Composite deck cost in Jonesboro, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $9,850 – $19,800
- Per sq ft
- $33 – $65.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −18%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #288
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a composite deck in the Jonesboro area: $9,850 to $19,800 for 300 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 18% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $21.13 an hour in the Jonesboro area, 27% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Jonesboro, AR, standard level
$12,800 to $16,800
About $42.50 to $55.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,850 | $7,650 |
| Labor | $6,950 | $9,100 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $100 |
| Total | $12,800 | $16,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Jonesboro, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $6,750 | $9,000 | 45% |
| Labor | $5,350 | $8,000 | $10,700 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $85 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $9,850 | $14,800 | $19,800 | 100% |
Where the Jonesboro price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $21.13 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Jonesboro is 0.74 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 54% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Jonesboro is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $7,200 nationally becomes $6,750 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.9: $45 to $130.
Why two Jonesboro 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.
The best months for composite deck in Jonesboro
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Jonesboro Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Jonesboro are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Jonesboro gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and May (5.2 inches in May). Inside the workable window, January and September are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 66 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47 | 31 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Feb | 52 | 34 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 41 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 50 | 5.2 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 60 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 3.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 62 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 40 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 33 | 4.5 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Jonesboro?
Jobs that often go together with composite deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Jonesboro wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gutters comes out highest (−13%) and concrete patio lowest (−18%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,400 – $12,900 | −15% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,050 – $3,250 | −18% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,700 | −13% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,100 – $3,700 | −13% |
How Jonesboro compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Jonesboro. Little Rock comes closest at about $15,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, ARthis page | $9,850 – $19,800 | $14,800 | |
| Memphis, TN65 miles | $10,800 – $21,700 | $16,300 | +10% |
| Jackson, TN100 miles | $10,600 – $21,200 | $15,900 | +7% |
| Little Rock, AR120 miles | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | +4% |
| Springfield, MO180 miles | $11,000 – $22,000 | $16,500 | +11% |
| Clarksville, TN180 miles | $10,600 – $21,300 | $15,900 | +7% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | +4% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +22% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Jonesboro ranks #288 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Jonesboro is 3% below the Arkansas figure.
Elsewhere in Arkansas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | +4% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,600 | +5% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $9,700 – $19,400 | $14,600 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Jonesboro against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan, WI | 60,630 jobs | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,400 | +24% |
| Chambersburg, PA | 60,280 jobs | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | +11% |
| Dothan, AL | 60,720 jobs | $9,700 – $19,500 | $14,600 | −2% |
| Alexandria, LA | 60,000 jobs | $10,100 – $20,300 | $15,200 | +2% |
Add-ons priced for Jonesboro
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.84 for Jonesboro, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.74) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a deck railing (approx. 0.3 ft per sq ft) | $1,500 – $4,550 |
Who does the work: Jonesboro trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Jonesboro the blend is 0.74.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $21.13 an hour, 27% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.07 and $24.23 an hour. About 110 work in the metro. That is 18.1 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 $18.26 an hour, which is 19% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.23 and $20.53 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 64.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $920 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $610. That is a swing of roughly 4.1% to 6.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Jonesboro has 60,620 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 286th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $19.07 | $21.13 | $24.23 | $29.12 | 0.73 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.23 | $18.26 | $20.53 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.74 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: composite deck pricing in Jonesboro
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Jonesboro. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 10x12 (120 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$9,850 to $13,800
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$12,800 to $16,800
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$15,800 to $19,800
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,000 – $5,600 | $5,200 – $6,800 | $6,400 – $8,000 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $4,750 – $6,700 | $6,200 – $8,150 | $7,650 – $9,550 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $10,500 – $14,800 | $13,700 – $17,900 | $16,900 – $21,100 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $13,200 – $18,400 | $17,100 – $22,400 | $21,100 – $26,300 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Multi-page report for Jonesboro, AR: 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 Jonesboro: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Jonesboro?
For 300 sq ft, expect $9,850 to $19,800 in the Jonesboro area. A standard-spec job lands at $12,800 to $16,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Jonesboro?
About $33 to $65.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $40 to $80.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Jonesboro or Memphis?
Memphis is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $16,300, which is 10% more than Jonesboro ($14,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Jonesboro?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $8,000 out of $14,800. Materials are 45% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Jonesboro?
$10,500 to $21,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Jonesboro?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $130 for fees in the Jonesboro area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Jonesboro expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Jonesboro is 3% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($15,400 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Jonesboro?
The BLS median is $21.13 an hour in the Jonesboro area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.07 to $24.23.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Jonesboro?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $9,850 to $13,800 and premium work $15,800 to $19,800. 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 Jonesboro?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. January and September 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 Jonesboro?
$1,500 to $4,550 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Jonesboro
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