Wood deck cost in Lexington, KY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $7,000 – $14,100
- Per sq ft
- $23 – $46.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #175
- 1 = most expensive
A wood deck in Lexington, KY usually costs $7,000 to $14,100 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $23 to $46.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $820 less. Carpenters earn a median of $25.01 an hour in the Lexington area, 14% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Lexington, KY, standard level
$9,100 to $11,900
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 | $4,950 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $9,100 | $11,900 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Lexington, KY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $6,050 | $8,100 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,900 | $4,350 | $5,850 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $7,000 | $10,500 | $14,100 | 100% |
Where the Lexington 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 $25.01 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Lexington is 0.88 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Lexington is at 96.2 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 92.9: $45 to $140.
Is Lexington cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 300 sq ft range from $10,500 to $11,100 across Lexington and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KYthis page | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 | |
| Cincinnati, OH65 miles | $7,350 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +5% |
| Louisville, KY70 miles | $7,200 – $14,500 | $10,800 | +3% |
| Huntington, WV100 miles | $7,000 – $14,000 | $10,500 | level |
| Dayton, OH120 miles | $7,250 – $14,600 | $10,900 | +4% |
| Bowling Green, KY130 miles | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | level |
| Kentucky (statewide) | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 | level |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Lexington ranks #175 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Lexington is 0% below the Kentucky figure.
Elsewhere in Kentucky
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $7,200 – $14,500 | $10,800 | +3% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lexington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 288,480 jobs | $7,600 – $15,300 | $11,400 | +9% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $7,850 – $15,800 | $11,800 | +12% |
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $8,300 – $16,600 | $12,500 | +18% |
| Reno, NV | 275,680 jobs | $7,550 – $15,100 | $11,300 | +7% |
Related projects, priced for Lexington
Jobs that often go together with wood deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Lexington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−4%) and composite deck lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $11,000 – $22,100 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,250 | −4% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,900 – $53,900 | −7% |
What local crews earn in Lexington
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 Lexington the blend is 0.88.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $25.01 an hour, 14% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.63 and $29.61 an hour. About 1,200 work in the metro. That is 41.8 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 $22.26 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.37 and $24.40 an hour. BLS counts 1,810 of them working in the area, 63.1 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 $630 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $320. That is a swing of roughly 3.1% to 5.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Lexington-Fayette has 286,910 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 90th 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% | $22.63 | $25.01 | $29.61 | $29.12 | 0.86 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.37 | $22.26 | $24.40 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Lexington 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, Lexington Bluegrass 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 Lexington are February through December: 11 of 12. Outside them, January has an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January 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.
Lexington gets about 50 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 15 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 25 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 | 42 | 25 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 28 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 56 | 36 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 67 | 45 | 4.4 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 55 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 67 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 65 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 47 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 56 | 36 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 30 | 4.2 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Lexington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Lexington. 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
$7,000 to $9,800
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$9,100 to $11,900
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) | $7,450 – $10,500 | $9,700 – $12,700 | $12,000 – $15,000 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,300 – $13,100 | $12,100 – $15,900 | $14,900 – $18,700 |
Extras that change the Lexington total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.92 for Lexington, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.88) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,300 – $2,400 |
Wood deck: what moves the price in Lexington
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.
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 $9,100 to $11,900 for Lexington, KY is attached.
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Multi-page report for Lexington, KY: 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 Lexington: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Lexington?
For 300 sq ft, expect $7,000 to $14,100 in the Lexington area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,100 to $11,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Lexington?
About $23 to $46.50 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 Lexington or Cincinnati?
Cincinnati is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $11,100, which is 5% more than Lexington ($10,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lexington?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $4,350 out of $10,500. Materials are 58% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Lexington?
$7,450 to $15,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Lexington?
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 Lexington area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lexington expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of Kentucky?
Lexington is 0% below the Kentucky statewide estimate ($10,500 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Kentucky; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Lexington?
The BLS median is $25.01 an hour in the Lexington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.63 to $29.61.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Lexington?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $7,000 to $9,800 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.
+When is the best time to build a wood deck in Lexington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through December. September 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 Lexington?
$1,300 to $2,400, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Lexington
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