Composite deck cost in New Orleans, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $10,500 – $21,100
- Per sq ft
- $35 – $70
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #242
- 1 = most expensive
A composite deck in New Orleans, LA usually costs $10,500 to $21,100 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $35 to $70 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $2,300 less. Carpenters earn a median of $24.10 an hour in the New Orleans area, 17% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in New Orleans, LA, standard level
$13,700 to $17,900
About $45.50 to $59.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,850 | $7,650 |
| Labor | $7,750 | $10,200 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $13,700 | $17,900 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in New Orleans, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $6,750 | $9,000 | 43% |
| Labor | $5,950 | $8,950 | $11,900 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $10,500 | $15,800 | $21,100 | 100% |
Where the New Orleans 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 $24.10 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for New Orleans is 0.83 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 57% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. New Orleans 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 92.6: $45 to $140.
What local crews earn in New Orleans
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 New Orleans the blend is 0.83.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $24.10 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.55 and $29.75 an hour. About 1,390 work in the metro. That is 31.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $18.98 an hour, which is 16% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.45 and $23.29 an hour. BLS counts 3,620 of them working in the area, 81.2 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 $1,700 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $760. That is a swing of roughly 4.8% to 10.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
New Orleans-Metairie has 445,550 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 57th 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% | $21.55 | $24.10 | $29.75 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.45 | $18.98 | $23.29 | $22.66 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Related projects, priced for New Orleans
Jobs that often go together with composite deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same New Orleans wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−10%) and wood deck lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,700 – $13,500 | −11% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,550 | −11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,900 | −10% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,100 – $3,750 | −11% |
Why two New Orleans 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).
New Orleans: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to New Orleans. 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
$10,500 to $14,700
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$13,700 to $17,900
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$16,900 to $21,100
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,250 – $5,950 | $5,500 – $7,250 | $6,800 – $8,500 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,050 – $7,100 | $6,600 – $8,650 | $8,150 – $10,200 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $11,200 – $15,700 | $14,600 – $19,100 | $18,000 – $22,500 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $14,000 – $19,600 | $18,200 – $23,800 | $22,400 – $28,100 |
New Orleans 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, New Orleans Lakefront 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 New Orleans are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
New Orleans gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.5 inches in August). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 86 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 | 61 | 47 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 65 | 51 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 71 | 57 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 63 | 5.9 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 71 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 76 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 78 | 6.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 79 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 76 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 67 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 70 | 56 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 63 | 50 | 4.6 | Workable |
Extras that change the New Orleans total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.88 for New Orleans, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.83) 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) | $1,600 – $4,750 |
Is New Orleans cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Baton Rouge is the priciest of the group at $16,500. Houma is the cheapest at $15,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LAthis page | $10,500 – $21,100 | $15,800 | |
| Houma, LA75 miles | $10,300 – $20,500 | $15,400 | −3% |
| Slidell, LA80 miles | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −2% |
| Gulfport, MS90 miles | $10,600 – $21,200 | $15,900 | level |
| Baton Rouge, LA125 miles | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,500 | +5% |
| Mobile, AL125 miles | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,600 | −1% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | −1% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, New Orleans ranks #242 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, New Orleans is 1% above the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,500 | +5% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | −3% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $10,200 – $20,400 | $15,300 | −3% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,500 | −2% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −2% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is New Orleans against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $16,800 – $33,600 | $25,200 | +59% |
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $10,800 – $21,600 | $16,200 | +3% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,400 | +16% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $10,900 – $21,800 | $16,300 | +3% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Composite deck in New Orleans: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in New Orleans?
For 300 sq ft, expect $10,500 to $21,100 in the New Orleans area. A standard-spec job lands at $13,700 to $17,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in New Orleans?
About $35 to $70 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 New Orleans or Houma?
Houma is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $15,400, which is 3% less than New Orleans ($15,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in New Orleans?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $8,950 out of $15,800. Materials are 43% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in New Orleans?
$11,200 to $22,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in New Orleans?
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 New Orleans area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is New Orleans expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Louisiana?
New Orleans is 1% 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 New Orleans?
The BLS median is $24.10 an hour in the New Orleans area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.55 to $29.75.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in New Orleans?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,500 to $14,700 and premium work $16,900 to $21,100. 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 New Orleans?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. October 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 New Orleans?
$1,600 to $4,750 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near New Orleans
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