The band is Bob Vila's published figure of $30 to $60 a square foot installed, with labor alone at $15 to $35. The material you pick decides roughly where inside that band you land, and the shape of the deck moves it a little either way. Related: The best deck sealers.
That labor share is the part people get wrong. On most decks it is about half the bill, which is why a plain rectangle is so much cheaper per foot than the same area cut into levels with a stair run.
What it does not cover
Permits, footings into difficult ground, demolition of an old deck, and anything structural on the house where the ledger attaches. Those get priced on sight because nobody can guess them from a floor area. Related: Deck vs patio costs.
Deciding between materials first? The decking material guide has the lifespans and the maintenance load next to the cost.
Questions
Deck cost questions
How much does a deck cost per square foot?
The published national range is $30 to $60 a square foot installed, and where you land inside it is mostly the decking material. Pressure-treated pine sits at the bottom, composite and PVC at the top.
Is composite decking worth the extra money?
It depends how long you are staying. Composite is quoted at up to 50 years against 20 or more for wood, and it does not need sanding and staining every couple of years. Under ten years you will not see the money back.
What does the labor actually cost?
Labor alone is published at $15 to $35 a square foot, which is roughly half of a typical deck bill. That is why a simple rectangle costs so much less per foot than a multi-level deck with stairs: the material barely changes, the hours do. Related: The best deck stains.
Does this include railings and stairs?
It includes them at the top of each range rather than as a separate line. A ground-level rectangle with no rail sits at the bottom of the band, a raised deck with stairs and rail at the top. Pick the complexity that matches and the range moves with it.
Do I need a permit for a deck in Wake County?
Usually yes, once the deck is attached to the house or more than a step off the ground. We pull it as part of the job. The permit fee is not in the figures above.
How accurate is this?
It is a planning range, not a quote. It gets you close enough to know whether a number someone has given you is sensible. The real figure needs someone to look at the ground, the ledger and the access.
Free deck stair calculator. Enter the deck height and get the number of steps, riser height, total run, stringer length and count, using DCA 6 code limits.
Deck resurfacing costs $15 to $50 per sq ft for new boards, stairs and railings on the existing frame.
Free on-site inspection
Get an exact deck quote, free and on site
We get on the roof, photograph what is actually there, and hand you a written report with a price. No charge, and no obligation to book the work with us. If the roof has years left in it, that is what the report will say.
