Composite deck cost in Burlington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $10,700 – $21,400
- Per sq ft
- $35.50 – $71
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #224
- 1 = most expensive
Burlington homeowners pay roughly $10,700 to $21,400 to build a composite deck at 300 sq ft, or $35.50 to $71 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Burlington is 11% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $23.69 an hour in the Burlington area, 19% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Burlington, NC, standard level
$13,900 to $18,200
About $46 to $60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,050 | $7,900 |
| Labor | $7,750 | $10,200 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $13,900 | $18,200 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Burlington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,650 | $6,950 | $9,300 | 43% |
| Labor | $6,000 | $8,950 | $12,000 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $10,700 | $16,000 | $21,400 | 100% |
What is behind the Burlington number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Burlington wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 56% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Burlington metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $6,950, compared with $7,200 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.2) and land at $45 to $140.
How Burlington compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 300 sq ft range from $15,700 to $16,500 across Burlington and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NCthis page | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | |
| Durham, NC15 miles | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,500 | +3% |
| Greensboro, NC20 miles | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | level |
| Winston, NC55 miles | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | +1% |
| Raleigh, NC55 miles | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | +2% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | −2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | +1% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Burlington comes in at #224 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $25,200; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $13,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Burlington is 1% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | +3% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | level |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,500 | +3% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | +1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Burlington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Burlington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,600 | +3% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | +1% |
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $11,700 – $23,400 | $17,500 | +9% |
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,100 | level |
Related projects, priced for Burlington
Because every project leans on different trades, Burlington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs −8% and concrete patio −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,700 | −9% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,550 | −10% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,750 – $4,950 | −9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,850 | −8% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Burlington bid
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Burlington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Burlington wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$10,700 to $14,900
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$13,900 to $18,200
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$17,100 to $21,400
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,300 – $6,050 | $5,600 – $7,350 | $6,900 – $8,650 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,150 – $7,200 | $6,700 – $8,800 | $8,250 – $10,300 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $11,400 – $15,900 | $14,800 – $19,400 | $18,200 – $22,800 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $14,200 – $19,900 | $18,500 – $24,200 | $22,800 – $28,500 |
When to schedule composite deck in Burlington
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Burlington Alamance Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
August through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Burlington (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Burlington gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and September (4.7 inches in July). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 3.1 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 48 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | 30 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 33 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 39 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 48 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 57 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 65 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 4.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 49 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 38 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 55 | 33 | 3.1 | Workable |
Extras that change the Burlington total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Burlington by the average of the local wage index (0.83) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 0.90. 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) | $1,600 – $4,850 |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Burlington is 0.83 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $23.69 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.18 and $27.09 an hour. BLS counts 100 of them working in the area, 14.7 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 $20.35 an hour, 10% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.66 and $22.91 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 59.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.09 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,000. At the 25th percentile ($21.18) it shrinks by about $740. The total moves by 6.3% or 4.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 67,830 jobs in the Burlington area. That makes it the 266th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $21.18 | $23.69 | $27.09 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.66 | $20.35 | $22.91 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
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 $13,900 to $18,200 for Burlington, NC is attached.
Detailed composite deck report for Burlington, NC, $9
Multi-page report for Burlington, NC: 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 Burlington: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Burlington?
For 300 sq ft, expect $10,700 to $21,400 in the Burlington area. A standard-spec job lands at $13,900 to $18,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Burlington?
About $35.50 to $71 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 Burlington or Durham?
Durham is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $16,500, which is 3% more than Burlington ($16,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Burlington?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $8,950 out of $16,000. Materials are 43% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Burlington?
$11,400 to $22,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Burlington?
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 Burlington area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Burlington expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Burlington is 1% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($16,100 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Burlington?
The BLS median is $23.69 an hour in the Burlington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.18 to $27.09.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Burlington?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,700 to $14,900 and premium work $17,100 to $21,400. 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 Burlington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. January and February 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 Burlington?
$1,600 to $4,850 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Burlington
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