Composite deck cost in Wisconsin
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $12,200 – $24,400
- Per sq ft
- $40.50 – $80.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $18,100
- Metros covered
- 12
Across Wisconsin, a composite deck costs about $12,200 to $24,400 for 300 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 1% above the US figure of $18,100. Carpenters earn a median $29.65 an hour in Wisconsin (US: $29.12).
Inside Wisconsin, the metros we cover range from $16,400 (Wausau) to $21,200 (Oshkosh) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Wisconsin (statewide), standard level
$15,800 to $20,700
About $52.50 to $68.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,900 | $7,700 |
| Labor | $9,850 | $12,900 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $15,800 | $20,700 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Wisconsin
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,550 | $6,800 | $9,050 | 37% |
| Labor | $7,600 | $11,400 | $15,200 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $12,200 | $18,300 | $24,400 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for Wisconsin
Each project weights the trades differently, so Wisconsin's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, paver patio is +9% and wood deck −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,500 – $15,000 | −1% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,250 | +5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,300 – $5,950 | +9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,300 | +3% |
Which Wisconsin city is cheapest for composite deck?
7 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $18,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 30%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh, WI | $14,100 – $28,300 | $21,200 | +16% |
| Janesville, WI | $13,400 – $26,900 | $20,200 | +10% |
| Kenosha, WI | $12,400 – $24,800 | $18,600 | +2% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $12,400 – $24,800 | $18,600 | +2% |
| Madison, WI | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | +1% |
| Appleton, WI | $12,300 – $24,600 | $18,500 | +1% |
| Sheboygan, WI | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,400 | +1% |
| Racine, WI | $12,000 – $24,100 | $18,000 | −1% |
| Green Bay, WI | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | −2% |
| La Crosse, WI | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | −2% |
| Eau Claire, WI | $11,900 – $23,900 | $17,900 | −2% |
| Wausau, WI | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | −10% |
Why two Wisconsin quotes can differ
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.
How Wisconsin compares with nearby states
Wisconsin ranks 17 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. Wisconsin sits at $18,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 120 miles away | $14,400 – $28,900 | $21,600 | +18% |
| Iowa | 230 miles away | $11,500 – $23,100 | $17,300 | −5% |
| Michigan | 230 miles away | $12,000 – $24,100 | $18,100 | −1% |
| Minnesota | 260 miles away | $12,900 – $25,800 | $19,400 | +6% |
| Indiana | 260 miles away | $12,100 – $24,300 | $18,200 | level |
Wisconsin seasons and composite deck
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Wisconsin is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Kenosha has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Wisconsin at 9 months (March through November); Wausau has the shortest at 7 (April through October). Rainfall runs from 32 inches a year in Green Bay to 37 inches in La Crosse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 14 | 83 | 34 | 8: April through November |
| Madison | 12 | 82 | 37 | 8: April through November |
| Green Bay | 11 | 81 | 32 | 7: April through October |
| Appleton | 10 | 82 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| Oshkosh | 10 | 82 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| Eau Claire | 6 | 83 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| La Crosse | 8 | 80 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Racine | 16 | 81 | 32 | 8: April through November |
| Kenosha | 16 | 84 | 32 | 9: March through November |
| Janesville | 12 | 83 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Wausau | 7 | 80 | 34 | 7: April through October |
| Sheboygan | 15 | 82 | 35 | 8: April through November |
Optional extras in Wisconsin
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.00 for Wisconsin, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.05) 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) | $1,800 – $5,400 |
Wisconsin labor market for composite deck
Wisconsin's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.05 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $29.65 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.92 and $38.13 an hour. About 13,880 work in the state. That is 47.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $26.97 an hour, which is 19% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $34.68 an hour. BLS counts 20,330 of them working in the state, 69.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($38.13 an hour) would add about $2,500 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.92) would take off about $1,700. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,941,540 jobs across Wisconsin (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.92 | $29.65 | $38.13 | $29.12 | 1.02 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.14 | $26.97 | $34.68 | $22.66 | 1.19 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: Wisconsin prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from 10x12 (120 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$12,200 to $17,000
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$15,800 to $20,700
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$19,500 to $24,400
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,900 – $6,850 | $6,350 – $8,350 | $7,850 – $9,850 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,850 – $8,200 | $7,650 – $10,000 | $9,400 – $11,800 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $13,000 – $18,200 | $16,900 – $22,100 | $20,800 – $26,000 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $16,200 – $22,700 | $21,100 – $27,600 | $25,900 – $32,400 |
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Detailed composite deck report for Wisconsin, $9
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Composite deck in Wisconsin: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Wisconsin?
$12,200 to $24,400 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Wisconsin can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Wisconsin is cheapest for composite deck?
Wausau at about $16,400 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Oshkosh at $21,200.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Wisconsin than the US average?
It is 1% more expensive: $18,300 against $18,100 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Wisconsin?
About 62% ($11,400). Materials are 37%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.05x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Wisconsin?
The BLS statewide median is $29.65 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.92 to $38.13.
+Where does Wisconsin rank for composite deck costs?
17th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $18,300 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Wisconsin?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $12,200 to $17,000 and premium work $19,500 to $24,400. 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 Wisconsin?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Wisconsin metros we cover, Kenosha 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 Wisconsin?
$1,800 to $5,400 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck by city in Wisconsin
- Oshkosh, WI$21,200 midpoint
- Janesville, WI$20,200 midpoint
- Kenosha, WI$18,600 midpoint
- Milwaukee, WI$18,600 midpoint
- Madison, WI$18,500 midpoint
- Appleton, WI$18,500 midpoint
- Sheboygan, WI$18,400 midpoint
- Racine, WI$18,000 midpoint
- Green Bay, WI$18,000 midpoint
- La Crosse, WI$18,000 midpoint
- Eau Claire, WI$17,900 midpoint
- Wausau, WI$16,400 midpoint
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