Composite deck cost in Massachusetts
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $13,900 – $27,800
- Per sq ft
- $46 – $92
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +15%
- US $18,100
- Metros covered
- 6
Across Massachusetts, a composite deck costs about $13,900 to $27,800 for 300 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 15% above the US figure of $18,100. Carpenters earn a median $36.16 an hour in Massachusetts (US: $29.12).
Inside Massachusetts, the metros we cover range from $18,500 (Pittsfield) to $20,900 (Boston) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Massachusetts (statewide), standard level
$18,100 to $23,600
About $60 to $78.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 65% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,150 | $8,050 |
| Labor | $11,800 | $15,500 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $130 |
| Total | $18,100 | $23,600 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Massachusetts
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,750 | $7,100 | $9,500 | 34% |
| Labor | $9,100 | $13,600 | $18,200 | 65% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $110 | $160 | 1% |
| Total | $13,900 | $20,900 | $27,800 | 100% |
Massachusetts versus the states around it
Massachusetts ranks 5 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. Massachusetts sits at $20,900. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 40 miles away | $12,100 – $24,300 | $18,200 | −13% |
| Rhode Island | 50 miles away | $12,200 – $24,600 | $18,400 | −12% |
| Connecticut | 110 miles away | $12,600 – $25,200 | $18,900 | −9% |
| Maine | 120 miles away | $12,000 – $24,100 | $18,100 | −13% |
| Vermont | 180 miles away | $12,100 – $24,300 | $18,200 | −13% |
Quality levels and sizes in Massachusetts
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Massachusetts wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$13,900 to $19,500
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$18,100 to $23,600
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$22,200 to $27,800
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $5,600 – $7,850 | $7,300 – $9,550 | $8,950 – $11,200 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $6,700 – $9,400 | $8,700 – $11,400 | $10,700 – $13,400 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $14,800 – $20,800 | $19,300 – $25,200 | $23,700 – $29,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $18,500 – $25,900 | $24,100 – $31,500 | $29,600 – $37,000 |
Extras that change the Massachusetts total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Massachusetts by the average of the local wage index (1.26) and goods index (0.99), a factor of 1.13. 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) | $2,050 – $6,100 |
Composite deck: what moves the price in Massachusetts
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.
Massachusetts labor market for composite deck
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 1.26 for Massachusetts.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $36.16 an hour, which is 24% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.21 and $46.88 an hour. BLS counts 18,540 of them working in the state, 51.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $30.48 an hour, 35% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $25.16 and $42.46 an hour. About 16,210 work in the state. That is 44.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($46.88 an hour) would add about $3,200 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($29.21) would take off about $2,050. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,637,650 jobs across Massachusetts (May 2025), which is 2.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $29.21 | $36.16 | $46.88 | $29.12 | 1.24 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $25.16 | $30.48 | $42.46 | $22.66 | 1.35 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.26 | |||||
Massachusetts seasons and composite deck
Season matters for composite deck. For each Massachusetts metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Barnstable has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Massachusetts at 10 months (March through December); Pittsfield has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Boston to 48 inches in Worcester.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 23 | 82 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| Worcester | 17 | 80 | 48 | 8: April through November |
| Springfield | 16 | 85 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Barnstable | 24 | 81 | 45 | 10: March through December |
| Amherst | 16 | 85 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Pittsfield | 14 | 79 | 44 | 8: April through November |
Composite deck cost by metro in Massachusetts
0 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $20,900, and the top-to-bottom gap is 13%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $13,900 – $27,900 | $20,900 | level |
| Springfield, MA | $13,800 – $27,700 | $20,700 | −1% |
| Worcester, MA | $13,500 – $27,100 | $20,300 | −3% |
| Barnstable, MA | $13,300 – $26,600 | $19,900 | −5% |
| Amherst, MA | $12,800 – $25,700 | $19,300 | −8% |
| Pittsfield, MA | $12,300 – $24,600 | $18,500 | −11% |
Related projects, priced for Massachusetts
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Massachusetts wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+23%) and wood deck lowest (+11%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,350 – $16,800 | +11% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,350 – $4,500 | +11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,650 – $6,700 | +23% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,500 – $4,650 | +12% |
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Composite deck in Massachusetts: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Massachusetts?
$13,900 to $27,800 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Massachusetts can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Massachusetts is cheapest for composite deck?
Pittsfield at about $18,500 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Boston at $20,900.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Massachusetts than the US average?
It is 15% more expensive: $20,900 against $18,100 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Massachusetts?
About 65% ($13,600). Materials are 34%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.26x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Massachusetts?
The BLS statewide median is $36.16 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.21 to $46.88.
+Where does Massachusetts rank for composite deck costs?
5th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $20,900 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Massachusetts?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $13,900 to $19,500 and premium work $22,200 to $27,800. 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 Massachusetts?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Massachusetts metros we cover, Barnstable has the most comfortable months (10 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 Massachusetts?
$2,050 to $6,100 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck by city in Massachusetts
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