Composite deck cost in Baton Rouge, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $11,000 – $22,100
- Per sq ft
- $36.50 – $73
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #173
- 1 = most expensive
A composite deck in Baton Rouge, LA usually costs $11,000 to $22,100 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $36.50 to $73 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,550 less. Carpenters earn a median of $26.75 an hour in the Baton Rouge area, 8% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Baton Rouge, LA, standard level
$14,300 to $18,800
About $47.50 to $62 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,850 | $7,650 |
| Labor | $8,400 | $11,000 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $14,300 | $18,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Baton Rouge, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $6,750 | $9,000 | 41% |
| Labor | $6,450 | $9,700 | $12,900 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $11,000 | $16,500 | $22,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Baton Rouge number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $26.75 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Baton Rouge is 0.90 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 59% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Baton Rouge is at 93.7 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 90.8: $45 to $140.
Is Baton Rouge cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Baton Rouge. Alexandria is the lowest at about $15,200 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 100 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LAthis page | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,500 | |
| Lafayette, LA70 miles | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | −7% |
| Slidell, LA70 miles | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −6% |
| Houma, LA85 miles | $10,300 – $20,500 | $15,400 | −7% |
| Alexandria, LA100 miles | $10,100 – $20,300 | $15,200 | −8% |
| Hattiesburg, MS120 miles | $10,400 – $20,700 | $15,600 | −6% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | −5% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Baton Rouge ranks #173 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Baton Rouge is 5% above the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $10,500 – $21,100 | $15,800 | −5% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | −7% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $10,200 – $20,400 | $15,300 | −8% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,500 | −7% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −6% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | −7% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Baton Rouge against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $10,900 – $21,800 | $16,300 | −1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | +12% |
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $10,800 – $21,600 | $16,200 | −2% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $11,600 – $23,300 | $17,400 | +5% |
Baton Rouge: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Baton Rouge. 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
$11,000 to $15,400
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$14,300 to $18,800
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$17,700 to $22,100
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,450 – $6,200 | $5,800 – $7,550 | $7,100 – $8,900 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,300 – $7,450 | $6,900 – $9,050 | $8,500 – $10,700 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $11,700 – $16,500 | $15,300 – $20,000 | $18,800 – $23,500 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $14,700 – $20,600 | $19,100 – $25,000 | $23,500 – $29,400 |
Baton Rouge 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, Baton Rouge Ryan 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 Baton Rouge are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Baton Rouge gets about 62 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, June and August (6.5 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 4.4 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 96 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 | 62 | 42 | 6.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 45 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 51 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 57 | 5.1 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 65 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 72 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 6.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 69 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 58 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 48 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 43 | 5.3 | Workable |
Why two Baton Rouge quotes can differ
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.
Board grade
Composite materials run $16-$32 per sq ft and the installed price is $40-$80 per sq ft, including the substructure (HomeGuide).
Related projects, priced for Baton Rouge
Jobs that often go together with composite deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Baton Rouge wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete patio comes out highest (−5%) and paver patio lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,950 – $13,900 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,800 | −5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,900 | −10% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,800 | −10% |
What local crews earn in Baton Rouge
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 Baton Rouge the blend is 0.90.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $26.75 an hour, 8% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.20 and $29.27 an hour. About 3,490 work in the metro. That is 85.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $18.58 an hour, which is 18% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.59 and $22.72 an hour. BLS counts 6,300 of them working in the area, 153.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $750 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,050. That is a swing of roughly 6.4% to 4.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Baton Rouge has 409,690 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 60th 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% | $23.20 | $26.75 | $29.27 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.59 | $18.58 | $22.72 | $22.66 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Extras that change the Baton Rouge total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.92 for Baton Rouge, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.90) 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) | $1,650 – $4,950 |
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 $14,300 to $18,800 for Baton Rouge, LA is attached.
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Composite deck in Baton Rouge: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Baton Rouge?
For 300 sq ft, expect $11,000 to $22,100 in the Baton Rouge area. A standard-spec job lands at $14,300 to $18,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Baton Rouge?
About $36.50 to $73 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $40 to $80.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Baton Rouge or Lafayette?
Lafayette is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $15,400, which is 7% less than Baton Rouge ($16,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Baton Rouge?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $9,700 out of $16,500. Materials are 41% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Baton Rouge?
$11,700 to $23,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Baton Rouge?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $140 for fees in the Baton Rouge area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Baton Rouge expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Baton Rouge is 5% above the Louisiana statewide estimate ($15,700 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Baton Rouge?
The BLS median is $26.75 an hour in the Baton Rouge area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.20 to $29.27.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Baton Rouge?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $11,000 to $15,400 and premium work $17,700 to $22,100. 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 Baton Rouge?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. September and November 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 Baton Rouge?
$1,650 to $4,950 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Baton Rouge
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