Composite deck cost in Monroe, LA
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
- #276
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a composite deck in Monroe, 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 $23.27 an hour in the Monroe area, 20% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Monroe, LA, 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 | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $13,300 | $17,400 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Monroe, LA
| 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 | $40 | $85 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $10,200 | $15,400 | $20,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Monroe number
Labor is 56% of the midpoint bill here, against 60% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (80%), construction laborers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Monroe the blended ratio comes out at 0.79.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Monroe metro is 93.7 (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 (83.6) and land at $40 to $130.
Add-ons priced for Monroe
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Monroe 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 Monroe
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Monroe 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 $14,300
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 – $8,400 | $7,900 – $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 | $21,800 – $27,300 |
How Monroe compares
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 $15,800 across Monroe and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LAthis page | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | |
| Alexandria, LA95 miles | $10,100 – $20,300 | $15,200 | −1% |
| Shreveport, LA100 miles | $10,200 – $20,400 | $15,300 | −1% |
| Jackson, MS115 miles | $10,500 – $21,100 | $15,800 | +3% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $9,700 – $19,500 | $14,600 | −5% |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | level |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | +2% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +18% |
Across 300 US metros, Monroe comes in at #276 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $25,200; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $13,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Monroe is 2% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $10,500 – $21,100 | $15,800 | +3% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,500 | +8% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | level |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $10,200 – $20,400 | $15,300 | −1% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,500 | +1% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Monroe's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Monroe against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $13,600 – $27,200 | $20,400 | +33% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | +5% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | +5% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | +1% |
Composite deck: what moves the price in Monroe
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 nearby projects cost in Monroe
Because every project leans on different trades, Monroe's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs −11% and concrete patio −16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,600 – $13,200 | −13% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,300 | −16% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,650 | −15% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,100 – $3,750 | −11% |
Monroe 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 Monroe is 0.79 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $23.27 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $18.57 and $26.63 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 41.1 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 $17.24 an hour, 24% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.44 and $21.89 an hour. About 860 work in the metro. That is 98.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($26.63 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,000. At the 25th percentile ($18.57) it shrinks by about $1,400. The total moves by 6.5% or 9.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 87,500 jobs in the Monroe area. That makes it the 223rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $18.57 | $23.27 | $26.63 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.44 | $17.24 | $21.89 | $22.66 | 0.76 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Climate in Monroe: timing your composite deck job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Monroe Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Monroe (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Monroe gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and December (5.8 inches in April). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.5 and 4.2 inches. The station averages about 97 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 | 57 | 37 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 61 | 40 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 69 | 47 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 54 | 5.8 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 63 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 70 | 4.5 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 3.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 3.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 66 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 54 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 44 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 39 | 5.2 | 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 Monroe, LA is attached.
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Multi-page report for Monroe, LA: 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 Monroe: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Monroe?
For 300 sq ft, expect $10,200 to $20,500 in the Monroe 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 Monroe?
About $34 to $68 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $40 to $80.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Monroe or Alexandria?
Alexandria is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $15,200, which is 1% less than Monroe ($15,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Monroe?
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 Monroe?
$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 Monroe?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $130 for fees in the Monroe area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Monroe expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Monroe is 2% below 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 Monroe?
The BLS median is $23.27 an hour in the Monroe area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.57 to $26.63.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Monroe?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,200 to $14,300 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 Monroe?
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 Monroe?
$1,550 to $4,650 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Monroe
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