Wood deck cost in Lafayette, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $6,600 – $13,200
- Per sq ft
- $22 – $43.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #277
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a wood deck in the Lafayette area: $6,600 to $13,200 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 13% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $22.81 an hour in the Lafayette area, 22% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Lafayette, LA, standard level
$8,600 to $11,200
About $28.50 to $37 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,100 | $6,700 |
| Labor | $3,400 | $4,450 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $100 |
| Total | $8,600 | $11,200 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Lafayette, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,950 | $5,900 | $7,850 | 60% |
| Labor | $2,600 | $3,900 | $5,200 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $85 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $6,600 | $9,900 | $13,200 | 100% |
Where the Lafayette 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 $22.81 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Lafayette is 0.79 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 40% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Lafayette 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 87.2: $45 to $130.
The best months for wood deck in Lafayette
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Lafayette Rgnl 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 Lafayette are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Lafayette gets about 63 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (7.1 inches in June). Inside the workable window, February and March are the driest, at 4.1 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 91 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 | 44 | 5.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 47 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 53 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 59 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 67 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 73 | 7.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 75 | 6.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 75 | 6.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 70 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 60 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 50 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 45 | 5.0 | Workable |
Who does the work: Lafayette 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 Lafayette the blend is 0.79.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $22.81 an hour, 22% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $18.55 and $27.69 an hour. About 580 work in the metro. That is 32.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $18.57 an hour, which is 18% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.31 and $22.95 an hour. BLS counts 1,780 of them working in the area, 99.1 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 $660 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $580. That is a swing of roughly 5.8% to 6.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Lafayette has 179,570 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 129th 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% | $18.55 | $22.81 | $27.69 | $29.12 | 0.78 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.31 | $18.57 | $22.95 | $22.66 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Extras that change the Lafayette total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.86 for Lafayette, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.79) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,200 – $2,250 |
How Lafayette compares
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Beaumont is the priciest of the group at $10,700. Alexandria is the cheapest at $9,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LAthis page | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 | |
| Lake Charles, LA65 miles | $6,600 – $13,300 | $9,950 | level |
| Baton Rouge, LA70 miles | $6,950 – $13,900 | $10,400 | +5% |
| Houma, LA90 miles | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 | level |
| Alexandria, LA95 miles | $6,550 – $13,100 | $9,800 | −1% |
| Beaumont, TX125 miles | $7,150 – $14,300 | $10,700 | +8% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $6,700 – $13,400 | $10,100 | +2% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Lafayette ranks #277 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Lafayette is 2% below the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 | +2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $6,950 – $13,900 | $10,400 | +5% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $6,550 – $13,200 | $9,850 | level |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $6,600 – $13,300 | $9,950 | level |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $6,600 – $13,300 | $9,950 | +1% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lafayette against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +12% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $6,850 – $13,800 | $10,300 | +4% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 | +6% |
| Anchorage, AK | 177,050 jobs | $8,500 – $17,100 | $12,800 | +29% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood deck pricing in Lafayette
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Lafayette. 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
$6,600 to $9,250
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$8,600 to $11,200
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$10,600 to $13,200
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,650 – $3,750 | $3,450 – $4,550 | $4,300 – $5,350 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,200 – $4,500 | $4,150 – $5,450 | $5,100 – $6,400 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,000 – $9,850 | $9,150 – $12,000 | $11,300 – $14,100 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $8,750 – $12,300 | $11,400 – $14,900 | $14,100 – $17,600 |
What nearby projects cost in Lafayette
Jobs that often go together with wood deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Lafayette wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete patio comes out highest (−10%) and composite deck lowest (−15%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $10,200 – $20,500 | −15% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −10% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,750 | −12% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $25,700 – $51,600 | −11% |
Wood deck: what moves the price in Lafayette
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).
Height and stairs
A second-story deck needs more structure. New stairs run $1,400-$2,600 installed.
Get 3 local quotes
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Wood deck in Lafayette: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Lafayette?
For 300 sq ft, expect $6,600 to $13,200 in the Lafayette area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,600 to $11,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Lafayette?
About $22 to $43.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $50.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Lafayette or Lake Charles?
Lake Charles is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $9,950, which is 0% more than Lafayette ($9,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lafayette?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $3,900 out of $9,900. Materials are 60% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Lafayette?
$7,000 to $14,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Lafayette?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $130 for fees in the Lafayette area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lafayette expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Lafayette is 2% below 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 Lafayette?
The BLS median is $22.81 an hour in the Lafayette area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.55 to $27.69.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Lafayette?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,600 to $9,250 and premium work $10,600 to $13,200. 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 Lafayette?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February and March 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 Lafayette?
$1,200 to $2,250, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Lafayette
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