Wood deck cost in Montgomery, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $6,650 – $13,400
- Per sq ft
- $22 – $44
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #262
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a wood deck in the Montgomery area: $6,650 to $13,400 for 300 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 12% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $22.77 an hour in the Montgomery area, 22% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Montgomery, AL, standard level
$8,700 to $11,400
About $28.50 to $37.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,250 | $6,900 |
| Labor | $3,350 | $4,400 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $8,700 | $11,400 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Montgomery, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $6,050 | $8,100 | 61% |
| Labor | $2,600 | $3,850 | $5,150 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $6,650 | $10,000 | $13,400 | 100% |
Where the Montgomery price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.77 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Montgomery is 0.78 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Montgomery is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,300 nationally becomes $6,050 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 89.7: $45 to $130.
How Montgomery compares
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Birmingham is the priciest of the group at $10,300. Dothan is the cheapest at $9,650.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, ALthis page | $6,650 – $13,400 | $10,000 | |
| Auburn, AL50 miles | $6,650 – $13,400 | $10,000 | level |
| Birmingham, AL80 miles | $6,850 – $13,700 | $10,300 | +2% |
| Columbus, GA90 miles | $6,550 – $13,200 | $9,850 | −2% |
| Dothan, AL95 miles | $6,400 – $12,900 | $9,650 | −4% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL95 miles | $6,750 – $13,500 | $10,100 | +1% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 | +1% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Montgomery ranks #262 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Montgomery is 1% below the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $6,850 – $13,700 | $10,300 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $6,750 – $13,600 | $10,200 | +1% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 | +1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $6,750 – $13,500 | $10,100 | +1% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $6,700 – $13,400 | $10,000 | level |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $6,650 – $13,400 | $10,000 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Montgomery against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $8,150 – $16,300 | $12,200 | +22% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $6,950 – $13,900 | $10,400 | +4% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $6,400 – $12,800 | $9,600 | −4% |
| Beaumont, TX | 163,220 jobs | $7,150 – $14,300 | $10,700 | +7% |
What nearby projects cost in Montgomery
Jobs that often go together with wood deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Montgomery wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, detached garage comes out highest (−13%) and composite deck lowest (−15%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $10,300 – $20,600 | −15% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,400 | −14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,700 | −13% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $25,300 – $50,800 | −13% |
Who does the work: Montgomery trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Montgomery the blend is 0.78.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $22.77 an hour, 22% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.72 and $26.19 an hour. About 300 work in the metro. That is 18.1 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 $17.61 an hour, which is 22% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.10 and $21.41 an hour. BLS counts 1,040 of them working in the area, 62.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $470 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $690. That is a swing of roughly 6.8% to 4.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Montgomery has 165,550 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 142nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $17.72 | $22.77 | $26.19 | $29.12 | 0.78 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $14.10 | $17.61 | $21.41 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.78 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood deck pricing in Montgomery
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Montgomery. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 10x12 (120 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$6,650 to $9,350
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$8,700 to $11,400
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$10,700 to $13,400
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,700 – $3,800 | $3,500 – $4,600 | $4,350 – $5,450 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,250 – $4,550 | $4,200 – $5,500 | $5,200 – $6,500 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,100 – $10,000 | $9,250 – $12,100 | $11,400 – $14,300 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $8,900 – $12,400 | $11,600 – $15,100 | $14,200 – $17,800 |
Extras that change the Montgomery total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.87 for Montgomery, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.78) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,200 – $2,250 |
Why two Montgomery quotes can differ
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.
The best months for wood deck in Montgomery
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Montgomery Ap (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Montgomery are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Montgomery gets about 51 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.2 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.7 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 93 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 37 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 65 | 40 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 72 | 47 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 53 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 69 | 4.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 94 | 72 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 66 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 80 | 55 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 70 | 43 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 62 | 39 | 5.0 | Workable |
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 $8,700 to $11,400 for Montgomery, AL is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Montgomery, AL: 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.
Wood deck in Montgomery: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Montgomery?
For 300 sq ft, expect $6,650 to $13,400 in the Montgomery area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,700 to $11,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Montgomery?
About $22 to $44 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $50.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Montgomery or Auburn?
Auburn is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $10,000, which is 0% more than Montgomery ($10,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Montgomery?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $3,850 out of $10,000. Materials are 61% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Montgomery?
$7,100 to $14,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Montgomery?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $130 for fees in the Montgomery area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Montgomery expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of Alabama?
Montgomery is 1% below the Alabama statewide estimate ($10,100 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Montgomery?
The BLS median is $22.77 an hour in the Montgomery area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.72 to $26.19.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Montgomery?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,650 to $9,350 and premium work $10,700 to $13,400. Basic means: pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle. Premium means: hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features.
+When is the best time to build a wood deck in Montgomery?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. 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 stairs" add in Montgomery?
$1,200 to $2,250, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Montgomery
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