Wood deck cost in Massachusetts
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $8,350 – $16,800
- Per sq ft
- $27.50 – $55.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $11,400
- Metros covered
- 6
Across Massachusetts, a wood deck costs about $8,350 to $16,800 for 300 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 11% above the US figure of $11,400. Carpenters earn a median $36.16 an hour in Massachusetts (US: $29.12).
Inside Massachusetts, the metros we cover range from $11,400 (Pittsfield) to $12,600 (Boston) 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 Massachusetts (statewide), standard level
$10,900 to $14,300
About $36 to $47 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,400 | $7,050 |
| Labor | $5,400 | $7,100 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $130 |
| Total | $10,900 | $14,300 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Massachusetts
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,250 | $8,300 | 49% |
| Labor | $4,150 | $6,250 | $8,350 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $110 | $160 | 1% |
| Total | $8,350 | $12,600 | $16,800 | 100% |
Massachusetts seasons and wood deck
Season matters for wood deck. For each Massachusetts metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Barnstable has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Massachusetts at 10 months (March through December); Pittsfield has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Boston to 48 inches in Worcester.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 23 | 82 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| Worcester | 17 | 80 | 48 | 8: April through November |
| Springfield | 16 | 85 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Barnstable | 24 | 81 | 45 | 10: March through December |
| Amherst | 16 | 85 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Pittsfield | 14 | 79 | 44 | 8: April through November |
Wood deck: what moves the price in Massachusetts
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.
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Massachusetts
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 1.26 for Massachusetts.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $36.16 an hour, which is 24% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.21 and $46.88 an hour. BLS counts 18,540 of them working in the state, 51.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $30.48 an hour, 35% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $25.16 and $42.46 an hour. About 16,210 work in the state. That is 44.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($46.88 an hour) would add about $1,450 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($29.21) would take off about $950. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,637,650 jobs across Massachusetts (May 2025), which is 2.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $29.21 | $36.16 | $46.88 | $29.12 | 1.24 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $25.16 | $30.48 | $42.46 | $22.66 | 1.35 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.26 | |||||
Add-ons priced for Massachusetts
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Massachusetts by the average of the local wage index (1.26) and goods index (0.99), a factor of 1.13. 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) | $1,600 – $2,950 |
If you are planning more than one job in Massachusetts
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Massachusetts wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+23%) and concrete patio lowest (+11%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $13,900 – $27,800 | +15% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,350 – $4,500 | +11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,650 – $6,700 | +23% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $32,400 – $65,100 | +12% |
Quality levels and sizes in Massachusetts
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Massachusetts wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$8,350 to $11,700
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$10,900 to $14,300
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$13,400 to $16,800
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $3,400 – $4,750 | $4,400 – $5,800 | $5,450 – $6,800 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $4,050 – $5,700 | $5,250 – $6,900 | $6,500 – $8,150 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $8,900 – $12,500 | $11,600 – $15,200 | $14,300 – $17,900 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $11,100 – $15,600 | $14,500 – $19,000 | $17,900 – $22,300 |
Massachusetts metro-by-metro prices
0 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $12,600, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $8,400 – $16,900 | $12,600 | level |
| Springfield, MA | $8,300 – $16,600 | $12,500 | −1% |
| Worcester, MA | $8,150 – $16,400 | $12,300 | −2% |
| Barnstable, MA | $8,050 – $16,100 | $12,100 | −4% |
| Amherst, MA | $7,850 – $15,800 | $11,800 | −6% |
| Pittsfield, MA | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 | −9% |
Massachusetts against its neighbors
Massachusetts ranks 7 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. Massachusetts sits at $12,600. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 40 miles away | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | −10% |
| Rhode Island | 50 miles away | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 | −9% |
| Connecticut | 110 miles away | $7,750 – $15,500 | $11,600 | −7% |
| Maine | 120 miles away | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,300 | −11% |
| Vermont | 180 miles away | $7,550 – $15,100 | $11,300 | −10% |
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Detailed wood deck report for Massachusetts, $9
The report lays out the wood deck numbers for Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Massachusetts?
$8,350 to $16,800 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Massachusetts can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Massachusetts is cheapest for wood deck?
Pittsfield at about $11,400 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Boston at $12,600.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Massachusetts than the US average?
It is 11% more expensive: $12,600 against $11,400 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Massachusetts?
About 50% ($6,250). Materials are 49%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.26x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Massachusetts?
The BLS statewide median is $36.16 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.21 to $46.88.
+Where does Massachusetts rank for wood deck costs?
7th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $12,600 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Massachusetts?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $8,350 to $11,700 and premium work $13,400 to $16,800. 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 Massachusetts?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Massachusetts metros we cover, Barnstable has the most comfortable months (10 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 Massachusetts?
$1,600 to $2,950, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck by city in Massachusetts
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