Wood deck cost in Iowa City, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $6,800 – $13,700
- Per sq ft
- $22.50 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #226
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a wood deck in the Iowa City area: $6,800 to $13,700 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 10% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $23.89 an hour in the Iowa City area, 18% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Iowa City, IA, standard level
$8,900 to $11,600
About $29.50 to $38.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,100 | $6,700 |
| Labor | $3,700 | $4,800 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $8,900 | $11,600 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Iowa City, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,950 | $5,900 | $7,850 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,850 | $4,250 | $5,650 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $6,800 | $10,300 | $13,700 | 100% |
Where the Iowa City price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Iowa City wages are 0.86 times the national level. Labor makes up about 42% of the midpoint estimate (44% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Iowa City 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 91.5: $45 to $140.
Who does the work: Iowa City 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 Iowa City the blend is 0.86.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $23.89 an hour, 18% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.98 and $29.70 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 38.4 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 $23.05 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.87 and $28.74 an hour. BLS counts 800 of them working in the area, 85.3 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 $790 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $260. That is a swing of roughly 2.5% to 7.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Iowa City has 93,760 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 214th 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% | $21.98 | $23.89 | $29.70 | $29.12 | 0.82 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.87 | $23.05 | $28.74 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Iowa City against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Davenport is the priciest of the group at $11,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IAthis page | $6,800 – $13,700 | $10,300 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA40 miles | $7,250 – $14,500 | $10,900 | +6% |
| Davenport, IA60 miles | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +8% |
| Dubuque, IA75 miles | $7,300 – $14,600 | $10,900 | +7% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $7,100 – $14,300 | $10,700 | +4% |
| Des Moines, IA110 miles | $7,350 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +8% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $7,200 – $14,400 | $10,800 | +5% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Iowa City ranks #226 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Iowa City is 5% below the Iowa figure.
Elsewhere in Iowa
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $7,350 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +8% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +8% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $7,250 – $14,500 | $10,900 | +6% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $7,100 – $14,300 | $10,700 | +4% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $6,900 – $13,800 | $10,400 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $7,300 – $14,600 | $10,900 | +7% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Iowa City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $7,350 – $14,700 | $11,000 | +8% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $8,400 – $16,800 | $12,600 | +23% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $8,050 – $16,100 | $12,100 | +18% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $8,050 – $16,200 | $12,100 | +18% |
Add-ons priced for Iowa City
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.90 for Iowa City, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.86) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,250 – $2,350 |
Wood deck: what moves the price in Iowa City
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.
What nearby projects cost in Iowa City
Jobs that often go together with wood deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Iowa City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (level) and composite deck lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $10,700 – $21,500 | −11% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,900 | −3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,700 – $53,600 | −8% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood deck pricing in Iowa City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Iowa City. 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
$6,800 to $9,550
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$8,900 to $11,600
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$10,900 to $13,700
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,750 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,700 | $4,450 – $5,550 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,300 – $4,650 | $4,300 – $5,650 | $5,300 – $6,650 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,250 – $10,200 | $9,450 – $12,400 | $11,700 – $14,600 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,100 – $12,700 | $11,800 – $15,500 | $14,600 – $18,200 |
The best months for wood deck in Iowa City
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Iowa City Muni 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 Iowa City 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.
Iowa City gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year. 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 2.2 inches. The station averages about 19 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 | 15 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 36 | 19 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 50 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 40 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 73 | 52 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 63 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 54 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 42 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 36 | 20 | 1.4 | Cold |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed wood deck report for Iowa City, IA, $9
The report lays out the wood deck numbers for Iowa City, 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 Iowa City: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Iowa City?
For 300 sq ft, expect $6,800 to $13,700 in the Iowa City area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,900 to $11,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Iowa City?
About $22.50 to $45 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 Iowa City or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $10,900, which is 6% more than Iowa City ($10,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Iowa City?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $4,250 out of $10,300. Materials are 58% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Iowa City?
$7,250 to $14,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Iowa City?
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 Iowa City area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Iowa City expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of Iowa?
Iowa City is 5% below 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 Iowa City?
The BLS median is $23.89 an hour in the Iowa City area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.98 to $29.70.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Iowa City?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,800 to $9,550 and premium work $10,900 to $13,700. 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 Iowa City?
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 Iowa City?
$1,250 to $2,350, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Iowa City
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