Wood deck cost in Wisconsin
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $7,500 – $15,000
- Per sq ft
- $25 – $49.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $11,400
- Metros covered
- 12
Wisconsin prices for wood deck: $7,500 to $15,000 for 300 sq ft, or $25 to $49.50 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 1% below the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $29.65 an hour.
Inside Wisconsin, the metros we cover range from $10,400 (Wausau) to $12,600 (Oshkosh) 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 Wisconsin (statewide), standard level
$9,750 to $12,800
About $32 to $42 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,150 | $6,750 |
| Labor | $4,500 | $5,900 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $9,750 | $12,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Wisconsin
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,950 | $5,950 | $7,900 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,450 | $5,200 | $6,950 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $7,500 | $11,200 | $15,000 | 100% |
If you are planning more than one job in Wisconsin
Each project weights the trades differently, so Wisconsin's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, paver patio is +9% and composite deck +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $12,200 – $24,400 | +1% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,250 | +5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,300 – $5,950 | +9% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $29,500 – $59,100 | +2% |
Wisconsin metro-by-metro prices
6 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $11,200, and the top-to-bottom gap is 21%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh, WI | $8,400 – $16,800 | $12,600 | +12% |
| Janesville, WI | $8,050 – $16,100 | $12,100 | +8% |
| Kenosha, WI | $7,850 – $15,700 | $11,800 | +5% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +1% |
| Appleton, WI | $7,550 – $15,100 | $11,300 | +1% |
| Sheboygan, WI | $7,500 – $15,100 | $11,300 | level |
| Racine, WI | $7,400 – $14,900 | $11,100 | −1% |
| Green Bay, WI | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | −1% |
| La Crosse, WI | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | −1% |
| Eau Claire, WI | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | −1% |
| Wausau, WI | $6,900 – $13,800 | $10,400 | −8% |
When Wisconsin weather lets you build
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Wisconsin is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Kenosha has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Wisconsin at 9 months (March through November); Wausau has the shortest at 7 (April through October). Rainfall runs from 32 inches a year in Green Bay to 37 inches in La Crosse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 14 | 83 | 34 | 8: April through November |
| Madison | 12 | 82 | 37 | 8: April through November |
| Green Bay | 11 | 81 | 32 | 7: April through October |
| Appleton | 10 | 82 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| Oshkosh | 10 | 82 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| Eau Claire | 6 | 83 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| La Crosse | 8 | 80 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Racine | 16 | 81 | 32 | 8: April through November |
| Kenosha | 16 | 84 | 32 | 9: March through November |
| Janesville | 12 | 83 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Wausau | 7 | 80 | 34 | 7: April through October |
| Sheboygan | 15 | 82 | 35 | 8: April through November |
Wages behind the Wisconsin number
Wisconsin's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.05 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $29.65 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.92 and $38.13 an hour. About 13,880 work in the state. That is 47.2 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 $26.97 an hour, which is 19% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $34.68 an hour. BLS counts 20,330 of them working in the state, 69.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($38.13 an hour) would add about $1,150 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.92) would take off about $780. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,941,540 jobs across Wisconsin (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.92 | $29.65 | $38.13 | $29.12 | 1.02 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.14 | $26.97 | $34.68 | $22.66 | 1.19 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Optional extras in Wisconsin
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.00 for Wisconsin, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.05) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,400 – $2,600 |
Basic, standard or premium: Wisconsin prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid 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) | $3,000 – $4,250 | $3,950 – $5,150 | $4,850 – $6,100 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,600 – $5,100 | $4,700 – $6,200 | $5,800 – $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 |
Wisconsin versus the states around it
Wisconsin ranks 23 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. Wisconsin sits at $11,200. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 120 miles away | $8,700 – $17,500 | $13,100 | +16% |
| Iowa | 230 miles away | $7,200 – $14,400 | $10,800 | −4% |
| Michigan | 230 miles away | $7,450 – $15,000 | $11,200 | level |
| Minnesota | 260 miles away | $7,950 – $15,900 | $11,900 | +6% |
| Indiana | 260 miles away | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,300 | level |
Why two Wisconsin quotes can differ
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.
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Detailed wood deck report for Wisconsin, $9
The report lays out the wood deck numbers for Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Wisconsin?
$7,500 to $15,000 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Wisconsin can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Wisconsin is cheapest for wood deck?
Wausau at about $10,400 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Oshkosh at $12,600.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Wisconsin than the US average?
It is 1% cheaper: $11,200 against $11,400 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Wisconsin?
About 46% ($5,200). Materials are 53%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.05x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Wisconsin?
The BLS statewide median is $29.65 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.92 to $38.13.
+Where does Wisconsin rank for wood deck costs?
23rd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $11,200 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Wisconsin?
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.
+Does the season matter for wood deck in Wisconsin?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Wisconsin metros we cover, Kenosha has the most comfortable months (9 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 Wisconsin?
$1,400 to $2,600, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck by city in Wisconsin
- Oshkosh, WI$12,600 midpoint
- Janesville, WI$12,100 midpoint
- Kenosha, WI$11,800 midpoint
- Milwaukee, WI$11,400 midpoint
- Madison, WI$11,400 midpoint
- Appleton, WI$11,300 midpoint
- Sheboygan, WI$11,300 midpoint
- Racine, WI$11,100 midpoint
- Green Bay, WI$11,100 midpoint
- La Crosse, WI$11,100 midpoint
- Eau Claire, WI$11,100 midpoint
- Wausau, WI$10,400 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