Composite deck cost in Richmond, VA
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 – $72.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #186
- 1 = most expensive
Richmond homeowners pay roughly $10,900 to $21,900 to build a composite deck at 300 sq ft, or $36 to $72.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Richmond is 9% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $24.94 an hour in the Richmond area, 14% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Richmond, VA, 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 | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $14,200 | $18,600 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Richmond, VA
| 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 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $10,900 | $16,400 | $21,900 | 100% |
Why Richmond prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.94 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Richmond is 0.87 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 57% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Richmond metro is 96.8 (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 (97.9) and land at $50 to $150.
Cost by quality level and size in Richmond
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Richmond 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) | $11,600 – $16,300 | $15,200 – $19,800 | $18,700 – $23,300 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $14,500 – $20,400 | $18,900 – $24,800 | $23,300 – $29,100 |
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 Richmond is 0.87 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $24.94 an hour, which is 14% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.42 and $28.84 an hour. BLS counts 3,070 of them working in the area, 46.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $20.39 an hour, 10% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.21 and $22.61 an hour. About 4,560 work in the metro. That is 69.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.84 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,150. At the 25th percentile ($22.42) it shrinks by about $750. The total moves by 7.1% or 4.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 660,350 jobs in the Richmond area. That makes it the 45th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.42% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $22.42 | $24.94 | $28.84 | $29.12 | 0.86 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.21 | $20.39 | $22.61 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Richmond against nearby metros and the rest of Virginia
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Washington is the priciest of the group at $18,500. Lynchburg is the cheapest at $15,700.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VAthis page | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | |
| Virginia Beach, VA70 miles | $10,800 – $21,600 | $16,200 | −1% |
| Charlottesville, VA75 miles | $11,400 – $22,900 | $17,100 | +4% |
| Lexington Park, MD80 miles | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,300 | +12% |
| Lynchburg, VA95 miles | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | −4% |
| Washington, DC100 miles | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | +13% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $11,500 – $23,000 | $17,300 | +5% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Richmond comes in at #186 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $25,200; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $13,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Richmond is 5% below the Virginia figure.
Other Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $10,800 – $21,600 | $16,200 | −1% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −5% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $11,400 – $22,900 | $17,100 | +4% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | −4% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,800 | −4% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Richmond's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Richmond against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,600 | −5% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $10,800 – $21,700 | $16,300 | −1% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $11,500 – $23,000 | $17,300 | +5% |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $12,600 – $25,300 | $18,900 | +15% |
What nearby projects cost in Richmond
Because every project leans on different trades, Richmond's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, wood deck runs −8% and concrete patio −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,950 – $14,000 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −9% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,000 | −8% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,900 | −8% |
Why two Richmond 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.
Add-ons priced for Richmond
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Richmond 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 |
When to schedule composite deck in Richmond
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Richmond Intl Ap (10 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 Richmond (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Richmond gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 9 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.9 inches in August). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.6 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 | 48 | 29 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 52 | 30 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 60 | 37 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 46 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 78 | 56 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 61 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 71 | 49 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 52 | 32 | 3.5 | Workable |
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 Richmond, VA is attached.
Detailed composite deck report for Richmond, VA, $9
Multi-page report for Richmond, VA: 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 Richmond: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Richmond?
For 300 sq ft, expect $10,900 to $21,900 in the Richmond 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 Richmond?
About $36 to $72.50 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 Richmond or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $16,200, which is 1% less than Richmond ($16,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Richmond?
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 Richmond?
$11,600 to $23,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Richmond?
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 Richmond area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Richmond expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Virginia?
Richmond is 5% below the Virginia statewide estimate ($17,300 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Richmond?
The BLS median is $24.94 an hour in the Richmond area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.42 to $28.84.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Richmond?
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 Richmond?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February and November 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 Richmond?
$1,650 to $4,950 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Richmond
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