Deck Cost Calculator

Estimate deck building cost including material, railing, and labor for pressure treated, composite, or cedar.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: Cost vs. Value Report 2025 (JLC): Deck Addition, Composite

ft
ft
Decking Material
Include Railing?

Deck Area

192 sq ft

Material Cost

$2,880.00

Total Project Cost

$7,080.00

Deck Estimate

Deck Area192 sq ft
Material (Pressure Treated @ $15/sqft)$2,880.00
Labor (@ $15/sqft)$2,880.00
Railing (44 ft @ $30/ft)$1,320.00
Total Project Estimate$7,080.00

Use the Deck Cost Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only. Results are estimates from the numbers you enter and the assumptions described on this page; check them against local building codes, product specifications and current prices, and have structural, electrical or gas work designed or checked by a licensed professional.

How It Works

Building a deck pulls together three cost streams at once: the decking material, the railing, and the labor to assemble it. Seeing the combined number before you commit is what keeps a budget realistic.

Material cost is the deck area (length × width) times a rate for the decking you select: $15 per square foot for pressure-treated wood, $20 for cedar and $25 for composite. Labor is priced the same way, at the same $15, $20 or $25 per square foot. If you include railing, it runs along both lengths and one width, on the assumption that the other side is against the house, at $30 per linear foot. The total is those three lines; there is no contingency, permit or demolition allowance, so add your own.

Treat the output as a planning figure, not a quote, because real-world totals shift with your location, which contractors are available, and how involved your design gets. Two line items are easy to overlook: permit fees, which vary by jurisdiction, and demolition if an old deck has to come out first. Railing is the other trap, since its cost is routinely underestimated, and the premium options are where that gap gets widest.

Example: 16 × 12 ft Composite Deck with Railing

  1. 1 Input: Deck Length = 16 ft, Deck Width = 12 ft, Decking Material = Composite, Include Railing = Yes.
  2. 2 Area = 16 × 12 = 192 sq ft. Material: 192 × $25 = $4,800. Labor: 192 × $25 = $4,800.
  3. 3 Railing: 16 + 16 + 12 = 44 linear feet × $30 = $1,320. Total Project Estimate = $4,800 + $4,800 + $1,320 = $10,920.
  4. 4 Permits, demolition, stairs and a contingency are not included. For comparison, the 2025 Cost vs. Value report's 16 × 20 ft composite deck, with stairs, a built-in bench and planter and full railing, averaged $25,096 nationally. Always obtain multiple quotes from local contractors.

Source: Cost vs. Value Report 2025 (JLC): Deck Addition, Composite · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to build a deck?
This calculator uses $30 per square foot for pressure-treated wood, $40 for cedar and $50 for composite, split evenly between material and labor, plus $30 per linear foot of railing. A 300 sq ft deck comes to $9,000, $12,000 or $15,000 before railing. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report put a 16 × 20 ft deck with stairs, a built-in bench and planter and full railing at $18,263 in pressure-treated wood and $25,096 in composite on national average.
Is composite decking worth the extra cost?
Composite costs more upfront: $50 per square foot against $30 for pressure-treated wood in this calculator, about two-thirds more, and $25,096 against $18,263 (37% more) for the same deck in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report. In return it needs no staining or sealing, so whether it pays off depends on how often you would otherwise refinish wood and how long you keep the deck.
Do I need a permit to build a deck?
Usually yes. Under the International Residential Code (R105.2), a deck is exempt from a building permit only if it is no larger than 200 square feet, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to the house and not serving the required exit door; local codes can differ. Permits ensure structural safety and compliance with setback requirements.

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