Wood deck cost in Manchester, NH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $7,500 – $15,000
- Per sq ft
- $25 – $49.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #101
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a wood deck in the Manchester area: $7,500 to $15,000 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 lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 2% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 97.7).
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Manchester, NH, standard level
$9,750 to $12,800
About $32 to $42 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,350 | $6,950 |
| Labor | $4,350 | $5,650 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $130 |
| Total | $9,750 | $12,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Manchester, NH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,100 | $6,150 | $8,200 | 55% |
| Labor | $3,350 | $5,000 | $6,650 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $110 | $160 | 1% |
| Total | $7,500 | $11,300 | $15,000 | 100% |
Where the Manchester price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Manchester wages are 1.01 times the national level. Labor makes up about 44% of the midpoint estimate (44% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Manchester is at 97.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,300 nationally becomes $6,150 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.7: $55 to $160.
Who does the work: Manchester 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 Manchester the blend is 1.01.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $29.47 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.91 and $35.02 an hour. About 820 work in the metro. That is 41.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.84 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.68 and $26.49 an hour. BLS counts 1,070 of them working in the area, 53.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $750 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $760. That is a swing of roughly 6.7% to 6.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Manchester-Nashua has 199,560 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 115th 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% | $23.91 | $29.47 | $35.02 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $19.68 | $22.84 | $26.49 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Manchester bid
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.
How Manchester compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Manchester. Portland comes closest at about $11,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester, NHthis page | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,300 | |
| Worcester, MA45 miles | $8,150 – $16,400 | $12,300 | +9% |
| Boston, MA45 miles | $8,400 – $16,900 | $12,600 | +12% |
| Amherst, MA60 miles | $7,850 – $15,800 | $11,800 | +5% |
| Springfield, MA70 miles | $8,300 – $16,600 | $12,500 | +11% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $7,600 – $15,300 | $11,400 | +2% |
| New Hampshire (statewide) | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +1% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Manchester ranks #101 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Manchester is 1% below the New Hampshire figure.
Manchester is the only New Hampshire metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Manchester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria, CA | 200,760 jobs | $8,550 – $17,100 | $12,800 | +14% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 | −12% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $8,300 – $16,600 | $12,500 | +11% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $8,550 – $17,100 | $12,800 | +14% |
Add-ons priced for Manchester
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.99 for Manchester, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.01) and goods price index (0.98). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,400 – $2,600 |
The best months for wood deck in Manchester
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Manchester 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 Manchester are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, 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.
Manchester gets about 40 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (4.0 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and July are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 16 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 | 34 | 17 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 19 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 27 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 59 | 38 | 3.3 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 48 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 58 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 62 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 54 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 33 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 39 | 24 | 3.3 | Cold |
Pick a size, pick a tier: wood deck pricing in Manchester
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Manchester. 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
$7,500 to $10,500
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$9,750 to $12,800
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$12,000 to $15,000
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $3,050 – $4,250 | $3,950 – $5,200 | $4,900 – $6,100 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,600 – $5,100 | $4,750 – $6,200 | $5,850 – $7,300 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $8,000 – $11,200 | $10,400 – $13,600 | $12,800 – $16,000 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,950 – $14,000 | $13,000 – $17,000 | $16,000 – $20,000 |
Planning more than one job in Manchester?
Jobs that often go together with wood deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Manchester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+3%) and detached garage lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $12,000 – $24,100 | level |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,000 | level |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,600 | +3% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $28,800 – $57,800 | −1% |
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 $9,750 to $12,800 for Manchester, NH is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Manchester, NH: 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 Manchester: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Manchester?
For 300 sq ft, expect $7,500 to $15,000 in the Manchester area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,750 to $12,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Manchester?
About $25 to $49.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $55 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $50.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Manchester or Worcester?
Worcester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $12,300, which is 9% more than Manchester ($11,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Manchester?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $5,000 out of $11,300. Materials are 55% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Manchester?
$8,000 to $16,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Manchester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $55 to $160 for fees in the Manchester area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Manchester expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of New Hampshire?
Manchester is 1% below the New Hampshire statewide estimate ($11,400 at the midpoint).
+What do carpenters earn in Manchester?
The BLS median is $29.47 an hour in the Manchester area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.91 to $35.02.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Manchester?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $7,500 to $10,500 and premium work $12,000 to $15,000. 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 Manchester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. April and July 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 Manchester?
$1,400 to $2,600, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Manchester
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