Wood deck cost in Montana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $7,350 – $14,700
- Per sq ft
- $24.50 – $48.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $11,400
- Metros covered
- 3
Across Montana, a wood deck costs about $7,350 to $14,700 for 300 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 3% below the US figure of $11,400. Carpenters earn a median $28.28 an hour in Montana (US: $29.12).
Inside Montana, the metros we cover range from $10,900 (Missoula) to $11,400 (Bozeman) 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 Montana (statewide), standard level
$9,550 to $12,500
About $31.50 to $41.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,250 | $6,850 |
| Labor | $4,250 | $5,550 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $9,550 | $12,500 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Montana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $6,050 | $8,050 | 55% |
| Labor | $3,250 | $4,900 | $6,500 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $7,350 | $11,000 | $14,700 | 100% |
Wood deck cost by metro in Montana
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $11,000, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +3% |
| Billings, MT | $7,350 – $14,700 | $11,000 | level |
| Missoula, MT | $7,250 – $14,600 | $10,900 | −1% |
Quality levels and sizes in Montana
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Montana wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$7,350 to $10,300
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$9,550 to $12,500
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$11,800 to $14,700
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,950 – $4,150 | $3,850 – $5,050 | $4,750 – $6,000 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,550 – $5,000 | $4,650 – $6,050 | $5,700 – $7,150 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,850 – $11,000 | $10,200 – $13,300 | $12,600 – $15,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,750 – $13,700 | $12,700 – $16,600 | $15,700 – $19,600 |
Montana 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 0.99 for Montana.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $28.28 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.84 and $32.47 an hour. BLS counts 4,030 of them working in the state, 78.8 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 $23.96 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $28.24 an hour. About 4,590 work in the state. That is 89.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($32.47 an hour) would add about $570 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.84) would take off about $600. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 511,580 jobs across Montana (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.84 | $28.28 | $32.47 | $29.12 | 0.97 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $20.80 | $23.96 | $28.24 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Montana
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Montana wages and prices. Against national midpoints, concrete patio comes out highest (+1%) and composite deck lowest (−2%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $11,800 – $23,600 | −2% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,050 | +1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $28,900 – $58,000 | level |
Extras that change the Montana total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Montana by the average of the local wage index (0.99) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.97. 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) | $1,350 – $2,550 |
How Montana compares with nearby states
Montana ranks 26 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. Montana sits at $11,000. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 270 miles away | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 | −4% |
| Utah | 400 miles away | $7,050 – $14,100 | $10,600 | −4% |
| Wyoming | 460 miles away | $7,150 – $14,400 | $10,800 | −2% |
| Washington | 500 miles away | $8,500 – $17,000 | $12,700 | +15% |
| Colorado | 550 miles away | $7,600 – $15,300 | $11,400 | +4% |
When Montana weather lets you build
Season matters for wood deck. For each Montana metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Billings has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Montana at 9 months (March through November); Missoula has the shortest at 8 (March through October). Rainfall runs from 14 inches a year in Missoula to 20 inches in Bozeman.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | 18 | 87 | 14 | 9: March through November |
| Bozeman | 15 | 82 | 20 | 8: March through October |
| Missoula | 18 | 85 | 14 | 8: March through October |
Wood deck: what moves the price in Montana
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.
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Detailed wood deck report for Montana, $9
The report lays out the wood deck numbers for Montana 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 Montana: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Montana?
$7,350 to $14,700 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Montana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Montana is cheapest for wood deck?
Missoula at about $10,900 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Bozeman at $11,400.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Montana than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $11,000 against $11,400 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Montana?
About 44% ($4,900). Materials are 55%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.99x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Montana?
The BLS statewide median is $28.28 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.84 to $32.47.
+Where does Montana rank for wood deck costs?
26th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $11,000 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Montana?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $7,350 to $10,300 and premium work $11,800 to $14,700. 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 Montana?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Montana metros we cover, Billings has the most comfortable months (9 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 Montana?
$1,350 to $2,550, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck by city in Montana
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