Composite deck cost in Austin, TX
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
- #221
- 1 = most expensive
A composite deck in Austin, TX usually costs $10,700 to $21,400 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $35.50 to $71 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $2,050 less. Carpenters earn a median of $24.16 an hour in the Austin area, 17% below the US median of $29.12.
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 Austin, TX, standard level
$13,900 to $18,200
About $46 to $60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,850 | $7,650 |
| Labor | $7,950 | $10,400 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $13,900 | $18,200 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Austin, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $6,750 | $9,000 | 42% |
| Labor | $6,100 | $9,200 | $12,200 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $10,700 | $16,000 | $21,400 | 100% |
Why Austin prices look the way they do
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 Austin the blended ratio comes out at 0.85.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Austin is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $7,200 nationally becomes $6,750 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.1: $50 to $150.
Related projects, priced for Austin
Jobs that often go together with composite deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Austin wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−5%) and wood deck lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| 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 | $1,200 – $3,950 | −6% |
Austin: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Austin. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 10x12 (120 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$10,700 to $15,000
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 – $7,250 | $6,700 – $8,800 | $8,250 – $10,300 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $11,400 – $16,000 | $14,800 – $19,400 | $18,200 – $22,800 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $14,200 – $19,900 | $18,500 – $24,200 | $22,800 – $28,500 |
Austin weather and the composite deck calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Austin-Camp Mabry (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Austin are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Austin gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and October (5.0 inches in May). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 1.9 and 2.4 inches. The station averages about 123 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63 | 42 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 46 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 52 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 80 | 59 | 2.4 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 67 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 93 | 73 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Jul | 97 | 75 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 98 | 75 | 2.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 70 | 3.5 | Hot |
| Oct | 83 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 51 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 43 | 2.7 | Workable |
Optional extras in Austin
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.89 for Austin, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.85) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a deck railing (approx. 0.3 ft per sq ft) | $1,600 – $4,850 |
What local crews earn in Austin
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Austin the blend is 0.85.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $24.16 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $28.01 an hour. About 2,540 work in the metro. That is 19.6 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 $21.16 an hour, which is 7% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.34 and $23.12 an hour. BLS counts 11,140 of them working in the area, 86.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $330. That is a swing of roughly 2.1% to 7.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos has 1,293,690 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 24th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.05 | $24.16 | $28.01 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.34 | $21.16 | $23.12 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
Why two Austin 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 Austin compares
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Houston is the priciest of the group at $16,300. College Station is the cheapest at $15,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TXthis page | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | |
| Killeen, TX65 miles | $10,200 – $20,500 | $15,400 | −4% |
| College Station, TX75 miles | $10,100 – $20,300 | $15,200 | −5% |
| San Antonio, TX80 miles | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,600 | −3% |
| Waco, TX95 miles | $10,200 – $20,400 | $15,300 | −4% |
| Houston, TX140 miles | $10,900 – $21,800 | $16,300 | +2% |
| Texas (statewide) | $10,600 – $21,300 | $16,000 | level |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Austin ranks #221 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Austin is 0% above the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $11,000 – $22,000 | $16,500 | +3% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $10,900 – $21,800 | $16,300 | +2% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,600 | −3% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $9,650 – $19,400 | $14,500 | −9% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $9,550 – $19,100 | $14,300 | −11% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Austin against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $13,600 – $27,200 | $20,400 | +27% |
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $13,800 – $27,600 | $20,700 | +29% |
| Baltimore, MD | 1,356,680 jobs | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | +15% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +13% |
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 Austin, TX is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Austin, TX: 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 Austin: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Austin?
For 300 sq ft, expect $10,700 to $21,400 in the Austin 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 Austin?
About $35.50 to $71 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $40 to $80.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Austin or Killeen?
Killeen is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $15,400, which is 4% less than Austin ($16,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Austin?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $9,200 out of $16,000. Materials are 42% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Austin?
$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 Austin?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $150 for fees in the Austin area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Austin expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Texas?
Austin is 0% above the Texas statewide estimate ($16,000 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Austin?
The BLS median is $24.16 an hour in the Austin area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.05 to $28.01.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Austin?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,700 to $15,000 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 Austin?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. 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 Austin?
$1,600 to $4,850 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Austin
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