Composite deck cost in Wilmington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $10,900 – $21,900
- Per sq ft
- $36.50 – $72.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #184
- 1 = most expensive
Wilmington homeowners pay roughly $10,900 to $21,900 to build a composite deck at 300 sq ft, or $36.50 to $72.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Wilmington is 9% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $24.44 an hour in the Wilmington area, 16% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Wilmington, NC, standard level
$14,200 to $18,600
About $47 to $61.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,050 | $7,900 |
| Labor | $8,100 | $10,600 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $14,200 | $18,600 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Wilmington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,650 | $6,950 | $9,300 | 42% |
| Labor | $6,250 | $9,350 | $12,500 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $10,900 | $16,400 | $21,900 | 100% |
Where the Wilmington price comes from
Labor is 57% of the midpoint bill here, against 60% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (80%), construction laborers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Wilmington the blended ratio comes out at 0.87.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Wilmington 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 (96.4) and land at $50 to $140.
What nearby projects cost in Wilmington
Because every project leans on different trades, Wilmington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs −7% and concrete patio −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,950 – $14,000 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −10% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,100 | −7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,900 | −7% |
Extras that change the Wilmington total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Wilmington by the average of the local wage index (0.87) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 0.92. 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) | $1,650 – $4,950 |
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 Wilmington is 0.87 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $24.44 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.06 and $28.70 an hour. BLS counts 640 of them working in the area, 33.5 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 $22.16 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.02 and $26.94 an hour. About 1,870 work in the metro. That is 97.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.70 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,250. At the 25th percentile ($22.06) it shrinks by about $710. The total moves by 7.7% or 4.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 191,280 jobs in the Wilmington area. That makes it the 120th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $22.06 | $24.44 | $28.70 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.02 | $22.16 | $26.94 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Wilmington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Wilmington 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
$10,900 to $15,300
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$14,200 to $18,600
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$17,500 to $21,900
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,400 – $6,200 | $5,750 – $7,500 | $7,050 – $8,850 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,250 – $7,400 | $6,850 – $9,000 | $8,450 – $10,600 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $11,700 – $16,300 | $15,200 – $19,800 | $18,700 – $23,400 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $14,600 – $20,400 | $18,900 – $24,800 | $23,300 – $29,200 |
When to schedule composite deck in Wilmington
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Wilmington Intl 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 Wilmington (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Wilmington gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (8.7 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 45 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 | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 53 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 61 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 69 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 73 | 6.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 72 | 8.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 84 | 67 | 8.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 56 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 45 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 39 | 3.7 | Workable |
Why two Wilmington quotes can differ
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.
How Wilmington 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 $15,600 to $16,400 across Wilmington and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NCthis page | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC60 miles | $10,400 – $20,800 | $15,600 | −5% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | −4% |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,700 | −5% |
| Florence, SC100 miles | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | −2% |
| Raleigh, NC105 miles | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | level |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | −2% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Wilmington comes in at #184 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $25,200; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $13,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Wilmington is 2% above 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 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | −2% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,500 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | −2% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,500 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Wilmington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wilmington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $11,800 – $23,700 | $17,700 | +8% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $10,500 – $21,100 | $15,800 | −4% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −5% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $12,400 – $24,900 | $18,700 | +14% |
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 $14,200 to $18,600 for Wilmington, NC is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Wilmington, 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 Wilmington: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Wilmington?
For 300 sq ft, expect $10,900 to $21,900 in the Wilmington area. A standard-spec job lands at $14,200 to $18,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Wilmington?
About $36.50 to $72.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $40 to $80.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $15,600, which is 5% less than Wilmington ($16,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wilmington?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $9,350 out of $16,400. Materials are 42% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Wilmington?
$11,700 to $23,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Wilmington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $140 for fees in the Wilmington area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wilmington expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Wilmington is 2% above 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 Wilmington?
The BLS median is $24.44 an hour in the Wilmington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.06 to $28.70.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Wilmington?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,900 to $15,300 and premium work $17,500 to $21,900. 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 Wilmington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February and April 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 Wilmington?
$1,650 to $4,950 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Wilmington
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