What ledger board means
A ledger board is the board bolted to the side of a house that carries one end of a deck's joists.
Also called deck ledger.
Where it matters on a deck job
Ledger failures cause the worst deck collapses, and rot behind an unflashed ledger is common. Flash it, bolt it to the rim joist by the code table, and never hang it from brick veneer.
What the model code says
- Deck ledgers are at least 2 by 8 nominal, treated or naturally durable lumber of No. 2 grade or better. (IRC 2021, Chapter 5)
- Deck ledgers may not support concentrated loads from beams or girders, and may not be supported on stone or masonry veneer. (IRC 2021, Chapter 5)
Check which code edition your building department enforces for ledger board before you quote.
What it costs
For ledger board, the closest koira.ai price is the deck building cost guide, near $11,000 for a typical job and $6,650 to $16,500 for most. The guide shows its sources and what moves the price. The deck cost calculator prices a job line by line.
Work it out
- Free calculator: Deck cost calculator
- Cost guide: Deck building cost
- Tools, templates and guides: Free deck resources
Sources: 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 5, Floors (ICC). Checked October 9, 2026.