Composite deck cost in Little Rock, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $10,200 – $20,500
- Per sq ft
- $34 – $68
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −15%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #274
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a composite deck in Little Rock, plan on $10,200 to $20,500 for 300 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $34 to $68 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 15% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $23.10 an hour in the Little Rock area, 21% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Little Rock, AR, standard level
$13,300 to $17,400
About $44 to $58 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,850 | $7,650 |
| Labor | $7,400 | $9,700 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $13,300 | $17,400 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Little Rock, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $6,750 | $9,000 | 44% |
| Labor | $5,700 | $8,550 | $11,400 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $10,200 | $15,400 | $20,500 | 100% |
Where the Little Rock 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 $23.10 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Little Rock is 0.79 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 56% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Little Rock metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $6,750, compared with $7,200 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (89.4) and land at $45 to $130.
Specs and site conditions that change a Little Rock bid
Engineering
Large or complex decks may need a structural engineer at $100-$220 an hour to get a permit.
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.
Is Little Rock cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $14,600 to $15,600 across Little Rock and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, ARthis page | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | |
| Jonesboro, AR120 miles | $9,850 – $19,800 | $14,800 | −4% |
| Fort Smith, AR125 miles | $9,700 – $19,400 | $14,600 | −5% |
| Fayetteville, AR135 miles | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,600 | +2% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $9,700 – $19,500 | $14,600 | −5% |
| Monroe, LA145 miles | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | level |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | level |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +18% |
Across 300 US metros, Little Rock comes in at #274 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $25,200; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $13,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Little Rock is 0% above the Arkansas figure.
Other Arkansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,600 | +2% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $9,700 – $19,400 | $14,600 | −5% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $9,850 – $19,800 | $14,800 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Little Rock's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Little Rock against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | +4% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $13,500 – $27,100 | $20,300 | +32% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $11,700 – $23,500 | $17,600 | +14% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,500 | +8% |
What nearby projects cost in Little Rock
Because every project leans on different trades, Little Rock's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs −11% and concrete patio −14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,600 – $13,200 | −13% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,400 | −14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,850 | −11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,100 – $3,700 | −12% |
Add-ons priced for Little Rock
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Little Rock by the average of the local wage index (0.79) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.86. 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) | $1,550 – $4,650 |
Cost by quality level and size in Little Rock
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Little Rock 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
$10,200 to $14,400
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$13,300 to $17,400
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$16,400 to $20,500
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,100 – $5,800 | $5,350 – $7,050 | $6,600 – $8,300 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $4,950 – $6,950 | $6,450 – $8,450 | $7,950 – $9,900 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $10,900 – $15,300 | $14,200 – $18,600 | $17,500 – $21,900 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $13,600 – $19,100 | $17,700 – $23,200 | $21,900 – $27,300 |
Little Rock 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 Little Rock is 0.79 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $23.10 an hour, which is 21% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.08 and $27.36 an hour. BLS counts 1,080 of them working in the area, 30.1 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 $17.88 an hour, 21% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.75 and $20.34 an hour. About 2,790 work in the metro. That is 77.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.36 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,250. At the 25th percentile ($20.08) it shrinks by about $900. The total moves by 8.2% or 5.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 358,210 jobs in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway area. That makes it the 72nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.23% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $20.08 | $23.10 | $27.36 | $29.12 | 0.79 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.75 | $17.88 | $20.34 | $22.66 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Climate in Little Rock: timing your composite deck job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Little Rock Ap Adams Fld (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 Little Rock (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Little Rock gets about 50 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and December (5.6 inches in April). Inside the workable window, January and September are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 76 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 | 51 | 31 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Feb | 55 | 34 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 50 | 5.6 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 3.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 70 | 3.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 63 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 33 | 5.1 | Workable |
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 $13,300 to $17,400 for Little Rock, AR is attached.
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Composite deck in Little Rock: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Little Rock?
For 300 sq ft, expect $10,200 to $20,500 in the Little Rock area. A standard-spec job lands at $13,300 to $17,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Little Rock?
About $34 to $68 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 Little Rock or Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is 120 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $14,800, which is 4% less than Little Rock ($15,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Little Rock?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $8,550 out of $15,400. Materials are 44% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Little Rock?
$10,900 to $21,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Little Rock?
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 Little Rock area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Little Rock expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Little Rock is 0% above 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 Little Rock?
The BLS median is $23.10 an hour in the Little Rock area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.08 to $27.36.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Little Rock?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,200 to $14,400 and premium work $16,400 to $20,500. 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 Little Rock?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. 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 Little Rock?
$1,550 to $4,650 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Little Rock
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