Wood deck cost in Wilmington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $6,950 – $14,000
- Per sq ft
- $23 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #184
- 1 = most expensive
Wilmington homeowners pay roughly $6,950 to $14,000 to build a wood deck at 300 sq ft, or $23 to $46 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Wilmington is 8% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $24.44 an hour in the Wilmington area, 16% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Wilmington, NC, standard level
$9,050 to $11,900
About $30 to $39 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,300 | $6,900 |
| Labor | $3,700 | $4,850 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $9,050 | $11,900 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Wilmington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $6,100 | $8,100 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,850 | $4,300 | $5,700 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $6,950 | $10,500 | $14,000 | 100% |
Where the Wilmington price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Wilmington wages are 0.87 times the national level. Labor makes up about 41% of the midpoint estimate (44% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Wilmington metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $6,100, compared with $6,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (96.4) and land at $50 to $140.
Related projects, priced for Wilmington
Because every project leans on different trades, Wilmington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs −7% and concrete patio −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $10,900 – $21,900 | −9% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −10% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,100 | −7% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,500 – $53,200 | −9% |
Cost by quality level and size in Wilmington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Wilmington 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
$6,950 to $9,750
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$9,050 to $11,900
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$11,200 to $14,000
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,800 – $3,950 | $3,700 – $4,800 | $4,550 – $5,700 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,350 – $4,750 | $4,400 – $5,750 | $5,400 – $6,800 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,450 – $10,400 | $9,650 – $12,700 | $11,900 – $14,900 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,250 – $13,000 | $12,100 – $15,800 | $14,900 – $18,600 |
Optional extras in Wilmington
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Wilmington by the average of the local wage index (0.87) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 0.92. 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) | $1,300 – $2,400 |
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 Wilmington is 0.87 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $24.44 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.06 and $28.70 an hour. BLS counts 640 of them working in the area, 33.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $22.16 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.02 and $26.94 an hour. About 1,870 work in the metro. That is 97.8 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 ($28.70 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $580. At the 25th percentile ($22.06) it shrinks by about $320. The total moves by 5.5% or 3.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 191,280 jobs in the Wilmington area. That makes it the 120th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $22.06 | $24.44 | $28.70 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.02 | $22.16 | $26.94 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Wilmington against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Wilmington. Myrtle Beach is the lowest at about $10,100 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NCthis page | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC60 miles | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 | −4% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $6,750 – $13,600 | $10,200 | −3% |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $6,750 – $13,500 | $10,100 | −3% |
| Florence, SC100 miles | $6,850 – $13,800 | $10,300 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC105 miles | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | level |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $6,850 – $13,800 | $10,300 | −1% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Wilmington comes in at #184 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $14,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $9,050 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Wilmington is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $6,850 – $13,700 | $10,300 | −2% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $6,850 – $13,800 | $10,300 | −1% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Wilmington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wilmington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $7,350 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +6% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $6,800 – $13,600 | $10,200 | −3% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $6,650 – $13,300 | $10,000 | −5% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $7,850 – $15,700 | $11,800 | +12% |
When to schedule wood deck in Wilmington
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Wilmington Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
August through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Wilmington (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Wilmington gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (8.7 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 45 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 | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 53 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 61 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 69 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 73 | 6.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 72 | 8.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 84 | 67 | 8.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 56 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 45 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 39 | 3.7 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Wilmington bid
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.
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 $9,050 to $11,900 for Wilmington, NC is attached.
Detailed wood deck report for Wilmington, NC, $9
Multi-page report for Wilmington, NC: 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 Wilmington: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Wilmington?
For 300 sq ft, expect $6,950 to $14,000 in the Wilmington area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,050 to $11,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Wilmington?
About $23 to $46 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $50.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $10,100, which is 4% less than Wilmington ($10,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wilmington?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $4,300 out of $10,500. Materials are 58% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Wilmington?
$7,450 to $14,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Wilmington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $140 for fees in the Wilmington area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wilmington expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Wilmington is 1% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($10,300 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Wilmington?
The BLS median is $24.44 an hour in the Wilmington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.06 to $28.70.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Wilmington?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,950 to $9,750 and premium work $11,200 to $14,000. 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 Wilmington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February and April 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 Wilmington?
$1,300 to $2,400, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Wilmington
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