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Deck Cost Calculator: Price a New Deck by Size and Material (2026)

By Dan Whitlock, Home Projects Editor · Updated October 2026

Typical 2026 range$3,650 – $7,350

A new deck costs $25 to $50 per square foot in 2026 for pressure-treated pine attached to a one-story home, based on published HomeGuide pricing. That puts a 12×12 deck at $3,600 to $7,200 and a 20×20 deck at $10,000 to $20,000. Three choices move the number more than anything else: the square footage, the decking material (composite runs $40 to $80 per square foot installed), and how far off the ground the deck sits, since elevated, second-story, and multi-level decks need taller posts, more bracing, and railings. Stairs, railing runs, and the permit are separate lines. Enter your deck below.

Deck cost by size

Installed cost for a pressure-treated pine deck attached to a one-story home, from 2026 HomeGuide pricing at $25–$50 per sq ft.

Deck sizeTypical installed cost
10×10 ft (100 sq ft)$2,500–$5,000
12×12 ft (144 sq ft)$3,600–$7,200
12×16 ft (192 sq ft)$4,800–$9,600
14×20 ft (280 sq ft)$7,000–$14,000
16×16 ft (256 sq ft)$6,400–$12,800
20×20 ft (400 sq ft)$10,000–$20,000
24×24 ft (576 sq ft)$14,400–$28,800

Estimate your cost

Installed price per square foot for a complete deck system, including the joist framing underneath.

Length × width. 10×10 = 100, 12×12 = 144, 12×16 = 192, 16×16 = 256, 20×20 = 400.

Factors come from HomeGuide per-sq-ft prices by deck type, relative to a standard attached deck.

Wood or vinyl railing runs $20–$60 per linear foot. Elevated decks need railings under building codes.

Attached decks generally need a permit. Small freestanding decks are exempt in some areas; check with your local building department.

Labor and materials swing with local cost of living.

Estimated deck cost

$3,650 – $7,350

Most homeowners pay around $5,425

Low · $3,650Typical · $5,425High · $7,350

Cost breakdown

  • 144 × ~$37$5,328
  • Permit$100

Planning estimate based on 2026 national price data, not a quote. Get local quotes to confirm.

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What drives your deck cost

  • Size: pricing is close to linear by square foot, so a 20×20 deck costs roughly 2.8 times a 12×12, not double.
  • Material: pressure-treated pine is the cheapest at $25–$50 per sq ft installed. Cedar and redwood sit slightly above it; composite runs $40–$80 and Trex specifically $45–$70. Aluminum decking is in a different bracket at $100–$125.
  • Height and type: a ground-level platform runs $25–$30 per sq ft, an elevated deck $30–$50, a second-story deck $50–$60, and a multi-level deck $60–$100, according to HomeGuide.
  • Labor: about $11–$22 of every square foot is labor. BLS puts the national median wage for carpenters below; crews also bill for footings and overhead.
  • Lumber prices: the federal producer price index for softwood lumber (below) moves with the market, and quotes written months apart can differ for that reason alone.
  • Railings and stairs: railing adds $20–$60 per linear foot and a set of stairs $1,400–$2,600, so a raised deck with a long railing run can add thousands to the per-foot price.
  • Permit and inspection: typically $50–$150, plus the time for inspections of footings and framing.

Ready for real numbers?

A calculator gets you the fair range. Local quotes confirm it for your exact home. Comparing 2–3 written quotes from licensed local pros is the single best way to avoid overpaying: ask each for the same scope in writing so the numbers are comparable. The quote button sits with your estimate at the top of this page.

Ways to save

  • Keep it low. A ground-level platform avoids most of the railing and stair cost, and HomeGuide notes railings become optional below roughly 30 to 36 inches.
  • Choose the size before the material. Dropping from 16×16 to 14×16 saves the same 32 sq ft of framing, footings, and decking whatever you build it from.
  • Use pressure-treated framing under composite boards. Most composite decks already do this, and the hidden structure is where premium wood buys you nothing.
  • Ask each builder to itemize framing, decking, railing, stairs, and permit, so you can compare like for like and see what each change actually costs.

Hire it out, or do it yourself?

DIY-able for some: know your limits

A freestanding, ground-level platform is a realistic project for a confident DIYer: it needs no ledger board fastened to the house, no railing in most cases, and HomeGuide notes many areas do not require a permit for a small floating deck under about 200 sq ft. Labor is roughly $11 to $22 of each square foot, so the savings are real.

Attached and elevated decks are a different job. The ledger connection to the house, footing depth, beam spans, and guardrail requirements are all set by the building code and checked by an inspector. That structural work is the part worth hiring out, even if you stain or finish the deck yourself.

Helpful products

Taking the DIY route, or doing part of the job yourself? These are the product categories most people buy for this project. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, and it never changes your price. Read our full affiliate disclosure.

Deck screws →Joist hangers →Deck stain and sealer →Composite deck boards →Post hole diggers →

Frequently asked questions

What is the average cost for a 20x20 deck?

A 20×20 deck (400 sq ft) costs $10,000 to $20,000 in pressure-treated pine attached to a one-story home, based on 2026 HomeGuide pricing of $25 to $50 per square foot. The same deck in composite runs closer to $16,000 to $32,000 at $40 to $80 per square foot, before stairs and railing.

How much would a 12x12 deck cost?

A 12×12 deck (144 sq ft) costs about $3,600 to $7,200 installed in pressure-treated pine. Add $1,400 to $2,600 for a set of stairs and $20 to $60 per linear foot of railing if the deck sits high enough to need one.

How much does a 14x20 deck cost?

A 14×20 deck (280 sq ft) costs about $7,000 to $14,000 in pressure-treated pine. Elevated or second-story versions cost more per square foot because they need taller posts and required railings.

What is the 3-4-5 rule for decks?

It is a way to check that the deck frame is square. Measure 3 feet along one side from a corner and 4 feet along the adjoining side; if the diagonal between those two marks is exactly 5 feet, the corner is a true 90 degrees. Larger multiples such as 6-8-10 or 9-12-15 give a more accurate check on a big frame.

Is composite decking worth the extra cost?

Composite costs more up front, $40 to $80 per square foot installed versus $25 to $50 for pressure-treated pine, but does not need the yearly staining and sealing that wood decks do. Whether that trade pays off depends on how long you plan to stay and how much maintenance you are willing to do.

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Data behind this estimate

A deck quote is mostly lumber and carpentry labor. The two federal series below track the producer price of softwood lumber, which covers the pressure-treated framing under almost every deck, and the national pay of carpenters.

  • Softwood lumber: producer price index 294.9 in August 2026 (preliminary)

    Up 11.8% from August 2025 (263.7). Math: (294.9 − 263.7) ÷ 263.7.

    Producer prices track what mills receive, so they lead retail and contractor prices rather than matching them. Composite decking is not in this index, but the framing under it usually is.

    Series WPU0811: PPI Commodity data for Lumber and wood products-Softwood lumber, not seasonally adjusted. Index base 1982 = 100.

  • Carpenters (SOC 47-2031), national hourly median wage: $29.12 per hour, May 2025

    Half of carpenters nationally earned more than this and half earned less. A builder’s rate per square foot also covers overhead, insurance, and profit.

    Series OEUN000000000000047203108, from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates.

Data retrieved October 5, 2026 from the BLS public data API. These are national figures shown for context. They are not inputs to the calculator above, whose ranges come from the cost guides listed under Sources.

This block republishes public data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Records can lag or contain errors; verify with the official source before making decisions. Not affiliated with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Official sources: BLS Producer Price Index (PPI), BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) tables.

Spot an error? Email a correction.

Sources

Price ranges cross-referenced against these 2026 cost guides and contractor databases:

A new deck often comes with a question about the yard around it, and a fence is the project homeowners most often price next.

Fence Installation cost from $4,000 →

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