
The BLS median is $24.23 an hour in the Birmingham area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.00 to $28.95.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Birmingham?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,600 to $14,900 and premium work $17,000 to $21,300. Basic means: entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape. Premium means: premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners.
+When is the best time to build a composite deck in Birmingham?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. September and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
+What does "add a deck railing" add in Birmingham?
$1,600 to $4,850 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Birmingham
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