Composite deck cost in Houston, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $10,900 – $21,800
- Per sq ft
- $36 – $72
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #192
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a composite deck in the Houston area: $10,900 to $21,800 for 300 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 10% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $23.88 an hour in the Houston area, 18% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Houston, TX, standard level
$14,100 to $18,500
About $47 to $61.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,300 | $8,200 |
| Labor | $7,800 | $10,200 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $14,100 | $18,500 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Houston, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,850 | $7,250 | $9,650 | 44% |
| Labor | $6,000 | $9,000 | $12,000 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $10,900 | $16,300 | $21,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Houston number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Houston wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 55% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Houston is at 100.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $7,200 nationally becomes $7,250 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.6: $50 to $150.
Is Houston cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Beaumont is the priciest of the group at $17,200. College Station is the cheapest at $15,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TXthis page | $10,900 – $21,800 | $16,300 | |
| Beaumont, TX70 miles | $11,400 – $22,900 | $17,200 | +5% |
| College Station, TX95 miles | $10,100 – $20,300 | $15,200 | −7% |
| Lake Charles, LA130 miles | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,500 | −5% |
| Austin, TX140 miles | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | −2% |
| Waco, TX170 miles | $10,200 – $20,400 | $15,300 | −6% |
| Texas (statewide) | $10,600 – $21,300 | $16,000 | −2% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Houston ranks #192 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Houston is 2% 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 | +1% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $10,700 – $21,400 | $16,000 | −2% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,600 | −4% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $9,650 – $19,400 | $14,500 | −11% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $9,550 – $19,100 | $14,300 | −12% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Houston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $11,000 – $22,000 | $16,500 | +1% |
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | +13% |
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $14,700 – $29,500 | $22,100 | +35% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $12,300 – $24,600 | $18,400 | +13% |
Related projects, priced for Houston
Jobs that often go together with composite deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Houston wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gutters comes out highest (−6%) and concrete patio lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,000 – $14,100 | −7% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,650 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,100 | −6% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $4,000 | −6% |
Extras that change the Houston total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.92 for Houston, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.83) and goods price index (1.01). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a deck railing (approx. 0.3 ft per sq ft) | $1,650 – $4,950 |
Who does the work: Houston trade wages
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 Houston the blend is 0.83.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $23.88 an hour, 18% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.40 and $28.94 an hour. About 9,600 work in the metro. That is 29.2 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 $19.88 an hour, which is 12% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.82 and $22.88 an hour. BLS counts 34,080 of them working in the area, 103.6 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 $1,500 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $440. That is a swing of roughly 2.7% to 9.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands has 3,289,720 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 5th 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% | $22.40 | $23.88 | $28.94 | $29.12 | 0.82 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.82 | $19.88 | $22.88 | $22.66 | 0.88 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Houston
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Houston. 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
$10,900 to $15,200
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$14,100 to $18,500
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$17,400 to $21,800
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,400 – $6,150 | $5,700 – $7,450 | $7,050 – $8,800 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,250 – $7,350 | $6,850 – $8,950 | $8,400 – $10,500 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $11,600 – $16,200 | $15,100 – $19,700 | $18,600 – $23,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $14,500 – $20,300 | $18,800 – $24,600 | $23,200 – $29,000 |
The best months for composite deck in Houston
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Houston Hobby Ap (10 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 Houston are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Houston gets about 56 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (6.1 inches in June). Inside the workable window, February and March are the driest, at 2.9 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 101 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 | 64 | 46 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 68 | 50 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 56 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 62 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 69 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 75 | 6.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 77 | 4.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 77 | 5.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 73 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 82 | 64 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 73 | 54 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 48 | 4.3 | Workable |
Why two Houston quotes can differ
Engineering
Large or complex decks may need a structural engineer at $100-$220 an hour to get a permit.
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.
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 $14,100 to $18,500 for Houston, TX is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Houston, 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 Houston: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Houston?
For 300 sq ft, expect $10,900 to $21,800 in the Houston area. A standard-spec job lands at $14,100 to $18,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Houston?
About $36 to $72 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 Houston or Beaumont?
Beaumont is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $17,200, which is 5% more than Houston ($16,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Houston?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $9,000 out of $16,300. Materials are 44% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Houston?
$11,600 to $23,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Houston?
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 Houston area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Houston expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Texas?
Houston is 2% 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 Houston?
The BLS median is $23.88 an hour in the Houston area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.40 to $28.94.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Houston?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,900 to $15,200 and premium work $17,400 to $21,800. 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 Houston?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February and March 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 Houston?
$1,650 to $4,950 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Houston
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