Composite deck cost in La Crosse, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $12,000 – $24,000
- Per sq ft
- $39.50 – $79.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #113
- 1 = most expensive
La Crosse homeowners pay roughly $12,000 to $24,000 to build a composite deck at 300 sq ft, or $39.50 to $79.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, La Crosse is almost level. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in La Crosse, WI, standard level
$15,600 to $20,400
About $51.50 to $67.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,850 | $7,650 |
| Labor | $9,650 | $12,600 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $15,600 | $20,400 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in La Crosse, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $6,750 | $9,000 | 38% |
| Labor | $7,400 | $11,100 | $14,800 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $12,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 | 100% |
Why La Crosse prices look the way they do
Labor is 62% 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 La Crosse the blended ratio comes out at 1.03.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the La Crosse 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 (91.8) and land at $45 to $140.
Add-ons priced for La Crosse
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to La Crosse by the average of the local wage index (1.03) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.98. 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) | $1,750 – $5,300 |
What nearby projects cost in La Crosse
Because every project leans on different trades, La Crosse's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs +10% and wood deck −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,400 – $14,800 | −2% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | +3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,300 – $6,000 | +10% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,300 | +3% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: composite deck pricing in La Crosse
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for La Crosse 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
$12,000 to $16,800
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$15,600 to $20,400
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$19,200 to $24,000
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,800 – $6,750 | $6,250 – $8,200 | $7,700 – $9,650 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,750 – $8,100 | $7,500 – $9,850 | $9,250 – $11,600 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $12,700 – $17,900 | $16,600 – $21,700 | $20,400 – $25,500 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $15,900 – $22,300 | $20,700 – $27,100 | $25,500 – $31,900 |
Is La Crosse cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 300 sq ft range from $17,100 to $18,800 across La Crosse and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WIthis page | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | |
| Rochester, MN65 miles | $12,500 – $25,000 | $18,800 | +4% |
| Dubuque, IA85 miles | $11,700 – $23,500 | $17,600 | −2% |
| Eau Claire, WI85 miles | $11,900 – $23,900 | $17,900 | level |
| Madison, WI85 miles | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | +3% |
| Waterloo, IA105 miles | $11,400 – $22,800 | $17,100 | −5% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $12,200 – $24,400 | $18,300 | +2% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, La Crosse comes in at #113 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $25,200; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $13,500 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, La Crosse is 2% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $12,400 – $24,800 | $18,600 | +4% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | +3% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 | level |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $12,300 – $24,600 | $18,500 | +3% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $14,100 – $28,300 | $21,200 | +18% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $11,900 – $23,900 | $17,900 | level |
Cities with a workforce like La Crosse's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is La Crosse against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $10,600 – $21,200 | $15,900 | −11% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $11,400 – $22,800 | $17,100 | −5% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $11,900 – $23,900 | $17,900 | level |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $10,300 – $20,500 | $15,400 | −14% |
When to schedule composite deck in La Crosse
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for La Crosse Wfo (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 La Crosse (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.
La Crosse gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 54 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 4.0 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 3 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 | 24 | 8 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 29 | 13 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 24 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 36 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 48 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 58 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 62 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 60 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 52 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 40 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 42 | 28 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 29 | 15 | 1.5 | Cold |
Why two La Crosse quotes can differ
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.
Board grade
Composite materials run $16-$32 per sq ft and the installed price is $40-$80 per sq ft, including the substructure (HomeGuide).
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 La Crosse is 1.03 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $28.34 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.93 and $36.95 an hour. BLS counts 450 of them working in the area, 53.3 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 $28.32 an hour, 25% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.49 and $35.41 an hour. About 610 work in the metro. That is 72.3 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 ($36.95 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $2,550. At the 25th percentile ($23.93) it shrinks by about $1,300. The total moves by 14.2% or 7.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 84,380 jobs in the La Crosse-Onalaska area. That makes it the 228th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.93 | $28.34 | $36.95 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.49 | $28.32 | $35.41 | $22.66 | 1.25 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
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Composite deck in La Crosse: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in La Crosse?
For 300 sq ft, expect $12,000 to $24,000 in the La Crosse area. A standard-spec job lands at $15,600 to $20,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in La Crosse?
About $39.50 to $79.50 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 La Crosse or Rochester?
Rochester is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $18,800, which is 4% more than La Crosse ($18,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in La Crosse?
About 62% at the midpoint, or $11,100 out of $18,000. Materials are 38% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in La Crosse?
$12,700 to $25,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in La Crosse?
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 La Crosse area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is La Crosse expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
La Crosse is 2% below 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 La Crosse?
The BLS median is $28.34 an hour in the La Crosse area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.93 to $36.95.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in La Crosse?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $12,000 to $16,800 and premium work $19,200 to $24,000. 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 La Crosse?
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 La Crosse?
$1,750 to $5,300 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near La Crosse
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