Composite deck cost in Colorado
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $12,200 – $24,500
- Per sq ft
- $40.50 – $81
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $18,100
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to build a composite deck in Colorado? Plan on $12,200 to $24,500 for 300 sq ft. Wages (1.03x the US blend), materials (price index 98.7) and permit costs (103.1) put the state above the national midpoint by 1%.
Inside Colorado, the metros we cover range from $17,100 (Pueblo) to $18,900 (Denver) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your composite deck cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Colorado (statewide), standard level
$15,900 to $20,800
About $53 to $69 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,150 | $8,050 |
| Labor | $9,650 | $12,600 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $15,900 | $20,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Colorado
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,750 | $7,100 | $9,500 | 39% |
| Labor | $7,450 | $11,200 | $14,900 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $12,200 | $18,400 | $24,500 | 100% |
Weather windows across Colorado
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Colorado 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.
Colorado Springs has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Colorado at 12 months; Grand Junction has the shortest at 8 (February through June and September through November). Rainfall runs from 9 inches a year in Grand Junction to 21 inches in Boulder.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 18 | 90 | 15 | 11: August through June |
| Colorado Springs | 19 | 87 | 16 | 12: all year |
| Boulder | 22 | 88 | 21 | 12: all year |
| Fort Collins | 18 | 87 | 16 | 11: January through November |
| Greeley | 18 | 92 | 15 | 9: February through June and August through November |
| Grand Junction | 17 | 95 | 9 | 8: February through June and September through November |
| Pueblo | 15 | 93 | 12 | 10: September through June |
How Colorado compares with nearby states
Colorado ranks 15 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. Colorado sits at $18,400. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 120 miles away | $11,400 – $22,900 | $17,200 | −6% |
| New Mexico | 340 miles away | $11,500 – $23,100 | $17,300 | −6% |
| Utah | 410 miles away | $11,100 – $22,200 | $16,600 | −9% |
| South Dakota | 440 miles away | $10,600 – $21,200 | $15,900 | −13% |
| Kansas | 450 miles away | $11,300 – $22,700 | $17,000 | −7% |
Basic, standard or premium: Colorado 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
$12,200 to $17,100
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$15,900 to $20,800
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$19,600 to $24,500
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,900 – $6,900 | $6,400 – $8,400 | $7,900 – $9,900 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,900 – $8,300 | $7,700 – $10,100 | $9,450 – $11,800 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $13,000 – $18,300 | $17,000 – $22,200 | $20,900 – $26,100 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $16,300 – $22,800 | $21,200 – $27,700 | $26,100 – $32,600 |
Extras that change the Colorado total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.01 for Colorado, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.03) and goods price index (0.99). 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 – $5,450 |
Other Colorado jobs that often go with composite deck
Each project weights the trades differently, so Colorado's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, paver patio is +3% and gutters −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,600 – $15,300 | +1% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,100 – $5,650 | +3% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | −2% |
Why two Colorado 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.
Wages behind the Colorado number
Colorado'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 1.03 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $30.21 an hour, 4% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.97 and $35.78 an hour. About 12,740 work in the state. That is 44.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $23.03 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.53 and $27.25 an hour. BLS counts 18,680 of them working in the state, 65.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($35.78 an hour) would add about $1,650 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($24.97) would take off about $1,550. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,873,900 jobs across Colorado (May 2025), which is 1.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $24.97 | $30.21 | $35.78 | $29.12 | 1.04 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $20.53 | $23.03 | $27.25 | $22.66 | 1.02 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Which Colorado city is cheapest for composite deck?
1 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $18,400, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | $12,600 – $25,200 | $18,900 | +3% |
| Boulder, CO | $11,800 – $23,700 | $17,700 | −3% |
| Grand Junction, CO | $11,800 – $23,600 | $17,700 | −4% |
| Fort Collins, CO | $11,700 – $23,400 | $17,500 | −5% |
| Greeley, CO | $11,600 – $23,200 | $17,400 | −5% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $11,500 – $23,100 | $17,300 | −6% |
| Pueblo, CO | $11,400 – $22,800 | $17,100 | −7% |
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 $15,900 to $20,800 for Colorado is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the composite deck numbers for Colorado 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 Colorado: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Colorado?
$12,200 to $24,500 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Colorado can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Colorado is cheapest for composite deck?
Pueblo at about $17,100 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Denver at $18,900.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Colorado than the US average?
It is 1% more expensive: $18,400 against $18,100 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Colorado?
About 61% ($11,200). Materials are 39%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.03x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Colorado?
The BLS statewide median is $30.21 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.97 to $35.78.
+Where does Colorado rank for composite deck costs?
15th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $18,400 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Colorado?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $12,200 to $17,100 and premium work $19,600 to $24,500. 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 Colorado?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Colorado metros we cover, Colorado Springs 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 Colorado?
$1,800 to $5,450 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck by city in Colorado
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