Your deck
Your estimate
Includes footings, framing, decking, fasteners, and permit-standard construction.
How much does a deck cost in 2026?
A professionally built deck costs $25 to $60 per square foot in mid-2026 depending on material: pressure-treated wood at $25–$40, cedar at $30–$45, composite at $40–$60, and PVC at $45–$70. That puts the most common build — a 16×12 pressure-treated deck with railing and stairs — at roughly $5,500–$8,500, and the same deck in composite at $8,500–$12,500. The framing underneath is pressure-treated lumber regardless of what you walk on, which is why the decking surface choice drives only about a third of the total.
Deck cost by size and material (installed, with rail + stairs)
| Deck size | Sq ft | PT wood | Cedar | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 12 | 144 | $4,300 – $6,500 | $5,000 – $7,400 | $6,500 – $9,600 |
| 16 × 12 | 192 | $5,500 – $8,500 | $6,400 – $9,600 | $8,500 – $12,500 |
| 20 × 16 | 320 | $8,700 – $13,400 | $10,200 – $15,200 | $13,600 – $19,800 |
| 24 × 14 | 336 | $9,100 – $14,000 | $10,700 – $15,900 | $14,200 – $20,700 |
Where deck money goes
The 5 price levers
Height: elevated decks need longer posts, bracing, and staged work — +15–25% over ground-level. Ground-level decks under 30″ often skip railing entirely, saving $1,500–$3,000. Railing choice: matching wood/composite rail runs $50–$90 per linear foot; upgrading to aluminum or cable adds $30–$80 more per foot but transforms the look. Stairs: each run adds $500–$1,500 — steps are the most labor-dense part of any deck. Footings: frost-line depth (30–48″ north) means more concrete and dig time than southern builds — our sonotube calculator prices footings exactly. Permits: nearly all attached decks need one ($100–$500); unpermitted decks bite at sale time.
DIY a deck? The honest answer
Decks are the highest-savings DIY of any major project — materials run 40–50% of built cost, so a 16×12 PT deck DIY saves $3,000–$4,500. They’re also the DIY where mistakes matter most: the ledger connection (deck-to-house) is the #1 cause of deck collapses, and footing depth/joist spans are code items an inspector will check. Realistic middle path: hire a pro for footings + framing (the structural half), then lay decking and build railing yourself — saves ~25–30% with none of the structural risk.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 12×16 deck cost?
Is composite worth the extra cost?
Do I need a permit to build a deck?
How long does a deck take to build?
What adds the most value: bigger deck or better material?
Wood Deck cost by state
Prices are adjusted for each state’s construction wages, permit costs, and local code requirements.
Composite Deck cost by state
Prices are adjusted for each state’s construction wages, permit costs, and local code requirements.