Wood deck cost in Baton Rouge, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $6,950 – $13,900
- Per sq ft
- $23 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #186
- 1 = most expensive
A wood deck in Baton Rouge, LA usually costs $6,950 to $13,900 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $23 to $46 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $910 less. Carpenters earn a median of $26.75 an hour in the Baton Rouge area, 8% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Baton Rouge, LA, standard level
$9,050 to $11,800
About $30 to $39 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,100 | $6,700 |
| Labor | $3,850 | $5,050 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $9,050 | $11,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Baton Rouge, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,950 | $5,900 | $7,850 | 57% |
| Labor | $2,950 | $4,450 | $5,950 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $6,950 | $10,400 | $13,900 | 100% |
Why Baton Rouge prices look the way they do
Labor is 43% 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 Baton Rouge the blended ratio comes out at 0.90.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Baton Rouge 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 90.8: $45 to $140.
What local crews earn in Baton Rouge
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 Baton Rouge the blend is 0.90.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $26.75 an hour, 8% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.20 and $29.27 an hour. About 3,490 work in the metro. That is 85.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $18.58 an hour, which is 18% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.59 and $22.72 an hour. BLS counts 6,300 of them working in the area, 153.8 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 $340 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $480. That is a swing of roughly 4.6% to 3.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Baton Rouge has 409,690 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 60th 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% | $23.20 | $26.75 | $29.27 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.59 | $18.58 | $22.72 | $22.66 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
How Baton Rouge compares
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Baton Rouge. Alexandria is the lowest at about $9,800 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 100 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LAthis page | $6,950 – $13,900 | $10,400 | |
| Lafayette, LA70 miles | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 | −5% |
| Slidell, LA70 miles | $6,600 – $13,300 | $9,950 | −5% |
| Houma, LA85 miles | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 | −5% |
| Alexandria, LA100 miles | $6,550 – $13,100 | $9,800 | −6% |
| Hattiesburg, MS120 miles | $6,700 – $13,400 | $10,100 | −4% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $6,700 – $13,400 | $10,100 | −4% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Baton Rouge ranks #186 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Baton Rouge is 4% above the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 | −3% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 | −5% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $6,550 – $13,200 | $9,850 | −6% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $6,600 – $13,300 | $9,950 | −5% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $6,600 – $13,300 | $9,950 | −5% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 | −5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Baton Rouge against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $6,950 – $13,900 | $10,400 | level |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +9% |
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $6,900 – $13,800 | $10,400 | −1% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $7,250 – $14,600 | $10,900 | +5% |
Why two Baton Rouge quotes can differ
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Baton Rouge
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Baton Rouge. 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
$6,950 to $9,750
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$9,050 to $11,800
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$11,100 to $13,900
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,800 – $3,950 | $3,650 – $4,800 | $4,500 – $5,650 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,350 – $4,700 | $4,400 – $5,750 | $5,400 – $6,750 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,400 – $10,400 | $9,650 – $12,600 | $11,900 – $14,900 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,250 – $13,000 | $12,000 – $15,800 | $14,800 – $18,500 |
Baton Rouge 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, Baton Rouge Ryan 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 Baton Rouge are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Baton Rouge gets about 62 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, June and August (6.5 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 4.4 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 96 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 | 62 | 42 | 6.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 45 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 51 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 57 | 5.1 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 65 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 72 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 6.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 69 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 58 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 48 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 43 | 5.3 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in Baton Rouge
Jobs that often go together with wood deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Baton Rouge wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete patio comes out highest (−5%) and paver patio lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $11,000 – $22,100 | −9% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,800 | −5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,900 | −10% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $27,000 – $54,200 | −7% |
Extras that change the Baton Rouge total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.92 for Baton Rouge, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.90) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,300 – $2,400 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed wood deck report for Baton Rouge, LA, $9
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Wood deck in Baton Rouge: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Baton Rouge?
For 300 sq ft, expect $6,950 to $13,900 in the Baton Rouge area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,050 to $11,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Baton Rouge?
About $23 to $46 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 Baton Rouge or Lafayette?
Lafayette is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $9,900, which is 5% less than Baton Rouge ($10,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Baton Rouge?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $4,450 out of $10,400. Materials are 57% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Baton Rouge?
$7,400 to $14,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Baton Rouge?
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 Baton Rouge area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Baton Rouge expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Baton Rouge is 4% above the Louisiana statewide estimate ($10,100 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Baton Rouge?
The BLS median is $26.75 an hour in the Baton Rouge area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.20 to $29.27.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Baton Rouge?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,950 to $9,750 and premium work $11,100 to $13,900. 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 Baton Rouge?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. 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 Baton Rouge?
$1,300 to $2,400, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Baton Rouge
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