Composite deck cost in South Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $10,600 – $21,200
- Per sq ft
- $35 – $70.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $18,100
- Metros covered
- 2
What does it cost to build a composite deck in South Dakota? Plan on $10,600 to $21,200 for 300 sq ft. Wages (0.83x the US blend), materials (price index 95.5) and permit costs (88.6) put the state below the national midpoint by 12%.
Inside South Dakota, the metros we cover range from $16,000 (Rapid City) to $16,200 (Sioux Falls) at the midpoint.
Estimate your composite deck cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in South Dakota (statewide), standard level
$13,800 to $18,100
About $45.50 to $60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,950 | $7,800 |
| Labor | $7,750 | $10,200 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $13,800 | $18,100 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in South Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,600 | $6,850 | $9,150 | 43% |
| Labor | $5,950 | $8,950 | $11,900 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $10,600 | $15,900 | $21,200 | 100% |
When South Dakota weather lets you build
Season matters for composite deck. For each South Dakota metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Every South Dakota metro on the list has 9 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 20 inches a year in Rapid City to 28 in Sioux Falls.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | 9 | 85 | 28 | 9: March through November |
| Rapid City | 16 | 84 | 20 | 9: March through November |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in South Dakota
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 0.83 for South Dakota.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $23.14 an hour, which is 21% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.29 and $28.87 an hour. BLS counts 4,560 of them working in the state, 99.7 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 $21.98 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.42 and $23.14 an hour. About 1,780 work in the state. That is 38.9 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 ($28.87 an hour) would add about $1,700 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($20.29) would take off about $850. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 457,380 jobs across South Dakota (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% | $20.29 | $23.14 | $28.87 | $29.12 | 0.79 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.42 | $21.98 | $23.14 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Related projects, priced for South Dakota
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide South Dakota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−5%) and wood deck lowest (−10%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,800 – $13,600 | −10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,650 | −9% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,200 | −5% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,850 | −8% |
Quality levels and sizes in South Dakota
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide South Dakota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$10,600 to $14,900
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$13,800 to $18,100
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$17,000 to $21,200
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,250 – $6,000 | $5,550 – $7,300 | $6,850 – $8,600 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,100 – $7,150 | $6,650 – $8,700 | $8,200 – $10,300 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $11,300 – $15,800 | $14,700 – $19,200 | $18,100 – $22,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $14,100 – $19,800 | $18,400 – $24,000 | $22,600 – $28,300 |
Composite deck: what moves the price in South Dakota
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.
Add-ons priced for South Dakota
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to South Dakota by the average of the local wage index (0.83) and goods index (0.95), a factor of 0.89. 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 – $4,800 |
South Dakota against its neighbors
South Dakota ranks 46 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. South Dakota sits at $15,900. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 220 miles away | $10,800 – $21,600 | $16,200 | +2% |
| North Dakota | 220 miles away | $11,600 – $23,300 | $17,500 | +10% |
| Minnesota | 290 miles away | $12,900 – $25,800 | $19,400 | +22% |
| Iowa | 330 miles away | $11,500 – $23,100 | $17,300 | +9% |
| Wyoming | 350 miles away | $11,400 – $22,900 | $17,200 | +8% |
Composite deck cost by metro in South Dakota
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $15,900, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | $10,800 – $21,600 | $16,200 | +1% |
| Rapid City, SD | $10,600 – $21,300 | $16,000 | level |
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 $13,800 to $18,100 for South Dakota is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for South Dakota: 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 South Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in South Dakota?
$10,600 to $21,200 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside South Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in South Dakota is cheapest for composite deck?
Rapid City at about $16,000 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Sioux Falls at $16,200.
+Is composite deck cheaper in South Dakota than the US average?
It is 12% cheaper: $15,900 against $18,100 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in South Dakota?
About 56% ($8,950). Materials are 43%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.83x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in South Dakota?
The BLS statewide median is $23.14 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.29 to $28.87.
+Where does South Dakota rank for composite deck costs?
46th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $15,900 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in South Dakota?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,600 to $14,900 and premium work $17,000 to $21,200. 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 South Dakota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the South Dakota metros we cover, Sioux Falls 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 South Dakota?
$1,600 to $4,800 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck by city in South Dakota
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