Wood deck cost in Kentucky
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $7,000 – $14,100
- Per sq ft
- $23 – $46.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $11,400
- Metros covered
- 3
Across Kentucky, a wood deck costs about $7,000 to $14,100 for 300 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 7% below the US figure of $11,400. Carpenters earn a median $25.33 an hour in Kentucky (US: $29.12).
Inside Kentucky, the metros we cover range from $10,500 (Bowling Green) to $10,800 (Louisville) 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 Kentucky (statewide), standard level
$9,150 to $12,000
About $30 to $39.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,250 | $6,850 |
| Labor | $3,800 | $5,000 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $9,150 | $12,000 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Kentucky
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $6,050 | $8,050 | 57% |
| Labor | $2,950 | $4,400 | $5,850 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $7,000 | $10,500 | $14,100 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Kentucky
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Kentucky wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$7,000 to $9,850
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$9,150 to $12,000
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$11,200 to $14,100
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,850 – $4,000 | $3,700 – $4,850 | $4,550 – $5,700 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,400 – $4,750 | $4,400 – $5,800 | $5,450 – $6,800 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,500 – $10,500 | $9,750 – $12,700 | $12,000 – $15,000 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,350 – $13,100 | $12,100 – $15,900 | $15,000 – $18,700 |
Kentucky seasons and wood deck
Season matters for wood deck. For each Kentucky metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Every Kentucky metro on the list has 11 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 48 inches a year in Louisville to 50 in Bowling Green.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 28 | 89 | 48 | 11: February through December |
| Lexington | 25 | 87 | 50 | 11: February through December |
| Bowling Green | 28 | 90 | 50 | 11: August through June |
Kentucky metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $10,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | $7,200 – $14,500 | $10,800 | +3% |
| Lexington, KY | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 | level |
| Bowling Green, KY | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | −1% |
Kentucky labor market for wood deck
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.89 for Kentucky.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $25.33 an hour, which is 13% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.09 and $29.45 an hour. BLS counts 8,540 of them working in the state, 42.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $21.98 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.13 and $24.06 an hour. About 13,280 work in the state. That is 66.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($29.45 an hour) would add about $560 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.09) would take off about $440. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,000,360 jobs across Kentucky (May 2025), which is 1.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $22.09 | $25.33 | $29.45 | $29.12 | 0.87 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.13 | $21.98 | $24.06 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Wood deck: what moves the price in Kentucky
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.
Optional extras in Kentucky
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Kentucky by the average of the local wage index (0.89) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.92. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,300 – $2,400 |
Kentucky versus the states around it
Kentucky ranks 37 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. Kentucky sits at $10,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 140 miles away | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,300 | +7% |
| Tennessee | 170 miles away | $6,950 – $13,900 | $10,400 | −1% |
| Ohio | 210 miles away | $7,400 – $14,900 | $11,100 | +6% |
| West Virginia | 220 miles away | $6,800 – $13,700 | $10,300 | −3% |
| Illinois | 280 miles away | $8,700 – $17,500 | $13,100 | +24% |
Other Kentucky jobs that often go with wood deck
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Kentucky wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−4%) and composite deck lowest (−8%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $11,100 – $22,200 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,700 | −7% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,200 | −4% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,900 – $53,900 | −7% |
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Wood deck in Kentucky: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Kentucky?
$7,000 to $14,100 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Kentucky can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Kentucky is cheapest for wood deck?
Bowling Green at about $10,500 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Louisville at $10,800.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Kentucky than the US average?
It is 7% cheaper: $10,500 against $11,400 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Kentucky?
About 42% ($4,400). Materials are 57%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.89x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Kentucky?
The BLS statewide median is $25.33 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.09 to $29.45.
+Where does Kentucky rank for wood deck costs?
37th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $10,500 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Kentucky?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $7,000 to $9,850 and premium work $11,200 to $14,100. 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 Kentucky?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Kentucky metros we cover, Louisville has the most comfortable months (11 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 Kentucky?
$1,300 to $2,400, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck by city in Kentucky
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