Cost engine
How much does deck construction cost?
National price ranges for deck construction, the unit pricing contractors quote from, and what the same job costs across local markets.
Model reviewed August 2026
Deck Construction cost
$5,500 – $28,000
Most homeowners pay around $11,500 for deck construction, or $30–$75 per sq ft of deck. Permit fees add $120–$480.
Estimate your job
Run your own numbers before scrolling — the same engine behind the ranges below.
Deck area
320 sq ft
- Decking (linear feet)
- 696 lf
- 16 ft boards needed
- 44 boards
- Joists
- 16 at 16" o.c.
- Footings
- 8
- Installed cost estimate
- $12,240 – $19,440
Estimates only. Local pricing, site conditions and code requirements change the real number.
What homeowners reported paying
Invoice amounts submitted by homeowners nationwide, shown beside the model.
Price breakdown
| Budget scope | $5,500 |
|---|---|
| Typical project | $11,500 |
| Premium / complex | $28,000 |
| per sq ft of deck | $30 – $75 |
| Permit fees | $120 – $480 |
| Timeline | 1-2 weeks of work, 3-6 weeks including permitting |
What drives the price
- Deck square footage and height above grade
- Material: pressure-treated pine, composite or hardwood
- Footings and uplift hardware
- Railings and stairs
- Attachment to the house versus freestanding
Cost by state
The same scope priced through each state's labor, material and code load.
Most expensive states
Least expensive states
Deck Construction runs about 101% more in Hawaii than in Mississippi for an identical scope — almost entirely a labor and code-load difference.
State benchmark table
Low, typical and high deck construction pricing in every state, from the same model as the ranges above.
| State | Low | Typical | High | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $9,400 | $19,700 | $47,900 | +71% |
| California | $7,900 | $16,500 | $40,300 | +44% |
| Alaska | $7,600 | $15,900 | $38,800 | +39% |
| New York | $7,500 | $15,700 | $38,300 | +37% |
| Massachusetts | $7,300 | $15,300 | $37,300 | +33% |
| District of Columbia | $7,200 | $15,100 | $36,800 | +32% |
| New Jersey | $7,100 | $14,800 | $36,100 | +29% |
| Connecticut | $6,900 | $14,400 | $35,000 | +25% |
| Rhode Island | $6,700 | $14,000 | $34,200 | +22% |
| Washington | $6,700 | $14,000 | $34,000 | +21% |
| Oregon | $6,600 | $13,800 | $33,600 | +20% |
| Maryland | $6,400 | $13,400 | $32,700 | +17% |
| Illinois | $6,300 | $13,100 | $31,900 | +14% |
| Colorado | $6,100 | $12,800 | $31,100 | +11% |
| New Hampshire | $6,100 | $12,800 | $31,300 | +12% |
| Florida | $6,000 | $12,600 | $30,700 | +10% |
| Nevada | $6,000 | $12,500 | $30,500 | +9% |
| Vermont | $6,000 | $12,500 | $30,400 | +8% |
| Pennsylvania | $5,900 | $12,400 | $30,300 | +8% |
| Delaware | $5,900 | $12,300 | $30,000 | +7% |
| Maine | $5,900 | $12,300 | $30,000 | +7% |
| Minnesota | $5,900 | $12,300 | $30,000 | +7% |
| Virginia | $5,800 | $12,200 | $29,700 | +6% |
| Arizona | $5,600 | $11,800 | $28,600 | +2% |
| Montana | $5,600 | $11,600 | $28,300 | +1% |
| Wisconsin | $5,500 | $11,500 | $27,900 | 0% |
| Michigan | $5,400 | $11,300 | $27,600 | -2% |
| North Dakota | $5,400 | $11,300 | $27,500 | -2% |
| Utah | $5,400 | $11,300 | $27,600 | -2% |
| Idaho | $5,300 | $11,200 | $27,200 | -3% |
| Louisiana | $5,300 | $11,200 | $27,200 | -3% |
| Texas | $5,300 | $11,200 | $27,200 | -3% |
| Wyoming | $5,400 | $11,200 | $27,400 | -2% |
| Georgia | $5,200 | $11,000 | $26,700 | -5% |
| New Mexico | $5,200 | $10,900 | $26,600 | -5% |
| North Carolina | $5,200 | $10,900 | $26,400 | -6% |
| Ohio | $5,200 | $10,800 | $26,300 | -6% |
| South Carolina | $5,100 | $10,700 | $26,200 | -7% |
| Indiana | $5,100 | $10,600 | $25,900 | -7% |
| Alabama | $5,000 | $10,400 | $25,400 | -9% |
| Iowa | $5,000 | $10,400 | $25,300 | -10% |
| Missouri | $5,000 | $10,400 | $25,400 | -9% |
| South Dakota | $5,000 | $10,400 | $25,200 | -10% |
| Tennessee | $5,000 | $10,400 | $25,400 | -9% |
| Kentucky | $4,900 | $10,300 | $25,100 | -10% |
| Nebraska | $4,900 | $10,300 | $25,000 | -11% |
| Kansas | $4,900 | $10,200 | $24,700 | -12% |
| West Virginia | $4,800 | $10,100 | $24,600 | -12% |
| Arkansas | $4,800 | $10,000 | $24,400 | -13% |
| Oklahoma | $4,800 | $10,000 | $24,400 | -13% |
| Mississippi | $4,700 | $9,800 | $23,800 | -15% |
Cost by city
Same scope, adjusted for local labor, material and permit pricing. Each city also has a permit page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for deck construction?
In most jurisdictions this work is permitted and inspected. Requirements are set locally, so confirm the current application and inspection checklist with your building department before work starts.
How long does deck construction take?
1-2 weeks of work, 3-6 weeks including permitting. Permit review and inspection scheduling are usually the largest source of variation.
What changes the price the most?
The largest cost drivers are deck square footage and height above grade; material: pressure-treated pine, composite or hardwood; footings and uplift hardware.
Sources
Sources & verification
Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.
