Deck building cost in 2026 depends far more on what's under the boards and around the edges than on the boards themselves. Footings, framing, the ledger connection, railing and stairs are where bids spread apart. HomeAdvisor's deck cost guide, updated June 17, 2026, puts the national average at $8,321, with a typical range of $4,338 to $12,653. That average is pulled down by small and ground-level decks. Larger elevated decks with railing and stairs land well above it, as the size table below shows.
Editor's note, October 18, 2026: an earlier version of this article gave installed prices of $30 to $75 per square foot, a $52 per square foot headline figure, market-share percentages for pressure-treated and composite decking, linear-foot board prices, maintenance-cost totals, footing and hardware costs, and a claim attributed to the CPSC about deck collapses. None of those figures had a source, and the article included first-person claims about the author's own jobs. They have been removed. The figures below come from dated published cost guides, federal price data and the code text, each named where it is used.
What Published Cost Guides Say
There is no government survey of deck prices. The consumer cost guides are the most common public reference, and they disagree with each other, partly because they are updated at different times and define "installed" differently. Use them as a sanity check on bids, not as a bid.
HomeAdvisor (updated June 17, 2026):
| Item | HomeAdvisor figure |
|---|---|
| National average | $8,321 |
| Typical range | $4,338 to $12,653 |
| Labor | $15 to $35 per sq. ft. |
| Additional framing labor | $9 to $12 per sq. ft. |
| Demolition and removal of an old deck | $5 to $15 per sq. ft. |
| Railings | $35 to $210 per linear foot |
| Deck permit | $230 to $500 |
HomeAdvisor's cost by size, which is the more useful view for a full build:
| Deck size | Square feet | HomeAdvisor range |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 | 100 | $4,000 to $6,000 |
| 12 x 12 | 144 | $5,760 to $8,640 |
| 12 x 20 | 240 | $9,600 to $14,400 |
| 20 x 20 | 400 | $16,000 to $24,000 |
Those size ranges work out to $40 to $60 per square foot, which is higher than the guide's own average would suggest. The national average reflects a mix of project sizes, including small platforms.
HomeAdvisor also prices by deck type: ground-level decks at $10 to $20 per square foot, floating decks at $20 to $60, second-story decks at $40 to $50, and multi-level decks at $30 to $75.
Fixr's deck cost guide is older (last updated January 11, 2023) but breaks out installed cost by material, which HomeAdvisor does not. Fixr gave a national range of $9,000 to $20,000 and a typical cost of $14,000 for a 320-square-foot composite deck with railings. Because those figures are from early 2023 and lumber and metal prices have moved since, read them as relative differences between materials, not current prices.
Cost by Decking Material
Material choice moves the surface price and the long-term maintenance, but the framing below is usually pressure-treated lumber no matter what goes on top.
| Material | Materials only, per sq. ft. (HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026) | Installed, per sq. ft. (Fixr, Jan 2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood | $2 to $5 | $15 to $25 |
| Cedar | $3 to $7 | $19 to $29 |
| Redwood | $5 to $35 | $27 to $38 |
| Composite | $12 to $22 (fiberglass and composite) | $28 to $40 |
| PVC | not listed | $17 to $33 |
| Ipe | $10 to $20 | $30 to $55 |
| Mahogany | $8 to $11 | $35 to $50 |
| Aluminum | $15 to $20 | $25 to $30 |
HomeAdvisor separately lists Trex boards at $5 to $10 per square foot for the boards alone.
Pressure-treated pine is the low-cost option and the usual framing material under every other surface. It needs periodic cleaning and sealing, and the surface wears faster than capped composite or PVC.
Cedar and redwood are naturally decay-resistant softwoods that cost more than treated pine and need regular finish maintenance to hold their color. Redwood pricing is strongly regional, which is why HomeAdvisor's range for it is so wide.
Capped composite and PVC cost more up front and are sold on low maintenance. Manufacturer warranties on fade and stain are the place to compare products; read the warranty terms, not the brochure.
Ipe and other tropical hardwoods are very dense. Installers typically pre-drill fasteners and use hidden clip systems, which adds labor. Get the installer's experience with the specific species in writing before you sign.
Aluminum decking is a niche product, often used on rooftop decks or where noncombustible materials are wanted.
What Lumber Prices Are Doing in 2026
Because the frame is almost always treated lumber, framing material cost tracks wood prices even on a composite deck. The Bureau of Labor Statistics producer price index for treated wood (FRED series WPU087101) was 277.6 in September 2026, up 3.5% from September 2025. The softwood lumber index (WPU0811) rose more, 14.2% over the same period. Those are index points, not dollar prices, but they show that treated lumber has risen much less than untreated framing lumber this year. Our lumber prices guide covers futures, the Canadian duty cut announced October 14, 2026, and what to ask your yard.
If you're comparing two bids several months apart, a change in lumber prices can explain some of the difference on a large deck, but on most residential decks labor, railing and stairs move the total more than the frame lumber does.
What's Under the Boards
Footings
Footings are where frost depth and soil show up in the price. The 2021 International Residential Code, as adopted in Washington and reproduced in Island County, Wash.'s deck handout, requires deck footings to sit at least 12 inches below undisturbed ground (section R507.3.2). Where a deck is attached to a frost-protected structure, footings must also be protected from frost, most commonly by extending below the local frost line (R507.3.3). Your building department sets the frost depth, and it varies widely by region, so the same deck needs much deeper holes in a northern climate than in the South.
That handout also reproduces a narrow exception: a freestanding deck doesn't need footings if its joists bear directly on precast concrete pier blocks at grade, the deck is 200 square feet or less, and the walking surface is no more than 20 inches above grade within 36 inches of the edge (R507.3, exception 2). Many local codes differ from the model code, so confirm with your jurisdiction.
Fixr's 2023 guide priced a poured concrete footer at $200 to $350 each installed and screw piles at $250 to $400, with an overall range of $50 to $500 per post depending on the system. Size your concrete with the concrete calculator before ordering.
Framing and hardware
HomeAdvisor lists framing labor at an additional $9 to $12 per square foot. Hardware is a real line item, not a rounding error. Under the IRC's deck fastener table (Table R507.2.3 in the same code text), metal connectors must be G185 zinc-coated galvanized steel, post hot-dip galvanized, or stainless, and a footnote requires stainless steel for fasteners and connectors exposed to salt water or within 300 feet of a saltwater shoreline. On a coastal job, that requirement drives hardware cost up. Ask every bidder which hardware coating they're carrying.
The ledger
The ledger is the board fastened to the house that carries the deck's load at that edge. The code text sets minimums: a ledger of at least 2x8 nominal treated or naturally durable lumber, fastened with hot-dipped galvanized or stainless bolts or lag screws in a specified pattern (R507.9.1.1 and R507.9.1.3), with corrosion-resistant flashing (R507.2.4). The code also says deck ledgers "shall not be supported on stone or masonry veneer." On a house with stone or brick veneer, that usually means a freestanding deck with its own beam and footings along the house side.
The code also requires lateral load connections tying the deck back to the house, either two hold-down devices rated at 1,500 pounds or four rated at 750 pounds (R507.9.2), unless the deck is no more than 30 inches above grade and left unattached. A bid that doesn't mention flashing or lateral connectors is missing scope.
Check a contractor's takeoff with the deck calculator and the framing package with the lumber calculator.
Railings, Stairs and Permits
Railings
Railing is the line most homeowners underestimate. HomeAdvisor puts railings at $35 to $210 per linear foot. Fixr's 2023 installed figures by type were wood $30 to $50 per linear foot, metal $45 to $85, composite $80 to $165, cable $115 to $175, and glass $140 to $210.
Whether you need a guard at all is set by height. Under IRC section R312.1.1, guards are required on open-sided walking surfaces more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below at any point within 36 inches horizontally of the edge. Required guards must be at least 36 inches high (R312.1.2), and openings can't pass a 4-inch sphere (R312.1.3). Some jurisdictions amend these requirements, so check locally.
To estimate, measure every open edge that isn't against the house. A 16x20 deck attached along a 20-foot side has 16 + 20 + 16 = 52 feet of open edge before you subtract the stair opening. At HomeAdvisor's range, that is roughly $1,800 to $10,900 of railing, which shows how much the railing choice alone can swing a bid.
Stairs
HomeAdvisor lists stairs at $25 to $50 per stair, prefabricated wooden stringers for 8 to 16 steps at $160 to $560, custom wooden stairs at $280 to $800, and metal stairs at $1,000 to $3,000. Fixr's 2023 guide gave $75 to $450 per stair with labor included, depending on type. A tall deck needs more risers, a landing pad at the bottom, and handrails, so stairs grow with deck height.
Permits
HomeAdvisor puts deck permit fees at $230 to $500; Fixr's 2023 range was $100 to $500. Fees and the size and height thresholds that trigger a permit are set locally. Most attached decks and any deck high enough to need a guard will need one. Inspections usually cover footing holes before concrete and framing before decking. An unpermitted deck can surface during a sale or an insurance claim, and a footing inspection you skipped can't be done after the fact without digging.
If you're pricing several outdoor projects, deck costs behave a lot like fence installation costs in 2026: both are post-and-footing work where access, soil and frost depth drive more of the price than the visible material does.
How to Read Deck Bids
Bids spread apart in a few predictable places:
- Footing count, diameter and depth. Ask each bidder how many footings, how deep, and on what system (poured, pier, helical).
- Hardware coating. G185 or hot-dip galvanized versus stainless, especially near salt water.
- Ledger detail. Bolts or lags and their pattern, flashing, and lateral load connectors, or a freestanding frame with its own beam.
- Railing type and linear footage.
- Stair count, landing pad and handrails.
- Demolition and haul-off of an old deck, which HomeAdvisor puts at $5 to $15 per square foot.
Get those items in writing from every bidder. Once they match, the remaining difference is mostly labor rate and overhead, and you can compare like for like.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build a deck in 2026?
HomeAdvisor's guide, updated June 17, 2026, puts the national average at $8,321 with a typical range of $4,338 to $12,653. Its size-based ranges run from $4,000 to $6,000 for a 10x10 deck to $16,000 to $24,000 for a 20x20 deck. Elevation, railing, stairs and material move a specific project up or down.
How much does a 16x20 deck cost?
Neither HomeAdvisor nor Fixr lists a current 16x20 price. HomeAdvisor's size table works out to $40 to $60 per square foot, which would put a 320-square-foot deck around $12,800 to $19,200, but that is our arithmetic, not a published figure. Fixr's January 2023 guide gave $14,000 as a typical cost for a 320-square-foot composite deck with railings. Get local bids.
Is composite decking more expensive than pressure-treated?
Yes, up front. HomeAdvisor lists pressure-treated decking materials at $2 to $5 per square foot and fiberglass and composite at $12 to $22. Composite is sold on lower maintenance, so compare the finish and sealing cost you'd carry with wood against the higher purchase price, and read the composite warranty terms.
When does a deck need a railing?
Under IRC section R312.1.1, a guard is required where the walking surface is more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below at any point within 36 inches horizontally of the edge. Required guards must be at least 36 inches high, and openings can't pass a 4-inch sphere. Local amendments can change these rules.
Do I need a permit to build a deck?
Usually, if the deck is attached to the house or high enough to need a guard. Thresholds are set locally, so call your building department. HomeAdvisor puts permit fees at $230 to $500.
Can a deck be attached to a brick or stone house?
Not through the veneer. The IRC deck provisions say deck ledgers shall not be supported on stone or masonry veneer. The usual solution is a freestanding deck with its own beam and footings along the house side, which adds framing and footing cost.
Why have lumber prices affected my deck quote?
The frame is usually pressure-treated lumber. The BLS treated wood price index rose 3.5% between September 2025 and September 2026, much less than the 14.2% rise in the softwood lumber index. On most decks, labor, railing and stairs move the total more than frame lumber.
