Composite deck cost in Indiana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $12,100 – $24,300
- Per sq ft
- $40.50 – $80.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $18,100
- Metros covered
- 8
Indiana prices for composite deck: $12,100 to $24,300 for 300 sq ft, or $40.50 to $80.50 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 1% above the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $30.23 an hour.
Inside Indiana, the metros we cover range from $17,600 (Terre Haute) to $18,500 (Evansville) 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 Indiana (statewide), standard level
$15,800 to $20,700
About $52.50 to $68.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,950 | $7,800 |
| Labor | $9,750 | $12,800 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $15,800 | $20,700 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Indiana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,600 | $6,900 | $9,150 | 38% |
| Labor | $7,500 | $11,300 | $15,000 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $12,100 | $18,200 | $24,300 | 100% |
Indiana versus the states around it
Indiana ranks 18 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. Indiana sits at $18,200. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 140 miles away | $11,100 – $22,200 | $16,600 | −9% |
| Illinois | 140 miles away | $14,400 – $28,900 | $21,600 | +19% |
| Ohio | 180 miles away | $12,000 – $24,100 | $18,100 | −1% |
| Michigan | 220 miles away | $12,000 – $24,100 | $18,100 | −1% |
| Wisconsin | 260 miles away | $12,200 – $24,400 | $18,300 | level |
Indiana seasons and composite deck
Season matters for composite deck. For each Indiana metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Evansville has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Indiana at 11 months (February through December); Terre Haute has the shortest at 9 (March through November). Rainfall runs from 35 inches a year in Elkhart to 49 inches in Bloomington.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | 21 | 85 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| Fort Wayne | 18 | 84 | 39 | 9: March through November |
| Evansville | 26 | 89 | 48 | 11: February through December |
| South Bend | 17 | 83 | 39 | 9: March through November |
| Elkhart | 18 | 83 | 35 | 9: March through November |
| Lafayette | 18 | 84 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Bloomington | 21 | 85 | 49 | 9: March through November |
| Terre Haute | 21 | 86 | 41 | 9: March through November |
Indiana metro-by-metro prices
3 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $18,200, and the top-to-bottom gap is 5%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | $12,400 – $24,700 | $18,500 | +2% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | +1% |
| Elkhart, IN | $12,300 – $24,600 | $18,400 | +1% |
| Lafayette, IN | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,200 | level |
| South Bend, IN | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | −1% |
| Bloomington, IN | $11,900 – $23,800 | $17,900 | −2% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $11,800 – $23,600 | $17,700 | −3% |
| Terre Haute, IN | $11,700 – $23,500 | $17,600 | −3% |
Other Indiana jobs that often go with composite deck
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Indiana wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+3%) and gutters lowest (−1%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,500 – $15,000 | −1% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,100 – $5,600 | +3% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | −1% |
Composite deck: what moves the price in Indiana
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.
Quality levels and sizes in Indiana
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Indiana wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$12,100 to $17,000
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$15,800 to $20,700
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$19,500 to $24,300
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,900 – $6,850 | $6,350 – $8,350 | $7,850 – $9,800 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,850 – $8,200 | $7,600 – $10,000 | $9,400 – $11,700 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $12,900 – $18,100 | $16,800 – $22,000 | $20,700 – $25,900 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $16,200 – $22,700 | $21,000 – $27,500 | $25,900 – $32,400 |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Indiana
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.04 for Indiana.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $30.23 an hour, which is 4% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.01 and $36.95 an hour. BLS counts 15,240 of them working in the state, 47.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $24.07 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.28 and $29.92 an hour. About 28,600 work in the state. That is 89.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($36.95 an hour) would add about $2,000 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($24.01) would take off about $1,850. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,201,220 jobs across Indiana (May 2025), which is 2.1% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $24.01 | $30.23 | $36.95 | $29.12 | 1.04 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.28 | $24.07 | $29.92 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Add-ons priced for Indiana
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Indiana by the average of the local wage index (1.04) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 1.00. 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) | $1,800 – $5,400 |
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 $15,800 to $20,700 for Indiana is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the composite deck numbers for Indiana 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 Indiana: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Indiana?
$12,100 to $24,300 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Indiana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Indiana is cheapest for composite deck?
Terre Haute at about $17,600 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Evansville at $18,500.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Indiana than the US average?
It is 1% more expensive: $18,200 against $18,100 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Indiana?
About 62% ($11,300). Materials are 38%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.04x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Indiana?
The BLS statewide median is $30.23 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.01 to $36.95.
+Where does Indiana rank for composite deck costs?
18th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $18,200 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Indiana?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $12,100 to $17,000 and premium work $19,500 to $24,300. 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 Indiana?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Indiana metros we cover, Evansville has the most comfortable months (11 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 Indiana?
$1,800 to $5,400 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck by city in Indiana
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