Building a deck typically runs $30–$60 per square foot installed, depending on material (pressure-treated pine at the low end, composite or cedar higher) and labor in your area. A common 12×12 ft (144 sq ft) deck therefore lands around $4,300–$8,600 installed. Material-only DIY costs are roughly half that figure.
Cost by decking material
- Pressure-treated lumber — $30–$45/sq ft installed. The budget standard. Affordable and widely available, but it needs cleaning and re-staining every 2–3 years.
- Cedar or redwood — $40–$55/sq ft. Naturally rot- and insect-resistant with a warm look, though still a wood that requires periodic sealing.
- Composite (Trex, TimberTech, etc.) — $45–$60/sq ft. Higher upfront cost but almost no maintenance, no splinters, and a 25+ year lifespan — often the best long-term value.
- Tropical hardwood (ipe, cumaru) — $60–$80+/sq ft. Extremely durable and premium, but heavy, hard to cut, and the most expensive option.
Where the money goes
Labor is usually 50–65% of an installed deck. The price isn’t just the boards you see — it covers the parts you don’t: concrete footings below the frost line, the joists and beams of the frame, ledger attachment and flashing against the house, fasteners, and railing. Decking boards themselves are often only a third of the material bill.
What drives the price up
- Height — a ground-level deck is cheapest; an elevated deck needs taller posts, more footings, stairs, and often an inspection, all of which add cost.
- Railing — code-required on raised decks, and composite or metal railing can add several dollars per square foot.
- Shape and features — angles, multiple levels, built-in benches, lighting, or a pergola each raise both material and labor.
- Permits and footings — most decks attached to a house require a permit, and footing depth depends on your local frost line.
Estimate your materials
Use the deck board calculator to figure out exactly how many deck boards your size and board width require, including a waste allowance. That gives you a solid material baseline before you price out framing and railing and compare contractor bids.
Ways to save
Keep the footprint rectangular to minimize cuts and waste, choose pressure-treated framing under composite boards (no one sees the joists), and build a ground-level platform deck if your layout allows — skipping railing and stairs is a big saving. Even on a hired job, get 2–3 quotes; deck labor rates vary a lot between contractors.