Wood deck cost in Alabama
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $6,700 – $13,500
- Per sq ft
- $22 – $44.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $11,400
- Metros covered
- 9
Alabama prices for wood deck: $6,700 to $13,500 for 300 sq ft, or $22 to $44.50 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 11% below the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $23.18 an hour.
Inside Alabama, the metros we cover range from $9,650 (Dothan) to $10,300 (Decatur) 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 Alabama (statewide), standard level
$8,750 to $11,400
About $29 to $38 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,250 | $6,900 |
| Labor | $3,400 | $4,450 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $8,750 | $11,400 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Alabama
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $6,050 | $8,100 | 60% |
| Labor | $2,600 | $3,950 | $5,250 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $6,700 | $10,100 | $13,500 | 100% |
When Alabama weather lets you build
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Alabama 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.
Daphne has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Alabama at 12 months; Dothan has the shortest at 9 (September through May). Rainfall runs from 49 inches a year in Decatur to 66 inches in Daphne.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 35 | 91 | 57 | 10: September through June |
| Huntsville | 33 | 92 | 54 | 10: September through June |
| Mobile | 43 | 92 | 61 | 9: September through May |
| Montgomery | 37 | 94 | 51 | 9: September through May |
| Tuscaloosa | 35 | 92 | 57 | 9: September through May |
| Daphne | 39 | 89 | 66 | 12: all year |
| Auburn | 35 | 89 | 56 | 12: all year |
| Decatur | 32 | 90 | 49 | 10: September through June |
| Dothan | 40 | 93 | 54 | 9: September through May |
Which Alabama city is cheapest for wood deck?
3 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $10,100, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $6,850 – $13,700 | $10,300 | +2% |
| Birmingham, AL | $6,850 – $13,700 | $10,300 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | $6,750 – $13,600 | $10,200 | +1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $6,750 – $13,500 | $10,100 | level |
| Mobile, AL | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 | level |
| Daphne, AL | $6,700 – $13,400 | $10,000 | level |
| Auburn, AL | $6,650 – $13,400 | $10,000 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL | $6,650 – $13,400 | $10,000 | −1% |
| Dothan, AL | $6,400 – $12,900 | $9,650 | −5% |
Related projects, priced for Alabama
Each project weights the trades differently, so Alabama's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, detached garage is −12% and composite deck −14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $10,400 – $20,800 | −14% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,450 | −13% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,750 | −13% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $25,600 – $51,300 | −12% |
Optional extras in Alabama
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.88 for Alabama, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.79) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,250 – $2,300 |
Wages behind the Alabama number
Alabama'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 0.79 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $23.18 an hour, 20% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.43 and $27.11 an hour. About 5,560 work in the state. That is 26.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $17.74 an hour, which is 22% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.41 and $21.75 an hour. BLS counts 18,400 of them working in the state, 87.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($27.11 an hour) would add about $530 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.43) would take off about $510. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,113,660 jobs across Alabama (May 2025), which is 1.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $19.43 | $23.18 | $27.11 | $29.12 | 0.80 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $14.41 | $17.74 | $21.75 | $22.66 | 0.78 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: Alabama 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
$6,700 to $9,400
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$8,750 to $11,400
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$10,800 to $13,500
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,700 – $3,800 | $3,550 – $4,650 | $4,350 – $5,450 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,250 – $4,550 | $4,250 – $5,550 | $5,200 – $6,550 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,150 – $10,000 | $9,300 – $12,200 | $11,500 – $14,400 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $8,950 – $12,500 | $11,600 – $15,200 | $14,300 – $17,900 |
Alabama against its neighbors
Alabama ranks 48 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for wood deck, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $14,300 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $9,900, both for 300 sq ft at the midpoint. Alabama sits at $10,100. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 170 miles away | $6,900 – $13,800 | $10,400 | +3% |
| Mississippi | 180 miles away | $6,750 – $13,500 | $10,100 | level |
| Tennessee | 190 miles away | $6,950 – $13,900 | $10,400 | +3% |
| Louisiana | 310 miles away | $6,700 – $13,400 | $10,100 | level |
| South Carolina | 350 miles away | $6,900 – $13,900 | $10,400 | +3% |
Why two Alabama quotes can differ
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.
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A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the wood deck numbers for Alabama line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Wood deck in Alabama: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Alabama?
$6,700 to $13,500 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Alabama can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Alabama is cheapest for wood deck?
Dothan at about $9,650 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Decatur at $10,300.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Alabama than the US average?
It is 11% cheaper: $10,100 against $11,400 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Alabama?
About 39% ($3,950). Materials are 60%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.79x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Alabama?
The BLS statewide median is $23.18 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.43 to $27.11.
+Where does Alabama rank for wood deck costs?
48th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $10,100 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Alabama?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,700 to $9,400 and premium work $10,800 to $13,500. Basic means: pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle. Premium means: hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features.
+Does the season matter for wood deck in Alabama?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Alabama metros we cover, Daphne has the most comfortable months (12 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 stairs" add in Alabama?
$1,250 to $2,300, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck by city in Alabama
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