A ground-level pressure-treated deck and a second-story composite deck with stairs can have the same square footage and very different prices. Start with a takeoff: footings, framing, decking, railings, stairs. Then crew days. Then check the square foot number.
- Do a takeoff, then price railing and stairs by the foot and by the step, not inside the square foot number.
- Fixr lists most decks at $9,000 to $20,000, about $14,000 for a 320 square foot composite deck with railings.
- Installed, decks run $15 to $55 a square foot in Fixr's guide, with pressure-treated wood at $15 to $25.
- Take a deposit at signing. Lumber and composite get ordered before you start.
Setting your labor rate
Start with the wage. The closest group the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes is carpenters. In its May 2025 wage survey, that group's national mean wage was $31.55 an hour and the median was $29.12 (BLS OEWS 47-2031).
Add your labor burden on top: payroll taxes, workers' comp and any paid time off. If burden in your state comes to 22% of wages, a $31 an hour tech costs you $37.82 an hour. That loaded number is what goes into the job cost.
Published deck prices
| Deck | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New deck, typical | $9,000 to $20,000 | Fixr |
| 320 sq ft composite with railings | About $14,000 | Fixr |
| 100 sq ft pressure-treated pine | About $1,500 | Fixr |
| 500 sq ft ipe with outdoor kitchen and roof | About $40,000 | Fixr |
| Per sq ft, installed | $15 to $55 | Fixr |
| Pressure-treated wood, installed | $15 to $25 a sq ft | Fixr |
A worked example: a 16 by 20 foot composite deck
Every input is an assumption for the example.
- Size: 16 x 20 feet, 320 square feet, about 3 feet off the ground, 48 feet of railing, one short stair.
- Materials: $12 a square foot for composite decking, framing, hardware and footings.
- Crew: two carpenters, four days of nine hours, at $37.82 an hour loaded.
- Overhead 20% of the price and profit 15%.
- Composite decking, framing lumber, hardware and footings: 320 sq ft x $12 = $3,840
- Railing: 48 feet x $35 = $1,680
- Labor: 2 people x 4 days x 9 hours x $37.82 = $2,723.04
- Permit: $250
- Dumpster and delivery: $300
- Drive: 5 trips x 25 miles x $0.76 = $95
- Direct cost: $3,840 + $1,680 + $2,723.04 + $250 + $300 + $95 = $8,888.04
- Overhead plus profit: 20% + 15% = 35% of the price
- Price: $8,888.04 / (1 - 0.35) = $8,888.04 / 0.65 = $13,674
Check it: 35% of $13,674 is about $4,786, and $13,674 minus $4,786 is about $8,888, the direct cost of $8,888.04. The profit and overhead are inside the price, not added on top of a cost you guessed.
That is about $42.73 a square foot. Fixr's example of a 320 square foot composite deck with railings is about $14,000, and its installed range is $15 to $55 a square foot, so this lands in the right place.
Good, better, best for a deck
- Good: pressure-treated framing and decking with wood railing.
- Better: composite decking with composite railing, the $13,674 job above.
- Best: composite with aluminum or cable railing, lighting and a wider stair.
Send them with Koira's estimates. The customer signs and pays the deposit on the same page, and pay over time on the pay page helps with the bigger option. Bill the rest in stages with progress invoices.
One deck sells the next
Neighbors see a new deck going up. Neighbor postcards tell the homes nearby, and the reviews engine asks for a review an hour after the final invoice is paid.
Common deck pricing mistakes
- Railings inside the square foot price. A deck with 60 feet of railing is a different job from one with 20.
- Height ignored. Taller decks need bigger footings, posts and bracing.
- No permit time. Plans, permit and inspections take hours.
- Lumber priced last month. Recheck material prices before you send the quote.
Questions contractors ask
How much should I charge per square foot to build a deck?
Build it from your takeoff and crew days. Fixr lists $15 to $55 a square foot installed, depending on material.
What does a composite deck cost?
Fixr's example of a 320 square foot composite deck with railings is about $14,000.
How much is a pressure-treated deck?
Fixr lists pressure-treated wood decks at $15 to $25 a square foot installed.
How much deposit should I take on a deck?
Enough to cover the materials you order. Koira applies your deposit rule and collects it at signing.
