Wood deck cost in Tennessee
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $6,950 – $13,900
- Per sq ft
- $23 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $11,400
- Metros covered
- 8
What does it cost to build a wood deck in Tennessee? Plan on $6,950 to $13,900 for 300 sq ft. Wages (0.86x the US blend), materials (price index 96.2) and permit costs (91.9) put the state below the national midpoint by 8%.
Inside Tennessee, the metros we cover range from $10,100 (Johnson City) to $10,800 (Nashville) 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 Tennessee (statewide), standard level
$9,050 to $11,800
About $30 to $39 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,250 | $6,850 |
| Labor | $3,700 | $4,850 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $9,050 | $11,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Tennessee
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $6,050 | $8,100 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,850 | $4,250 | $5,700 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $6,950 | $10,400 | $13,900 | 100% |
Tennessee metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $10,400, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | $7,150 – $14,400 | $10,800 | +3% |
| Knoxville, TN | $6,950 – $13,900 | $10,400 | level |
| Memphis, TN | $6,900 – $13,900 | $10,400 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN | $6,900 – $13,800 | $10,400 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN | $6,850 – $13,700 | $10,300 | −2% |
| Clarksville, TN | $6,800 – $13,700 | $10,200 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | $6,800 – $13,600 | $10,200 | −2% |
| Johnson City, TN | $6,750 – $13,500 | $10,100 | −3% |
Extras that change the Tennessee total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Tennessee by the average of the local wage index (0.86) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.91. 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 – $2,350 |
Other Tennessee jobs that often go with wood deck
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Tennessee wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−3%) and composite deck lowest (−10%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $10,900 – $21,800 | −10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,650 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,250 | −3% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,600 – $53,300 | −8% |
Quality levels and sizes in Tennessee
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Tennessee wages and prices. The grid 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 $11,800
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$11,100 to $13,900
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,800 – $3,950 | $3,650 – $4,800 | $4,500 – $5,650 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,350 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,750 | $5,400 – $6,750 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,400 – $10,400 | $9,650 – $12,600 | $11,900 – $14,800 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,250 – $12,900 | $12,000 – $15,700 | $14,800 – $18,500 |
When Tennessee weather lets you build
Season matters for wood deck. For each Tennessee metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Knoxville has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Tennessee at 12 months; Jackson has the shortest at 10 (September through June). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Johnson City to 57 inches in Jackson.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 30 | 91 | 51 | 10: September through June |
| Memphis | 33 | 92 | 55 | 10: September through June |
| Knoxville | 30 | 88 | 52 | 12: all year |
| Chattanooga | 32 | 91 | 55 | 10: September through June |
| Kingsport | 27 | 87 | 45 | 12: all year |
| Clarksville | 28 | 90 | 54 | 10: September through June |
| Jackson | 27 | 91 | 57 | 10: September through June |
| Johnson City | 26 | 86 | 44 | 12: all year |
Tennessee 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 0.86 for Tennessee.
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 $22.36 and $28.80 an hour. BLS counts 8,200 of them working in the state, 25.0 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 $21.64 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.11 and $23.78 an hour. About 26,250 work in the state. That is 80.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($28.80 an hour) would add about $590 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.36) would take off about $280. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,278,760 jobs across Tennessee (May 2025), which is 2.1% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $22.36 | $24.44 | $28.80 | $29.12 | 0.84 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.11 | $21.64 | $23.78 | $22.66 | 0.95 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Wood deck: what moves the price in Tennessee
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.
How Tennessee compares with nearby states
Tennessee ranks 39 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. Tennessee sits at $10,400. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 170 miles away | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 | +1% |
| Alabama | 190 miles away | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 | −3% |
| Georgia | 210 miles away | $6,900 – $13,800 | $10,400 | level |
| Indiana | 300 miles away | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,300 | +8% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $6,750 – $13,500 | $10,100 | −3% |
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Detailed wood deck report for Tennessee, $9
The report lays out the wood deck numbers for Tennessee 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 Tennessee: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Tennessee?
$6,950 to $13,900 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Tennessee can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Tennessee is cheapest for wood deck?
Johnson City at about $10,100 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Nashville at $10,800.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Tennessee than the US average?
It is 8% cheaper: $10,400 against $11,400 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Tennessee?
About 41% ($4,250). Materials are 58%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.86x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Tennessee?
The BLS statewide median is $24.44 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.36 to $28.80.
+Where does Tennessee rank for wood deck costs?
39th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $10,400 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Tennessee?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,950 to $9,750 and premium work $11,100 to $13,900. 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 Tennessee?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Tennessee metros we cover, Knoxville has the most comfortable months (12 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 Tennessee?
$1,300 to $2,350, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck by city in Tennessee
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