How much does it cost to build a deck in 2024?

What better way is there to transform your outdoor living space than by adding a deck as an extension of your home? This is an easy way to make space to host gatherings with friends – or relax after a long week. Building a deck may sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. It just requires planning, preparation, budgeting, and knowing where to look when it comes to finding the best material and someone to install it for you (unless of course you opt for the DIY approach).

With so many materials and decisions to make, each option brings unique features and advantages to consider when planning your project.

In this blog, we’ll explore:

• What goes into calculating the cost of a deck?
• Additional considerations
• The benefits of building a deck
• And everyone’s favorite, how to save some money in the process!

What Goes Into Calculating the Cost of a Deck?

The cost of your project will be made up of 2 parts: Material cost + Labor cost.

Material Cost

When choosing the material for your deck, there are a myriad of different colors, styles, patterns and different brands, all claiming to be the best.

For some help and tips with picking out that perfect deck color, check out how to choose the right deck color.

Brand categories are broken up into entry level, mid-range, and premium collections with corresponding prices.

The table below outlines the pricing for different sized decks and an approximate price per square footage for an entry, mid-level and premium product.

Dimensions	Square Footage	Entry-Level	Mid-Range	Premium
8′ x 10′	80sq/ft	$1168	$1520	$1920
10′ x 10′	100sq/ft	$1460	$1900	$2400
10′ x 12′	120sq/ft	$1752	$2280	$2880
10′ x 16′	160sq/ft	$2336	$3040	$3840
10′ x 20′	200sq/ft	$2920	$3800	$4800
12′ x 12′	144sq/ft	$2102	$2736	$3456
12′ x 16′	192sq/ft	$2803	$3648	$4608
12′ x 20′	240sq/ft	$3504	$4560	$5760
16′ x 16′	256sq/ft	$3738	$4864	$6144
20′ x 20′	400sq/ft	$5840	$7600	$9600

Preliminary Work

Something that needs to be considered before laying down the deck boards is getting the frame and deck area ready. Make sure the area has been cleared, evened out, and properly measured.

If you don’t have a frame up yet: how much framing will you need, where is the best place to purchase it, how long will it take to build and will you be building it or a contractor?

Maybe you already have a frame from a previous deck: does any of it need to be replaced, cleaned up, reinforced?

Labor Cost

There is no set cost for the price of installation. It will vary on several different factors: The type of material, the quality of material, the size of the project, and the company used! As a general guideline, the cost of labor will range anywhere from about half of the total cost of the project.

Something to keep in mind is: the more expensive the material, the higher the cost of installation. The overall cost will necessarily be relative to the type of material used.

Here is a breakdown of the average installation price for commonly used deck materials:

Material	Average cost of installation per square foot
Pressure treated wood	$20-$30
Entry-level composite	$40-$45
Mid-level composite	$50-$55
High-level composite/PVC	$60-$70
IPE wood	$75+

Additional Considerations:

Design & Layout

Designing a deck allows you the liberty to unleash your inner creative genius, but keep in mind that a more complicated design or layout may drive the cost up and result in more waste (due to more and very specific cuts being made). It may be beneficial to look into different ways of recycling and re-purposing cut-offs (such as for a bench or plant boxes).

Fasteners & Accessories

Something that was not included in the pricing calculation above is the cost of fasteners and accessories. This may include clips, screws, plugs, and tools, and cost a few hundred dollars depending on the size of the project. Check out our accessories page for helpful information on different types of fasteners and pricing

Add-ons

Whether for safety, privacy, extra shade or pure aesthetics, add-ons are definitely something to consider during or before the construction of your deck. This is the part where you can look into different railing options, maybe a pergola or privacy screen, or deck lights. All of these will raise the cost of the project, but will also add to the visual appeal, safety, comfort and vibe of your outdoor space. Plus, a lot of these add-ons come with very long or even lifetime warranties, so it will definitely be worth the investment, just like your deck.

3 Benefits of Building a Deck:

1. Improved Property Value

Building or having a deck is a home improvement that can increase the value of your home to potential buyers when you’re trying to sell your home. It is an attractive feature because it provides a convenient way to not only entertain guests, but encourages your family to spend more time outside.

2. Improved Aesthetics

You can think of a deck as a sleek extension of your living room space, without the need to knock down walls and construct more space. You can put your inner-designer to good use and decorate your outdoor space to be uniquely yours. Whether that is adding a railing, pergola, lawn furniture, lights, plants, rugs, and anything else you can envision.

3. More Storage

A slightly under-appreciated benefit of having a deck is simply having the ability to store outdoor or seasonal things on or underneath it.

2 Ways to Save Some Money:

1. Build your deck yourself

This is arguably the best way to save on the overall cost of the project. The reason being that installation will account for approximately half the total cost! It definitely depends on the material used and the contractor hired, but if you are able to build your deck yourself (or have some friends who are into construction), not paying for installation will help you cut a significant part of the cost.

2. Go for a more entry-level, quality product

Unreliable brands will have good quality high-end products, but very poor quality low-end products. Look for trusted brands that have good warranties, and ensure quality even for their entry level products. This may take a little bit of research and looking for North-American products instead of something from overseas. Often, these products are still very visually appealing and can even give the impression of being higher-end products while remaining very affordably priced and good quality. Well-known, trusted brand names include Fiberon, Trex, and Timbertech.