Wood deck cost: national prices and local ranges
Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- US range (300 sq ft)
- $7,550 – $15,200
- Per sq ft
- $25 – $50
- materials and labor
- Cheapest metro
- $9,050
- Brownsville, TX
- Priciest metro
- $14,900
- Honolulu, HI
A wood deck runs $7,550 to $15,200 nationally for 300 sq ft, or $25 to $50 per sq ft for materials and labor. Where you live moves that number a lot: across 300 metros the midpoint runs from $9,050 in Brownsville, TX to $14,900 in Honolulu, HI.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in the US average, standard level
$9,850 to $12,900
About $32.50 to $42.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,450 | $7,150 |
| Labor | $4,300 | $5,600 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $9,850 | $12,900 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in the US
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $6,300 | $8,400 | 56% |
| Labor | $3,300 | $4,950 | $6,600 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $7,550 | $11,400 | $15,200 | 100% |
What basic, standard and premium mean
Basic
$7,550 to $10,600
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$9,850 to $12,900
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$12,100 to $15,200
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
Cost by size and quality level
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $3,050 – $4,300 | $4,000 – $5,200 | $4,900 – $6,150 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,650 – $5,150 | $4,750 – $6,250 | $5,850 – $7,350 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $8,050 – $11,300 | $10,500 – $13,700 | $12,900 – $16,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $10,100 – $14,100 | $13,100 – $17,100 | $16,100 – $20,200 |
How a wood deck job goes, step by step
- Check the permit and footings. Most places require a permit for decks, especially those attached to the house or higher than a set height off the ground. Footing depth follows local frost depth.
- Install footings and the ledger. Posts sit on concrete footings. An attached deck hangs on a ledger board bolted to the house; flashing keeps water out of the wall.
- Frame and decking. Joists, beams and blocking go in first, then the deck boards. Pressure-treated pine, cedar and redwood are the usual choices, each with different upkeep.
- Rails, stairs, and finish. Railings and stairs are inspected closely. Stain or sealant is needed within months for most softwoods and every couple of years after.
What changes the price of a wood deck
Wood species
Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest at $25-$50 per sq ft installed. Ipe runs $50-$70 and bamboo $27-$52 (HomeGuide).
Height and stairs
A second-story deck needs more structure. New stairs run $1,400-$2,600 installed.
Railing
A wood or vinyl railing adds $20-$60 per linear foot.
Replacement versus new
Deck replacement costs $30-$55 per sq ft because of demolition and haul-away.
Permit
Deck permits average $50-$150. Many cities skip the permit for small, low, freestanding decks.
Wages behind the national estimate
Carpenters (47-2031) do the largest share of the work, about 80% of the weighting. Their national median is $29.12 an hour. Among 300 metros with a published figure, the median runs from $17.13 in Brownsville, TX to $45.34 in Honolulu, HI, and the middle metro sits at $27.19. That ratio between the high and low end is 2.65 to 1, and it feeds straight into the labor line of the estimate.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.32 | $29.12 | $36.94 | $29.12 | 1.00 | US |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.57 | $22.66 | $28.72 | $22.66 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Add-ons and extras
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.00 for the US, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.00) and goods price index (1.00). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,400 – $2,600 |
Does the season matter for wood deck?
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen. Using NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals for 300 metros, 40 have a comfortable season that lasts all year. A typical metro has 9 comfortable months. At the other end, Anchorage, AK, El Centro, CA, Yuma, AZ and Appleton, WI have the fewest (6 to 7).
Local pages show a month-by-month table for each metro. We do not change prices by month, because there is no reliable published seasonal price series.
How much the price varies by city
The national midpoint of $11,400 hides a wide spread. 28 of 300 metros come in at least 10% higher and 67 at least 10% lower; 205 land in between. The cheapest, Brownsville, is at $9,050, and the dearest, Honolulu, at $14,900. Half of all metros are above $10,800.
Most expensive metros for wood deck
| Metro | Range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $9,950 – $19,900 | $14,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $9,500 – $19,100 | $14,300 |
| Kahului, HI | $9,450 – $18,900 | $14,200 |
| San Jose, CA | $8,950 – $17,900 | $13,400 |
| Chicago, IL | $8,900 – $17,900 | $13,400 |
| Napa, CA | $8,800 – $17,700 | $13,300 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $8,800 – $17,700 | $13,300 |
| New York, NY | $8,800 – $17,600 | $13,200 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $8,700 – $17,400 | $13,000 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $8,700 – $17,400 | $13,000 |
Least expensive metros for wood deck
| Metro | Range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | $6,050 – $12,100 | $9,050 |
| Albany, GA | $6,250 – $12,600 | $9,400 |
| Laredo, TX | $6,250 – $12,600 | $9,400 |
| McAllen, TX | $6,250 – $12,600 | $9,450 |
| El Paso, TX | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,500 |
| Fort Smith, AR | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,550 |
| Texarkana, TX | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,550 |
| Abilene, TX | $6,400 – $12,800 | $9,600 |
| Lubbock, TX | $6,400 – $12,800 | $9,600 |
| Dothan, AL | $6,400 – $12,900 | $9,650 |
Wood deck cost by state
| State | Range (300 sq ft) | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 |
| Alaska | $8,550 – $17,100 | $12,800 |
| Arizona | $7,250 – $14,600 | $10,900 |
| Arkansas | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 |
| California | $8,650 – $17,400 | $13,000 |
| Colorado | $7,600 – $15,300 | $11,400 |
| Connecticut | $7,750 – $15,500 | $11,600 |
| Delaware | $7,300 – $14,700 | $11,000 |
| District of Columbia | $7,900 – $15,900 | $11,900 |
| Florida | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 |
| Georgia | $6,900 – $13,800 | $10,400 |
| Hawaii | $9,550 – $19,100 | $14,300 |
| Idaho | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 |
| Illinois | $8,700 – $17,500 | $13,100 |
| Indiana | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,300 |
| Iowa | $7,200 – $14,400 | $10,800 |
| Kansas | $7,100 – $14,300 | $10,700 |
| Kentucky | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 |
| Louisiana | $6,700 – $13,400 | $10,100 |
| Maine | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,300 |
| Maryland | $7,750 – $15,600 | $11,700 |
| Massachusetts | $8,350 – $16,800 | $12,600 |
| Michigan | $7,450 – $15,000 | $11,200 |
| Minnesota | $7,950 – $15,900 | $11,900 |
| Mississippi | $6,750 – $13,500 | $10,100 |
| Missouri | $7,550 – $15,100 | $11,300 |
| Montana | $7,350 – $14,700 | $11,000 |
| Nebraska | $6,850 – $13,700 | $10,300 |
| Nevada | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,300 |
| New Hampshire | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 |
| New Jersey | $8,250 – $16,500 | $12,400 |
| New Mexico | $7,200 – $14,500 | $10,900 |
| New York | $8,500 – $17,000 | $12,800 |
| North Carolina | $6,850 – $13,800 | $10,300 |
| North Dakota | $7,250 – $14,600 | $10,900 |
| Ohio | $7,400 – $14,900 | $11,100 |
| Oklahoma | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 |
| Oregon | $7,950 – $15,900 | $11,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $7,500 – $15,100 | $11,300 |
| Rhode Island | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 |
| South Carolina | $6,900 – $13,900 | $10,400 |
| South Dakota | $6,800 – $13,600 | $10,200 |
| Tennessee | $6,950 – $13,900 | $10,400 |
| Texas | $6,850 – $13,800 | $10,300 |
| Utah | $7,050 – $14,100 | $10,600 |
| Vermont | $7,550 – $15,100 | $11,300 |
| Virginia | $7,300 – $14,700 | $11,000 |
| Washington | $8,500 – $17,000 | $12,700 |
| West Virginia | $6,800 – $13,700 | $10,300 |
| Wisconsin | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,200 |
| Wyoming | $7,150 – $14,400 | $10,800 |
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Wood deck cost: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck?
$7,550 to $15,200 for 300 sq ft at national prices, including a permit of $50 to $150.
+What is the average cost per sq ft?
$25 to $50 per sq ft, materials and labor. The mid-range is about $37.50.
+How much does the price vary by city?
A lot. The most expensive metro we cover is 65% above the cheapest for the same 300 sq ft job. The cheapest is Brownsville, TX; the priciest is Honolulu, HI.
+How much of the cost is labor?
About 44% at the national midpoint ($4,950). Materials are 56%.
+What do carpenters earn on a wood deck job?
The national BLS median is $29.12 an hour for carpenters, with the middle half earning $23.32 to $36.94. Local wages are what move this estimate from town to town.
+How much more does a premium wood deck job cost than a basic one?
At the national level, basic runs $7,550 to $10,600 and premium $12,100 to $15,200 for 300 sq ft. Basic means: pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle. Premium means: hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features.
+Can wood deck work be done in winter?
It depends on where you are. Weather decides when exterior installation can happen. Using NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals for 300 metros, 40 have a comfortable season that lasts all year. A typical metro has 9 comfortable months. At the other end, Anchorage, AK, El Centro, CA, Yuma, AZ and Appleton, WI have the fewest (6 to 7).
Related projects
Largest metros: Wood deck prices
- New York, NY$13,200 midpoint
- Los Angeles, CA$13,000 midpoint
- Chicago, IL$13,400 midpoint
- Dallas, TX$10,700 midpoint
- Houston, TX$10,600 midpoint
- Washington, DC$11,700 midpoint
- Philadelphia, PA$11,400 midpoint
- Atlanta, GA$10,600 midpoint
- Miami, FL$11,000 midpoint
- Boston, MA$12,600 midpoint
- Phoenix, AZ$11,000 midpoint
- San Francisco, CA$14,300 midpoint
- Seattle, WA$12,900 midpoint
- Minneapolis, MN$12,700 midpoint
- Detroit, MI$11,800 midpoint
- Riverside, CA$12,400 midpoint
- Denver, CO$11,700 midpoint
- San Diego, CA$12,900 midpoint
- Tampa, FL$10,400 midpoint
- Orlando, FL$10,300 midpoint
- Charlotte, NC$10,500 midpoint
- Baltimore, MD$11,600 midpoint
- St. Louis, MO$12,400 midpoint
- Austin, TX$10,200 midpoint
- Portland, OR$12,700 midpoint
- Las Vegas, NV$11,300 midpoint
- San Jose, CA$13,400 midpoint
- San Antonio, TX$10,000 midpoint
- Pittsburgh, PA$11,500 midpoint
- Columbus, OH$11,600 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 It Cost to Build a Deck? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Composite Decking Cost? (2026) (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