Composite deck cost in New Jersey
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $13,200 – $26,500
- Per sq ft
- $44 – $88
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +10%
- US $18,100
- Metros covered
- 3
What does it cost to build a composite deck in New Jersey? Plan on $13,200 to $26,500 for 300 sq ft. Wages (1.12x the US blend), materials (price index 107.1) and permit costs (108.8) put the state above the national midpoint by 10%.
Inside New Jersey, the metros we cover range from $18,500 (Atlantic City) to $20,200 (Vineland) 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 New Jersey (statewide), standard level
$17,200 to $22,500
About $57 to $74.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,700 | $8,750 |
| Labor | $10,500 | $13,700 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $130 |
| Total | $17,200 | $22,500 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in New Jersey
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,150 | $7,700 | $10,300 | 39% |
| Labor | $8,050 | $12,100 | $16,100 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $110 | $160 | 1% |
| Total | $13,200 | $19,900 | $26,500 | 100% |
Which New Jersey city is cheapest for composite deck?
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $19,900, and the top-to-bottom gap is 9%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland, NJ | $13,400 – $26,900 | $20,200 | +1% |
| Trenton, NJ | $13,300 – $26,600 | $20,000 | level |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | −7% |
Basic, standard or premium: New Jersey prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from 10x12 (120 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$13,200 to $18,600
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$17,200 to $22,500
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$21,200 to $26,500
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $5,350 – $7,500 | $6,950 – $9,100 | $8,550 – $10,700 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $6,400 – $8,950 | $8,300 – $10,900 | $10,200 – $12,800 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $14,100 – $19,800 | $18,400 – $24,000 | $22,600 – $28,300 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $17,600 – $24,700 | $22,900 – $30,000 | $28,200 – $35,300 |
Why two New Jersey quotes can differ
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.
Other New Jersey jobs that often go with composite deck
Each project weights the trades differently, so New Jersey's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, gutters is +21% and wood deck +9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,250 – $16,500 | +9% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,400 – $4,600 | +14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,550 – $6,500 | +19% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,600 – $5,000 | +21% |
Weather windows across New Jersey
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and New Jersey is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Vineland has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in New Jersey at 11 months (February through December); Trenton has the shortest at 9 (March through November). Rainfall runs from 43 inches a year in Vineland to 46 inches in Trenton.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | 24 | 86 | 46 | 9: March through November |
| Atlantic City | 30 | 80 | 44 | 10: March through December |
| Vineland | 24 | 86 | 43 | 11: February through December |
Optional extras in New Jersey
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.09 for New Jersey, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.12) and goods price index (1.07). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a deck railing (approx. 0.3 ft per sq ft) | $1,950 – $5,900 |
Wages behind the New Jersey number
New Jersey's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.12 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $30.77 an hour, 6% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.63 and $38.67 an hour. About 14,230 work in the state. That is 33.2 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 $30.80 an hour, which is 36% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.46 and $45.44 an hour. BLS counts 23,590 of them working in the state, 55.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($38.67 an hour) would add about $2,350 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($24.63) would take off about $1,800. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,285,720 jobs across New Jersey (May 2025), which is 2.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $24.63 | $30.77 | $38.67 | $29.12 | 1.06 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.46 | $30.80 | $45.44 | $22.66 | 1.36 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.12 | |||||
How New Jersey compares with nearby states
New Jersey ranks 8 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. New Jersey sits at $19,900. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 60 miles away | $11,700 – $23,400 | $17,600 | −12% |
| New York | 100 miles away | $13,800 – $27,600 | $20,700 | +4% |
| Pennsylvania | 100 miles away | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | −10% |
| Maryland | 110 miles away | $12,400 – $24,800 | $18,600 | −6% |
| Connecticut | 150 miles away | $12,600 – $25,200 | $18,900 | −5% |
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Detailed composite deck report for New Jersey, $9
Multi-page report for New Jersey: 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 New Jersey: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in New Jersey?
$13,200 to $26,500 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside New Jersey can sit above or below that.
+Which city in New Jersey is cheapest for composite deck?
Atlantic City at about $18,500 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Vineland at $20,200.
+Is composite deck cheaper in New Jersey than the US average?
It is 10% more expensive: $19,900 against $18,100 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in New Jersey?
About 61% ($12,100). Materials are 39%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.12x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in New Jersey?
The BLS statewide median is $30.77 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.63 to $38.67.
+Where does New Jersey rank for composite deck costs?
8th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $19,900 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in New Jersey?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $13,200 to $18,600 and premium work $21,200 to $26,500. 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 New Jersey?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the New Jersey metros we cover, Vineland has the most comfortable months (11 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 New Jersey?
$1,950 to $5,900 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck by city in New Jersey
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