Composite deck cost in Montana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $11,800 – $23,600
- Per sq ft
- $39 – $78
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $18,100
- Metros covered
- 3
What does it cost to build a composite deck in Montana? Plan on $11,800 to $23,600 for 300 sq ft. Wages (0.99x the US blend), materials (price index 96.0) and permit costs (94.6) put the state below the national midpoint by 2%.
Inside Montana, the metros we cover range from $17,500 (Missoula) to $18,500 (Bozeman) 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 Montana (statewide), standard level
$15,300 to $20,000
About $51 to $66.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $7,850 |
| Labor | $9,250 | $12,100 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $15,300 | $20,000 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Montana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,600 | $6,900 | $9,200 | 39% |
| Labor | $7,100 | $10,700 | $14,200 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $11,800 | $17,700 | $23,600 | 100% |
Composite deck: what moves the price in Montana
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 Montana
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Montana wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$11,800 to $16,500
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$15,300 to $20,000
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$18,900 to $23,600
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,750 – $6,650 | $6,150 – $8,100 | $7,600 – $9,500 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,700 – $7,950 | $7,400 – $9,700 | $9,100 – $11,400 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $12,600 – $17,600 | $16,300 – $21,400 | $20,100 – $25,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $15,700 – $22,000 | $20,400 – $26,700 | $25,100 – $31,400 |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Montana
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 0.99 for Montana.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $28.28 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.84 and $32.47 an hour. BLS counts 4,030 of them working in the state, 78.8 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 $23.96 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $28.24 an hour. About 4,590 work in the state. That is 89.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($32.47 an hour) would add about $1,250 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.84) would take off about $1,300. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 511,580 jobs across Montana (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.84 | $28.28 | $32.47 | $29.12 | 0.97 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $20.80 | $23.96 | $28.24 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Composite deck cost by metro in Montana
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $17,700, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $12,300 – $24,600 | $18,500 | +4% |
| Billings, MT | $11,800 – $23,600 | $17,700 | level |
| Missoula, MT | $11,600 – $23,300 | $17,500 | −1% |
Weather windows across Montana
Season matters for composite deck. For each Montana metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Billings has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Montana at 9 months (March through November); Missoula has the shortest at 8 (March through October). Rainfall runs from 14 inches a year in Missoula to 20 inches in Bozeman.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | 18 | 87 | 14 | 9: March through November |
| Bozeman | 15 | 82 | 20 | 8: March through October |
| Missoula | 18 | 85 | 14 | 8: March through October |
If you are planning more than one job in Montana
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Montana wages and prices. Against national midpoints, concrete patio comes out highest (+1%) and wood deck lowest (−3%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,350 – $14,700 | −3% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,050 | +1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | −1% |
Add-ons priced for Montana
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Montana by the average of the local wage index (0.99) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.97. 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) | $1,750 – $5,250 |
How Montana compares with nearby states
Montana ranks 26 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. Montana sits at $17,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 270 miles away | $11,100 – $22,100 | $16,600 | −6% |
| Utah | 400 miles away | $11,100 – $22,200 | $16,600 | −6% |
| Wyoming | 460 miles away | $11,400 – $22,900 | $17,200 | −3% |
| Washington | 500 miles away | $13,900 – $27,800 | $20,800 | +18% |
| Colorado | 550 miles away | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,400 | +4% |
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Composite deck in Montana: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Montana?
$11,800 to $23,600 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Montana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Montana is cheapest for composite deck?
Missoula at about $17,500 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Bozeman at $18,500.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Montana than the US average?
It is 2% cheaper: $17,700 against $18,100 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Montana?
About 60% ($10,700). Materials are 39%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.99x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Montana?
The BLS statewide median is $28.28 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.84 to $32.47.
+Where does Montana rank for composite deck costs?
26th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $17,700 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Montana?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $11,800 to $16,500 and premium work $18,900 to $23,600. 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 Montana?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Montana metros we cover, Billings has the most comfortable months (9 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 Montana?
$1,750 to $5,250 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck by city in Montana
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