Deck research
The benchmarks worth knowing: deck builds average about $14,000 nationally and range $9,000 to $20,000, or $15 to $55 per square foot installed. Labor alone is $10 to $35 per square foot. Wood deck additions recoup roughly 65.8% of cost at resale and composite about 63%. Repair averages $1,500 against $6,000 to $18,600 to replace a 300 square foot deck.
Cost benchmarks by material, installed: pressure-treated pine $15-$25 per square foot, vinyl/PVC $17-$33, cedar $19-$29, metal $21-$35, redwood $27-$38, composite $28-$40, ipe $30-$55, mahogany $35-$50. By deck type: platform $10-$30, raised $25-$50, two-story $30-$60, multi-level $30-$75, covered $40-$100.
Labor share. At $10 to $35 per square foot against total installed costs of $15 to $55, labor is a very large share of a deck's price - larger than most homeowners expect. That's why bids vary so much between markets and why a lumberyard material total tells you almost nothing about the finished price.
Lifespan benchmarks. Wood decks last at least 10 to 15 years with regular care; composite is generally expected to last around 20. Wood carries a recurring $2 to $5 per square foot restaining cost every two to three years, which is the number to carry into any total-cost-of-ownership comparison.
Repair benchmarks. National average repair $1,500, range $500 to $3,000, or $10 to $55 per square foot. Joists $100 to $300 each, railing $25 to $100 per linear foot, stairs $15 to $50 per step. Rot $300 to $5,000, sagging $750 to $10,000, termite damage $500 to $10,000.
Choosing decks what the data says
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- Use benchmarks to spot outliers, not to negotiate Local labor at $10 to $35 per square foot is the dominant variable and national data can't capture your market.
- Always convert to per-square-foot It's the only way to compare a 144 square foot quote to a 320 square foot one.
- Include maintenance in any material comparison Wood's $2 to $5 per square foot every two to three years is the whole composite argument.
- Treat ROI as a ceiling 65.8% for wood and 63% for composite are averages. Overbuilt decks do worse, not better.
- Benchmark repair against replacement early Repair averaging $1,500 versus replacement at $6,000 to $18,600 for 300 square feet is the frame for every repair decision.
All decks research
Deck Cost Index
Deck ROI Index
Composite Adoption Report
Regional Deck Price Benchmarks
Climate Durability Deck Report
Seasonal Deck Construction Report
Deck Labor Cost Index
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- Fixr - Cost to Build a Deck · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Fixr - Deck Repair Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Fixr - Deck Staining Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26
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