Deck Cost Calculator 2027: Wood, Composite & PVC Prices
A professionally built deck runs about $38.25 to $65.75 per square foot, so a plain 10×12 costs roughly $4,590 to $5,830 in treated pine or $6,080 to $7,730 in Trex. This calculator prices yours, from framing and boards to railings, stairs and labor, at rates for where you live.
Deck building cost in Columbus, OH
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How to Use the Deck Cost Calculator
Six fields set the price. Labor rates follow the place shown in the calculator’s heading, so use the “change” link there if it’s wrong.
- Deck size. Length times width in square feet (a 12×16 deck is 192). Change it later and watch the total move.
- Railing posts. Each post adds roughly $50, so count them honestly. Add up every edge that doesn’t touch the house, divide by 6 and add one. A 12×30 deck attached along its long side has 54 feet of open edge: nine sections, 10 posts. The calculator opens at 8 posts on 240 sq ft, so set both numbers to match your deck. Six feet is the standard rail section and the widest spacing you should use. Closer works but eats material; wider is a safety problem.
- Project type. “Build New Deck” prices everything from the footings up (the concrete cost calculator can price the footings on their own). “Replace Boards & Railings” is for a solid frame that only needs a new surface and rails. “Rebuild Deck & Frame” is for rotted joists or beams: everything above the footings is replaced, and the footings stay.
- Decking material. Treated wood is the cheapest by a wide margin. Cedar or redwood comes next, then composite (“No Name Composite” is the store-brand option), with PVC at the top.
- Stairs. “Yes” adds a standard flight for a 6 ft rise, about $1,830. Each foot of rise more or less moves that by about $300, so adjust by hand if your deck sits higher or lower.
- Railing type. Treated wood is the cheapest, vinyl or composite sits in the middle, and steel cable costs the most.
How Much Does a New Deck Cost?
These are the calculator’s figures for a plain 10×12 deck (120 square feet) at national-average labor rates, with no stairs. The low end assumes wood railings; the high end assumes vinyl or composite railings.
| Decking type | 10×12 deck, installed | Per sq ft, installed |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine | $4,590 – $5,830 | $38.25 – $48.58 |
| Cedar or redwood | $5,100 – $6,480 | $42.50 – $54 |
| Store-brand composite | $5,620 – $7,140 | $46.83 – $59.50 |
| Trex or comparable composite | $6,080 – $7,730 | $50.67 – $64.42 |
| AZEK or other PVC | $6,210 – $7,890 | $51.75 – $65.75 |
That works out to roughly $38.25 to $65.75 per square foot for boards, framing, posts, railings and labor. Stairs, cable railings and high-cost areas like the Pacific coast push you past the top of that range.
What the Estimate Leaves Out
Materials take the bigger share of the price, and that share grows as you move from treated pine to composite or PVC. Three costs sit outside the calculator entirely.
Site prep. Sloped or uneven ground has to be graded first. On a 10×12 footprint that often runs $1,150 to $1,730. A tree in the way? Check the tree removal cost calculator too.
The permit. Fees vary by town and can top $1,000 in pricier ones. Ask whether it’s in the bid. Plenty of contractors leave it out so their number looks lower.
Design. The calculator assumes a single-level rectangle with railings. Multiple levels, curves or angled corners can easily double the price for the same footage.
A showpiece deck on a modest house rarely pays you back at resale, so build what you’ll actually use. When bids come in, check each one for the permit, grading and stairs before you compare totals, then ask three or four local deck builders to quote the same plan.
Wood, Composite or PVC?
Price is only part of the choice. Pick a board color that works with your siding and trim, since a good match helps curb appeal if you might sell. Wood purists have a point, but current composites have convincing grain and modern grays that suit newer homes.
Lifespan and upkeep
Treated pine wears out first, which is part of why it’s cheap. Cedar and ipe last longer, but only if you wash the boards every year and reseal or restain every two to three, and even then rot and mold win eventually. Skip the upkeep and wood grays, splits and starts drinking water.
Composite like Trex runs 25 to 30 years, roughly double most wood, and needs nothing more than a wash now and then. PVC can top 40 years, and some brands back it with a lifetime warranty.
DIY or hire out?
Building it yourself? Go with wood. It’s sold everywhere, cuts with ordinary tools and forgives mistakes. Composite and PVC need specific fasteners and spacing to keep the warranty valid, so most people hire those jobs out.
Deck Cost FAQ
What’s the cheapest deck to build?
Pressure-treated lumber, single level, simple rectangle, low enough to skip stairs.
How much does a 12×16 deck cost?
That’s 192 square feet. At national-average rates the calculator puts it at roughly $7,110 to $12,720. Treated pine with wood rails sits near the low end, PVC with composite rails near the top, and stairs come on top of that.
Do I need a permit for a deck?
In most towns, yes, especially for a deck attached to the house or raised off the ground. Call your building department before you buy lumber.
Is composite worth it?
If you’re staying more than a decade, usually yes: no staining, and about twice the life of treated pine. On a 10×12 deck, Trex costs roughly $1,490 to $1,900 more than treated pine at the start. To see the gap for your own deck, run your size once with Pressure Treated and again with TREX Composite.
Planning more outdoor work? Price the footings or a patio slab with the concrete calculator, a fresh coat on the house with the exterior painting calculator, and bigger plans with the home remodel calculator.
