Composite deck cost in Maryland
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $12,400 – $24,800
- Per sq ft
- $41 – $82.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $18,100
- Metros covered
- 3
Maryland prices for composite deck: $12,400 to $24,800 for 300 sq ft, or $41 to $82.50 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 3% above the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $30.27 an hour.
Inside Maryland, the metros we cover range from $17,100 (Hagerstown) to $18,500 (Baltimore) 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 Maryland (statewide), standard level
$16,100 to $21,100
About $53.50 to $70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,400 | $8,350 |
| Labor | $9,650 | $12,600 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $130 |
| Total | $16,100 | $21,100 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Maryland
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,900 | $7,400 | $9,850 | 40% |
| Labor | $7,400 | $11,100 | $14,800 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $160 | 1% |
| Total | $12,400 | $18,600 | $24,800 | 100% |
Composite deck: what moves the price in Maryland
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 Maryland
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Maryland wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$12,400 to $17,400
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$16,100 to $21,100
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$19,900 to $24,800
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $5,000 – $7,000 | $6,500 – $8,500 | $8,000 – $10,000 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $6,000 – $8,400 | $7,800 – $10,200 | $9,600 – $12,000 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $13,200 – $18,500 | $17,200 – $22,500 | $21,200 – $26,500 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $16,500 – $23,100 | $21,500 – $28,100 | $26,400 – $33,100 |
Other Maryland jobs that often go with composite deck
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Maryland wages and prices. Against national midpoints, wood deck comes out highest (+3%) and concrete patio lowest (−1%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,750 – $15,600 | +3% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $3,950 | −1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,300 | +3% |
Maryland metro-by-metro prices
0 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $18,600, and the top-to-bottom gap is 8%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | −1% |
| Lexington Park, MD | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,300 | −2% |
| Hagerstown, MD | $11,400 – $22,800 | $17,100 | −8% |
Optional extras in Maryland
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Maryland by the average of the local wage index (1.03) and goods index (1.03), a factor of 1.03. 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) | $1,850 – $5,550 |
How Maryland compares with nearby states
Maryland ranks 13 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. Maryland sits at $18,600. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 50 miles away | $12,600 – $25,200 | $18,900 | +1% |
| Delaware | 60 miles away | $11,700 – $23,400 | $17,600 | −6% |
| Pennsylvania | 70 miles away | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | −3% |
| New Jersey | 110 miles away | $13,200 – $26,500 | $19,900 | +7% |
| Virginia | 150 miles away | $11,500 – $23,000 | $17,300 | −7% |
Weather windows across Maryland
Season matters for composite deck. For each Maryland metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Lexington Park has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Maryland at 12 months; Hagerstown has the shortest at 9 (March through November). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Hagerstown to 45 inches in Lexington Park.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | 30 | 90 | 44 | 10: February through June and August through December |
| Hagerstown | 22 | 86 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| Lexington Park | 30 | 87 | 45 | 12: all year |
Wages behind the Maryland number
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 1.03 for Maryland.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $30.27 an hour, which is 4% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.11 and $36.93 an hour. BLS counts 9,770 of them working in the state, 35.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $22.58 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.98 and $26.70 an hour. About 20,920 work in the state. That is 75.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($36.93 an hour) would add about $2,000 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($25.11) would take off about $1,550. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,763,030 jobs across Maryland (May 2025), which is 1.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $25.11 | $30.27 | $36.93 | $29.12 | 1.04 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.98 | $22.58 | $26.70 | $22.66 | 1.00 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
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 $16,100 to $21,100 for Maryland is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the composite deck numbers for Maryland 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 Maryland: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Maryland?
$12,400 to $24,800 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Maryland can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Maryland is cheapest for composite deck?
Hagerstown at about $17,100 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Baltimore at $18,500.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Maryland than the US average?
It is 3% more expensive: $18,600 against $18,100 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Maryland?
About 60% ($11,100). Materials are 40%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.03x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Maryland?
The BLS statewide median is $30.27 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.11 to $36.93.
+Where does Maryland rank for composite deck costs?
13th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $18,600 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Maryland?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $12,400 to $17,400 and premium work $19,900 to $24,800. 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 Maryland?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Maryland metros we cover, Lexington Park has the most comfortable months (12 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 Maryland?
$1,850 to $5,550 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck by city in Maryland
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