Composite deck cost in Virginia Beach, VA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $10,800 – $21,600
- Per sq ft
- $35.50 – $71.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #203
- 1 = most expensive
A composite deck in Virginia Beach, VA usually costs $10,800 to $21,600 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $35.50 to $71.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,900 less. Carpenters earn a median of $24.76 an hour in the Virginia Beach area, 15% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Virginia Beach, VA, standard level
$14,000 to $18,300
About $46.50 to $60.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,050 | $7,900 |
| Labor | $7,900 | $10,300 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $14,000 | $18,300 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Virginia Beach, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,650 | $6,950 | $9,300 | 43% |
| Labor | $6,050 | $9,100 | $12,100 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $10,800 | $16,200 | $21,600 | 100% |
Why Virginia Beach prices look the way they do
Labor is 56% 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 Virginia Beach the blended ratio comes out at 0.84.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Virginia Beach is at 96.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $7,200 nationally becomes $6,950 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.9: $50 to $150.
Composite deck: what moves the price in Virginia Beach
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: composite deck pricing in Virginia Beach
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Virginia Beach. 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
$10,800 to $15,100
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$14,000 to $18,300
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$17,300 to $21,600
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,350 – $6,100 | $5,650 – $7,400 | $6,950 – $8,700 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,200 – $7,300 | $6,750 – $8,850 | $8,350 – $10,400 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $11,500 – $16,100 | $14,900 – $19,600 | $18,400 – $23,000 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $14,300 – $20,100 | $18,700 – $24,400 | $23,000 – $28,700 |
What nearby projects cost in Virginia Beach
Jobs that often go together with composite deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Virginia Beach wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gutters comes out highest (−5%) and paver patio lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,900 – $13,800 | −9% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −9% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,850 | −11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $4,000 | −5% |
What local crews earn in Virginia Beach
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 Virginia Beach the blend is 0.84.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $24.76 an hour, 15% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.13 and $29.02 an hour. About 4,020 work in the metro. That is 52.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $18.51 an hour, which is 18% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.29 and $21.90 an hour. BLS counts 5,660 of them working in the area, 74.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,250 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $780. That is a swing of roughly 4.8% to 7.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has 763,060 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 40th 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% | $22.13 | $24.76 | $29.02 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.29 | $18.51 | $21.90 | $22.66 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Is Virginia Beach cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Virginia Beach. Greenville is the lowest at about $15,700 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 100 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VAthis page | $10,800 – $21,600 | $16,200 | |
| Richmond, VA70 miles | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | +1% |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $10,400 – $20,900 | $15,700 | −3% |
| Lexington Park, MD100 miles | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,300 | +13% |
| Raleigh, NC135 miles | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | +1% |
| Charlottesville, VA145 miles | $11,400 – $22,900 | $17,100 | +6% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $11,500 – $23,000 | $17,300 | +7% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Virginia Beach ranks #203 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Virginia Beach is 6% below the Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | +1% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $10,300 – $20,700 | $15,500 | −4% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $11,400 – $22,900 | $17,100 | +6% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,700 | −3% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $10,500 – $21,000 | $15,800 | −3% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Virginia Beach against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $10,800 – $21,700 | $16,200 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | +1% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $12,400 – $24,800 | $18,600 | +15% |
| Providence, RI | 714,120 jobs | $12,400 – $24,900 | $18,600 | +15% |
Virginia Beach 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, Oceana Nas (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Virginia Beach: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Virginia Beach gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.8 inches in July). The station averages about 32 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 | 50 | 32 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 59 | 39 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 69 | 48 | 3.4 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 56 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 66 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 70 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 69 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 64 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 71 | 53 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 61 | 42 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 54 | 35 | 3.3 | Workable |
Extras that change the Virginia Beach total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.91 for Virginia Beach, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.84) and goods price index (0.97). 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 – $4,900 |
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Detailed composite deck report for Virginia Beach, VA, $9
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Composite deck in Virginia Beach: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Virginia Beach?
For 300 sq ft, expect $10,800 to $21,600 in the Virginia Beach area. A standard-spec job lands at $14,000 to $18,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Virginia Beach?
About $35.50 to $71.50 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 Virginia Beach or Richmond?
Richmond is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $16,400, which is 1% more than Virginia Beach ($16,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Virginia Beach?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $9,100 out of $16,200. Materials are 43% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Virginia Beach?
$11,500 to $23,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Virginia Beach?
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 Virginia Beach area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Virginia Beach expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Virginia?
Virginia Beach is 6% 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 Virginia Beach?
The BLS median is $24.76 an hour in the Virginia Beach area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.13 to $29.02.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Virginia Beach?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $10,800 to $15,100 and premium work $17,300 to $21,600. Basic means: entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape. Premium means: premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners.
+Is there a bad season to build a composite deck in Virginia Beach?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add a deck railing" add in Virginia Beach?
$1,650 to $4,900 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Virginia Beach
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