Wood deck cost in Des Moines, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $7,350 – $14,800
- Per sq ft
- $24.50 – $48.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #125
- 1 = most expensive
A wood deck in Des Moines, IA usually costs $7,350 to $14,800 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $24.50 to $48.50 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Des Moines, IA, standard level
$9,600 to $12,500
About $31.50 to $41.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,100 | $6,700 |
| Labor | $4,400 | $5,750 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $9,600 | $12,500 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Des Moines, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,950 | $5,900 | $7,850 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,350 | $5,050 | $6,750 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $7,350 | $11,100 | $14,800 | 100% |
Why Des Moines prices look the way they do
Labor is 46% of the midpoint bill here, against 44% 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 Des Moines the blended ratio comes out at 1.02.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Des Moines is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,300 nationally becomes $5,900 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.7: $45 to $140.
Cost by quality level and size in Des Moines
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Des Moines. 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
$7,350 to $10,300
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$9,600 to $12,500
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$11,800 to $14,800
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,950 – $4,200 | $3,900 – $5,100 | $4,800 – $6,000 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,550 – $5,000 | $4,650 – $6,100 | $5,700 – $7,150 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,850 – $11,000 | $10,200 – $13,400 | $12,600 – $15,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,800 – $13,700 | $12,700 – $16,700 | $15,700 – $19,600 |
How Des Moines compares
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Des Moines is the priciest of the group. Iowa City is the cheapest at $10,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IAthis page | $7,350 – $14,800 | $11,100 | |
| Waterloo, IA95 miles | $7,100 – $14,300 | $10,700 | −3% |
| Iowa City, IA110 miles | $6,800 – $13,700 | $10,300 | −7% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA115 miles | $7,250 – $14,500 | $10,900 | −2% |
| Omaha, NE120 miles | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | −5% |
| Sioux City, IA145 miles | $6,900 – $13,800 | $10,400 | −6% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $7,200 – $14,400 | $10,800 | −2% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Des Moines ranks #125 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Des Moines is 3% above the Iowa figure.
Elsewhere in Iowa
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $7,250 – $14,500 | $10,900 | −2% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $6,800 – $13,700 | $10,300 | −7% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $7,100 – $14,300 | $10,700 | −3% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $6,900 – $13,800 | $10,400 | −6% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $7,300 – $14,600 | $10,900 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Des Moines against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $7,700 – $15,500 | $11,600 | +5% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $6,800 – $13,600 | $10,200 | −8% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $7,250 – $14,600 | $10,900 | −1% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $6,900 – $13,900 | $10,400 | −6% |
Related projects, priced for Des Moines
Jobs that often go together with wood deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Des Moines wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+5%) and detached garage lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $11,900 – $23,900 | −1% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $4,000 | −1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,150 – $5,750 | +5% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $28,200 – $56,600 | −2% |
Des Moines weather and the wood deck calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Des Moines Intl Ap (5 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 Des Moines are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February 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.
Des Moines gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 37 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 2.2 and 1.9 inches. The station averages about 22 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 | 31 | 14 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 36 | 18 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 49 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 62 | 41 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 52 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 55 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 43 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 30 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 36 | 20 | 1.6 | Cold |
What local crews earn in Des Moines
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 Des Moines the blend is 1.02.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $29.50 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.03 and $35.68 an hour. About 1,810 work in the metro. That is 44.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $24.03 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.67 and $28.91 an hour. BLS counts 3,510 of them working in the area, 86.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $840 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $740. That is a swing of roughly 6.7% to 7.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Des Moines-West Des Moines has 404,130 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 64th 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% | $24.03 | $29.50 | $35.68 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.67 | $24.03 | $28.91 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Optional extras in Des Moines
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.98 for Des Moines, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.02) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,350 – $2,550 |
Why two Des Moines quotes can differ
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.
Wood species
Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest at $25-$50 per sq ft installed. Ipe runs $50-$70 and bamboo $27-$52 (HomeGuide).
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 $9,600 to $12,500 for Des Moines, IA is attached.
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The report lays out the wood deck numbers for Des Moines, IA 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 Des Moines: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Des Moines?
For 300 sq ft, expect $7,350 to $14,800 in the Des Moines area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,600 to $12,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Des Moines?
About $24.50 to $48.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $50.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Des Moines or Waterloo?
Waterloo is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $10,700, which is 3% less than Des Moines ($11,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Des Moines?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $5,050 out of $11,100. Materials are 53% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Des Moines?
$7,850 to $15,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Des Moines?
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 Des Moines area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Des Moines expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of Iowa?
Des Moines is 3% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($10,800 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Des Moines?
The BLS median is $29.50 an hour in the Des Moines area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.03 to $35.68.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Des Moines?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $7,350 to $10,300 and premium work $11,800 to $14,800. 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 Des Moines?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and November 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 Des Moines?
$1,350 to $2,550, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Des Moines
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