Wood deck cost in Billings, MT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $7,350 – $14,700
- Per sq ft
- $24.50 – $48.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #128
- 1 = most expensive
Billings homeowners pay roughly $7,350 to $14,700 to build a wood deck at 300 sq ft, or $24.50 to $48.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Billings is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.0).
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Billings, MT, 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 Billings, MT
| 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% |
What is behind the Billings number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.34 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Billings is 0.99 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 44% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Billings metro is 96.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $6,050, compared with $6,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.5) and land at $45 to $140.
Is Billings cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Billings. Rapid City is the lowest at about $10,200 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 305 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MTthis page | $7,350 – $14,700 | $11,000 | |
| Bozeman, MT115 miles | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +3% |
| Idaho Falls, ID225 miles | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 | −5% |
| Missoula, MT275 miles | $7,250 – $14,600 | $10,900 | −1% |
| Logan, UT300 miles | $6,900 – $13,900 | $10,400 | −6% |
| Rapid City, SD305 miles | $6,800 – $13,700 | $10,200 | −7% |
| Montana (statewide) | $7,350 – $14,700 | $11,000 | level |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Billings comes in at #128 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $14,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $9,050 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Billings is 0% below the Montana figure.
Other Montana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +3% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $7,250 – $14,600 | $10,900 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Billings's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Billings against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $8,050 – $16,100 | $12,100 | +10% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $6,800 – $13,700 | $10,300 | −7% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $6,450 – $13,000 | $9,700 | −12% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $8,400 – $16,800 | $12,600 | +14% |
When to schedule wood deck in Billings
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Billings Logan Intl Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Billings (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February and December 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.
Billings gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 57 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (2.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, August and November are the driest, at 0.9 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 32 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36 | 18 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 20 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 49 | 27 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 57 | 35 | 1.7 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 44 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 52 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 59 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 58 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 49 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 37 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 27 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 36 | 19 | 0.6 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Billings
Because every project leans on different trades, Billings's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete patio runs +1% and composite deck −2%.
| 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 – $5,400 | −1% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $28,900 – $57,900 | level |
Why two Billings quotes can differ
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.
Add-ons priced for Billings
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Billings 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 |
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood deck pricing in Billings
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Billings wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below 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 – $5,950 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,550 – $5,000 | $4,600 – $6,050 | $5,700 – $7,150 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,800 – $11,000 | $10,200 – $13,300 | $12,500 – $15,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,750 – $13,700 | $12,700 – $16,600 | $15,700 – $19,600 |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Billings is 0.99 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $28.34 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.84 and $30.83 an hour. BLS counts 530 of them working in the area, 56.5 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 $23.68 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.42 and $28.31 an hour. About 830 work in the metro. That is 88.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.83 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $340. At the 25th percentile ($23.84) it shrinks by about $610. The total moves by 3.1% or 5.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,800 jobs in the Billings area. That makes it the 213th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.84 | $28.34 | $30.83 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.42 | $23.68 | $28.31 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
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 $9,550 to $12,500 for Billings, MT is attached.
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Multi-page report for Billings, MT: 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 Billings: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Billings?
For 300 sq ft, expect $7,350 to $14,700 in the Billings area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,550 to $12,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Billings?
About $24.50 to $48.50 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 Billings or Bozeman?
Bozeman is 115 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $11,400, which is 3% more than Billings ($11,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Billings?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $4,900 out of $11,000. Materials are 55% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Billings?
$7,800 to $15,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Billings?
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 Billings area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Billings expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of Montana?
Billings is 0% below the Montana statewide estimate ($11,000 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Montana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Billings?
The BLS median is $28.34 an hour in the Billings area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.84 to $30.83.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Billings?
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.
+When is the best time to build a wood deck in Billings?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. August 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 Billings?
$1,350 to $2,550, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Billings
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