Composite deck cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $12,300 – $24,600
- Per sq ft
- $41 – $81.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #79
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a composite deck in Appleton, plan on $12,300 to $24,600 for 300 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $41 to $81.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $30.04 an hour in the Appleton area, 3% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Appleton, WI, standard level
$16,000 to $20,900
About $53 to $69.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,850 | $7,650 |
| Labor | $10,100 | $13,200 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $16,000 | $20,900 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $6,750 | $9,000 | 37% |
| Labor | $7,750 | $11,600 | $15,500 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $12,300 | $18,500 | $24,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Appleton number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $30.04 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Appleton is 1.08 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 63% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Appleton metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $6,750, compared with $7,200 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.4) and land at $45 to $140.
Appleton labor market for composite deck
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 Appleton is 1.08 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $30.04 an hour, which is 3% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.40 and $40.83 an hour. BLS counts 700 of them working in the area, 56.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $28.49 an hour, 26% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.86 and $36.28 an hour. About 1,030 work in the metro. That is 82.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($40.83 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $3,200. At the 25th percentile ($24.40) it shrinks by about $1,650. The total moves by 17.3% or 9.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,230 jobs in the Appleton area. That makes it the 174th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $24.40 | $30.04 | $40.83 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.86 | $28.49 | $36.28 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
How Appleton compares
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Oshkosh is the priciest of the group at $21,200. Wausau is the cheapest at $16,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $12,300 – $24,600 | $18,500 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $14,100 – $28,300 | $21,200 | +15% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | −3% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,400 | level |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $10,900 – $21,900 | $16,400 | −11% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $12,400 – $24,800 | $18,600 | +1% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $12,200 – $24,400 | $18,300 | −1% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Appleton comes in at #79 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $25,200; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $13,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Appleton is 1% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $12,400 – $24,800 | $18,600 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | −3% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $14,100 – $28,300 | $21,200 | +15% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $11,900 – $23,900 | $17,900 | −3% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Appleton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Appleton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $12,200 – $24,500 | $18,400 | level |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $10,300 – $20,600 | $15,400 | −17% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $10,700 – $21,500 | $16,100 | −13% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $12,500 – $25,000 | $18,800 | +2% |
Planning more than one job in Appleton?
Because every project leans on different trades, Appleton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs +12% and wood deck level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,550 – $15,100 | level |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,400 | +8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,350 – $6,100 | +12% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,400 – $4,350 | +5% |
Climate in Appleton: timing your composite deck job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Appleton (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Appleton (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Appleton gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 25 | 10 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 29 | 12 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 22 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 34 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 46 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 57 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 61 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 51 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 39 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 43 | 28 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Dec | 31 | 17 | 1.8 | Cold |
Optional extras in Appleton
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Appleton by the average of the local wage index (1.08) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 1.01. 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) | $1,800 – $5,450 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Appleton bid
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.
Appleton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Appleton 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
$12,300 to $17,200
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$16,000 to $20,900
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$19,700 to $24,600
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,950 – $6,950 | $6,450 – $8,450 | $7,950 – $9,950 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,950 – $8,300 | $7,700 – $10,100 | $9,500 – $11,900 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $13,100 – $18,400 | $17,100 – $22,300 | $21,000 – $26,300 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $16,400 – $23,000 | $21,300 – $27,900 | $26,200 – $32,800 |
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 $16,000 to $20,900 for Appleton, WI is attached.
Detailed composite deck report for Appleton, WI, $9
Multi-page report for Appleton, WI: 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 Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Appleton?
For 300 sq ft, expect $12,300 to $24,600 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $16,000 to $20,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Appleton?
About $41 to $81.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $40 to $80.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $21,200, which is 15% more than Appleton ($18,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 63% at the midpoint, or $11,600 out of $18,500. Materials are 37% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Appleton?
$13,100 to $26,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Appleton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $140 for fees in the Appleton area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Appleton expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 1% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($18,300 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Appleton?
The BLS median is $30.04 an hour in the Appleton area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.40 to $40.83.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Appleton?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $12,300 to $17,200 and premium work $19,700 to $24,600. 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 Appleton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October 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 Appleton?
$1,800 to $5,450 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Appleton
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