Wood deck cost in Pennsylvania
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $7,500 – $15,100
- Per sq ft
- $25 – $49.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $11,400
- Metros covered
- 12
What does it cost to build a wood deck in Pennsylvania? Plan on $7,500 to $15,100 for 300 sq ft. Wages (0.99x the US blend), materials (price index 99.4) and permit costs (97.6) put the state below the national midpoint by 1%.
Inside Pennsylvania, the metros we cover range from $10,600 (Chambersburg) to $11,500 (Pittsburgh) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your wood deck cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Pennsylvania (statewide), standard level
$9,750 to $12,800
About $32.50 to $42 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,400 | $7,100 |
| Labor | $4,250 | $5,550 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $9,750 | $12,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Pennsylvania
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,250 | $8,350 | 56% |
| Labor | $3,300 | $4,900 | $6,550 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $7,500 | $11,300 | $15,100 | 100% |
Pennsylvania seasons and wood deck
Season matters for wood deck. For each Pennsylvania metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Philadelphia has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Pennsylvania at 11 months (February through December); Erie has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 39 inches a year in Scranton to 47 inches in Allentown.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 27 | 88 | 45 | 11: February through December |
| Pittsburgh | 22 | 83 | 41 | 9: March through November |
| Allentown | 22 | 86 | 47 | 9: March through November |
| Harrisburg | 22 | 85 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Scranton | 20 | 85 | 39 | 9: March through November |
| Lancaster | 22 | 87 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| York | 21 | 88 | 46 | 11: February through December |
| Reading | 23 | 87 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Erie | 21 | 81 | 43 | 8: April through November |
| State College | 21 | 81 | 42 | 9: March through November |
| Chambersburg | 23 | 85 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| Altoona | 19 | 81 | 45 | 9: March through November |
Quality levels and sizes in Pennsylvania
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Pennsylvania wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
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 $15,100
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) | $3,650 – $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) | $10,000 – $14,000 | $13,000 – $17,000 | $16,000 – $20,000 |
Pennsylvania versus the states around it
Pennsylvania ranks 19 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. Pennsylvania sits at $11,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 70 miles away | $7,750 – $15,600 | $11,700 | +3% |
| Delaware | 100 miles away | $7,300 – $14,700 | $11,000 | −3% |
| New Jersey | 100 miles away | $8,250 – $16,500 | $12,400 | +10% |
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $7,900 – $15,900 | $11,900 | +6% |
| New York | 140 miles away | $8,500 – $17,000 | $12,800 | +13% |
Related projects, priced for Pennsylvania
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Pennsylvania wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+3%) and composite deck lowest (−1%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $12,000 – $24,000 | −1% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,100 – $5,650 | +3% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $29,100 – $58,500 | +1% |
Wood deck: what moves the price in Pennsylvania
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.
Wood deck cost by metro in Pennsylvania
5 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $11,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 8%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $7,650 – $15,300 | $11,500 | +2% |
| York, PA | $7,650 – $15,300 | $11,500 | +2% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +1% |
| Scranton, PA | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,300 | level |
| State College, PA | $7,450 – $15,000 | $11,200 | −1% |
| Altoona, PA | $7,400 – $14,900 | $11,100 | −1% |
| Erie, PA | $7,400 – $14,900 | $11,100 | −1% |
| Lancaster, PA | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | −2% |
| Reading, PA | $7,350 – $14,800 | $11,100 | −2% |
| Chambersburg, PA | $7,050 – $14,200 | $10,600 | −6% |
Wages behind the Pennsylvania number
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 Pennsylvania.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $28.54 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.01 and $35.92 an hour. BLS counts 30,630 of them working in the state, 50.5 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 $23.75 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.69 and $29.72 an hour. About 35,920 work in the state. That is 59.2 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 ($35.92 an hour) would add about $1,000 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.01) would take off about $750. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,064,600 jobs across Pennsylvania (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.01 | $28.54 | $35.92 | $29.12 | 0.98 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.69 | $23.75 | $29.72 | $22.66 | 1.05 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Extras that change the Pennsylvania total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Pennsylvania by the average of the local wage index (0.99) and goods index (0.99), a factor of 0.99. 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) | $1,400 – $2,600 |
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 Pennsylvania is attached.
Detailed wood deck report for Pennsylvania, $9
The report lays out the wood deck numbers for Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Pennsylvania?
$7,500 to $15,100 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Pennsylvania can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Pennsylvania is cheapest for wood deck?
Chambersburg at about $10,600 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Pittsburgh at $11,500.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Pennsylvania than the US average?
It is 1% cheaper: $11,300 against $11,400 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Pennsylvania?
About 44% ($4,900). Materials are 56%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.99x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Pennsylvania?
The BLS statewide median is $28.54 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.01 to $35.92.
+Where does Pennsylvania rank for wood deck costs?
19th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $11,300 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Pennsylvania?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $7,500 to $10,500 and premium work $12,000 to $15,100. 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 Pennsylvania?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Pennsylvania metros we cover, Philadelphia has the most comfortable months (11 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 Pennsylvania?
$1,400 to $2,600, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck by city in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA$11,500 midpoint
- York, PA$11,500 midpoint
- Philadelphia, PA$11,400 midpoint
- Scranton, PA$11,400 midpoint
- Allentown, PA$11,400 midpoint
- Harrisburg, PA$11,300 midpoint
- State College, PA$11,200 midpoint
- Altoona, PA$11,100 midpoint
- Erie, PA$11,100 midpoint
- Lancaster, PA$11,100 midpoint
- Reading, PA$11,100 midpoint
- Chambersburg, PA$10,600 midpoint
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