Deck cost in 2026: real prices per square foot
A new deck runs $30–$60 per square foot for pressure-treated wood and $50–$95 for composite in 2026 — so a typical 300 sq. ft. deck lands between $9,000 and $28,500 depending on material. Decks fail structurally more often than any other residential addition, so the parts that matter most (footings, ledger, hardware) are exactly the ones a one-line quote leaves out.
Cost by work type
The single biggest driver of price is which version of the job you are doing. These are typical national ranges for a complete, permitted job on a mid-size single-family home.
| Work type | Typical range | Unit sanity check |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood deck | $7,000 – $22,000 | Pressure-treated framing and decking runs about $30–$60 per sq. ft. |
| Composite or PVC deck | $12,000 – $40,000 | Composite decking commonly runs $50–$95 per sq. ft. installed. |
| Deck repair, resurface, or railing | $1,500 – $12,000 | Re-decking over sound framing commonly runs $20–$45 per sq. ft. |
| Patio or paver installation | $4,000 – $25,000 | Paver patios commonly run $15–$40 per sq. ft. installed. |
Wood vs. composite: the real math
Composite decking costs $20–$35 more per square foot installed than pressure-treated, but eliminates staining and sealing every 1–3 years. Over 15 years the maintenance gap narrows the total-cost difference considerably — the right answer depends on how long you'll stay and how you feel about upkeep.
One detail worth checking on composite bids: many composite boards require tighter joist spacing (12" on center vs. 16"), which adds framing cost. A bid that swaps materials without adjusting framing is worth a question.
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The structural items every deck quote should name
- Footing depth and diameter relative to your frost line
- Ledger attachment method and flashing — the most common deck failure point
- Joist size and spacing for the chosen decking material
- Hardware: joist hangers, structural screws vs. lag bolts, corrosion rating
- Railing height and baluster spacing (code: typically 36"+ high, 4" max gaps)
- Permit and inspection responsibility
How your state moves the number
Construction labor and material markets vary widely by state. A $8,000–$32,000 national range can land roughly 28% higher in California or New York and about 15% lower in Mississippi or Arkansas, based on state-level construction wage and cost indexes.
This is why a quote that looks expensive against a national average can be perfectly normal in a high-cost metro — and why a 'great deal' in a low-cost state sometimes just means narrower scope. When you upload a quote for review, the benchmark range is adjusted by your state's cost index and the scope size you select before anything is compared.
Where these numbers come from
These are editorial benchmark ranges compiled from publicly available homeowner cost surveys and government price data (reviewed 2026). They are not licensed estimating data, not a bid, and not an appraisal — two contractors can both be fairly priced thousands of dollars apart because their scope differs.
- Cost vs. Value Report — Zonda Media / Remodeling magazine: Annual national and regional job costs for 20+ common remodeling projects.
- Houzz U.S. Houzz & Home Study — Houzz: Reported homeowner spend medians by project category.
- True Cost Guide — Angi / HomeAdvisor: Homeowner-reported project costs aggregated nationally and by metro.
- Producer Price Index — Construction Materials — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Material price movement used to keep ranges current.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Construction trade wages by state, the basis of the state cost index.
- Construction Cost Indexes — U.S. Census Bureau: Regional construction cost variation used to sanity-check the state index.
Frequently asked
- How much does a 12x16 deck cost?
- A 12x16 deck is 192 sq. ft.: roughly $6,000–$11,500 in pressure-treated wood and $9,500–$18,000 in composite, nationally, before stairs, railing upgrades, or state cost adjustments.
- Does a deck really need a permit?
- In most jurisdictions, yes — usually once it's attached to the house, above a threshold height, or over a certain area. An estimate silent on permits is a question to ask before signing.
- Is resurfacing cheaper than rebuilding?
- If the framing is sound, re-decking over it runs $20–$45 per sq. ft. — roughly half a rebuild. Have the footings, ledger, and joists inspected first; resurfacing over failing framing is money lost.
- Can I check my deck quote before signing?
- Yes — the free scan benchmarks the price for your state and checks the proposal for the footing, ledger, hardware, and permit scope that deck estimates most often omit.