Composite deck cost in Rhode Island
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $12,200 – $24,600
- Per sq ft
- $40.50 – $81.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $18,100
- Metros covered
- 1
What does it cost to build a composite deck in Rhode Island? Plan on $12,200 to $24,600 for 300 sq ft. Wages (1.05x the US blend), materials (price index 97.2) and permit costs (102.3) put the state above the national midpoint by 2%.
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Rhode Island (statewide), standard level
$15,900 to $20,900
About $53 to $69 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,050 | $7,950 |
| Labor | $9,800 | $12,800 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $15,900 | $20,900 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Rhode Island
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,650 | $7,000 | $9,350 | 38% |
| Labor | $7,550 | $11,300 | $15,100 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $12,200 | $18,400 | $24,600 | 100% |
Optional extras in Rhode Island
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Rhode Island by the average of the local wage index (1.05) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 1.01. 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) | $1,800 – $5,450 |
Quality levels and sizes in Rhode Island
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Rhode Island wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$12,200 to $17,200
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$15,900 to $20,900
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$19,600 to $24,600
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,950 – $6,900 | $6,450 – $8,400 | $7,900 – $9,900 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,900 – $8,300 | $7,700 – $10,100 | $9,500 – $11,900 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $13,100 – $18,300 | $17,000 – $22,200 | $20,900 – $26,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $16,300 – $22,900 | $21,200 – $27,800 | $26,100 – $32,700 |
Composite deck: what moves the price in Rhode Island
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.
How Rhode Island compares with nearby states
Rhode Island ranks 14 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. Rhode Island sits at $18,400. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 50 miles away | $13,900 – $27,800 | $20,900 | +13% |
| Connecticut | 80 miles away | $12,600 – $25,200 | $18,900 | +3% |
| New Hampshire | 90 miles away | $12,100 – $24,300 | $18,200 | −1% |
| New York | 160 miles away | $13,800 – $27,600 | $20,700 | +13% |
| Maine | 170 miles away | $12,000 – $24,100 | $18,100 | −2% |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Rhode Island
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 1.05 for Rhode Island.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $29.25 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.14 and $36.42 an hour. BLS counts 2,580 of them working in the state, 51.5 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 $27.52 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.51 and $37.25 an hour. About 2,110 work in the state. That is 42.1 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 ($36.42 an hour) would add about $2,150 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($25.14) would take off about $1,200. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 501,340 jobs across Rhode Island (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% | $25.14 | $29.25 | $36.42 | $29.12 | 1.00 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.51 | $27.52 | $37.25 | $22.66 | 1.21 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
If you are planning more than one job in Rhode Island
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Rhode Island wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+12%) and wood deck lowest (level), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,600 – $15,200 | level |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,250 | +5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,350 – $6,150 | +12% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,300 | +3% |
Weather windows across Rhode Island
Season matters for composite deck. For each Rhode Island metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Providence has 9 comfortable months (March through November), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 22 | 84 | 48 | 9: March through November |
Which Rhode Island city is cheapest for composite deck?
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | $12,400 – $24,900 | $18,600 | +1% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed composite deck report for Rhode Island, $9
Multi-page report for Rhode Island: 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 Rhode Island: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Rhode Island?
$12,200 to $24,600 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Rhode Island can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Rhode Island is cheapest for composite deck?
Providence at about $18,600 (midpoint, 300 sq ft).
+Is composite deck cheaper in Rhode Island than the US average?
It is 2% more expensive: $18,400 against $18,100 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Rhode Island?
About 61% ($11,300). Materials are 38%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.05x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Rhode Island?
The BLS statewide median is $29.25 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.14 to $36.42.
+Where does Rhode Island rank for composite deck costs?
14th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $18,400 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Rhode Island?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $12,200 to $17,200 and premium work $19,600 to $24,600. 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 Rhode Island?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Rhode Island metros we cover, Providence 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 Rhode Island?
$1,800 to $5,450 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck by city in Rhode Island
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