Composite deck cost in Denver, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $12,600 – $25,200
- Per sq ft
- $41.50 – $83.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #58
- 1 = most expensive
A composite deck in Denver, CO usually costs $12,600 to $25,200 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $41.50 to $83.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $770 more. Carpenters earn a median of $31.21 an hour in the Denver area, 7% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Denver, CO, standard level
$16,300 to $21,400
About $54 to $71 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,300 | $8,250 |
| Labor | $9,950 | $13,000 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $130 |
| Total | $16,300 | $21,400 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Denver, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,850 | $7,250 | $9,700 | 39% |
| Labor | $7,650 | $11,500 | $15,300 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $110 | $160 | 1% |
| Total | $12,600 | $18,900 | $25,200 | 100% |
Where the Denver 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 $31.21 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Denver is 1.06 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 61% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Denver is at 101.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $7,200 nationally becomes $7,250 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.8: $55 to $160.
Denver weather and the composite deck calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Denver-Stapleton (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Denver are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Denver gets about 15 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, July and August (2.3 inches in May). Inside the workable window, January and December are the driest, at 0.5 and 0.5 inches. The station averages about 42 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 | 18 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Feb | 48 | 19 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 56 | 27 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 34 | 1.7 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 43 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 53 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 59 | 2.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 57 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 48 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 67 | 36 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 26 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 18 | 0.5 | Workable |
Denver: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Denver. 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
$12,600 to $17,600
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$16,300 to $21,400
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$20,100 to $25,200
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $5,050 – $7,100 | $6,600 – $8,650 | $8,100 – $10,200 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $6,050 – $8,500 | $7,900 – $10,300 | $9,700 – $12,200 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $13,400 – $18,800 | $17,400 – $22,800 | $21,500 – $26,800 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $16,700 – $23,400 | $21,800 – $28,500 | $26,800 – $33,500 |
Optional extras in Denver
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.04 for Denver, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.06) and goods price index (1.01). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a deck railing (approx. 0.3 ft per sq ft) | $1,850 – $5,600 |
Planning more than one job in Denver?
Jobs that often go together with composite deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Denver wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+8%) and gutters lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,800 – $15,700 | +3% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,200 | +4% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,850 | +8% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,250 | +1% |
Why two Denver quotes can differ
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.
What local crews earn in Denver
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 Denver the blend is 1.06.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $31.21 an hour, 7% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.70 and $36.14 an hour. About 7,250 work in the metro. That is 45.0 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 $23.44 an hour, which is 3% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.48 and $27.44 an hour. BLS counts 9,650 of them working in the area, 60.0 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 $1,450 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,050. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 7.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has 1,609,350 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 17th 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% | $27.70 | $31.21 | $36.14 | $29.12 | 1.07 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.48 | $23.44 | $27.44 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
Is Denver 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 $17,100 to $18,900 across Denver and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, COthis page | $12,600 – $25,200 | $18,900 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO45 miles | $11,500 – $23,100 | $17,300 | −8% |
| Boulder, CO55 miles | $11,800 – $23,700 | $17,700 | −6% |
| Greeley, CO80 miles | $11,600 – $23,200 | $17,400 | −8% |
| Fort Collins, CO90 miles | $11,700 – $23,400 | $17,500 | −7% |
| Pueblo, CO90 miles | $11,400 – $22,800 | $17,100 | −9% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,400 | −3% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Denver ranks #58 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Denver is 3% above the Colorado figure.
Elsewhere in Colorado
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $11,500 – $23,100 | $17,300 | −8% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $11,800 – $23,700 | $17,700 | −6% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $11,700 – $23,400 | $17,500 | −7% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $11,600 – $23,200 | $17,400 | −8% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $11,800 – $23,600 | $17,700 | −6% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $11,400 – $22,800 | $17,100 | −9% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Denver against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $13,500 – $27,000 | $20,200 | +7% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $13,900 – $27,900 | $20,900 | +11% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $12,800 – $25,700 | $19,200 | +2% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | −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 $16,300 to $21,400 for Denver, CO is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Denver, CO: 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 Denver: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Denver?
For 300 sq ft, expect $12,600 to $25,200 in the Denver area. A standard-spec job lands at $16,300 to $21,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Denver?
About $41.50 to $83.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $55 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $40 to $80.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Denver or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $17,300, which is 8% less than Denver ($18,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Denver?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $11,500 out of $18,900. Materials are 39% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Denver?
$13,400 to $26,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Denver?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $55 to $160 for fees in the Denver area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Denver expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Colorado?
Denver is 3% above the Colorado statewide estimate ($18,400 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Denver?
The BLS median is $31.21 an hour in the Denver area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.70 to $36.14.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Denver?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $12,600 to $17,600 and premium work $20,100 to $25,200. 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 Denver?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. January and December 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 Denver?
$1,850 to $5,600 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Denver
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