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What a new deck costs in 2026, how much of the bill is boards versus framing, and why two quotes for the same 12 by 12 ft deck can differ by $3,000.
A new deck typically costs $25 to $50 per sq ft, so a 12 by 12 ft deck runs $3,600 to $7,200 with $5,400 the typical price. Composite and hardwood decking cost more than treated pine.
A new deck costs about $25 to $50 per square foot installed, so a 12 by 12 ft deck lands between $3,600 and $7,200. LawnLove puts the national average at $7,320 for a 300 to 400 sq ft deck, with a typical range of $3,920 to $10,540. That price covers footings, framing, joists, decking, railing, stairs and cleanup, but not a pergola or an outdoor kitchen.
Quotes diverge on material, height and how the deck attaches to the house. Pressure-treated pine decking costs $2 to $3.75 per sq ft in material, cedar $3.40 to $6.00 and composite $8.20 to $13.30, and a raised or multi-level frame adds footing and framing work. Ask for the board material, railing type and footing depth in writing before you compare totals.
Installed price at the national range of $25 to $50 per sq ft for a new deck with framing and railing. Sizes run from a 12 by 12 ft deck at 144 sq ft up to a 500 sq ft deck, which is larger than most homes need.
The 144 sq ft row matches the live price for a 12 by 12 ft deck at $3,600 to $7,200. LawnLove lists 400 sq ft at $6,000 to $20,000, which brackets this rate at the top end.
National ranges, installed. Your city can run 10 to 20 percent either way, so check the local pages before you compare quotes.
LawnLove deck cost guide and HomeGuide deck repair cost guide, with live replacement pricing, compared Oct 2026.
Six things move a deck quote more than anything else. Ask every builder to price the same size, material and railing, so the bids describe the same deck.
Boards run $2 to $3.75 per sq ft for pressure-treated pine, $3.40 to $6.00 for cedar, $8.20 to $13.30 for composite and $9 to $16 for ipe. Material is the biggest swing after size.
Most decks are 300 to 400 sq ft. A raised foundation adds deeper footings and more framing, and LawnLove puts raised decks at $3,970 to $10,940. Multi-level designs run $35 to $75 per sq ft.
Railing runs $20 to $250 per linear ft depending on material, and new stairs cost $1,400 to $2,600. Built-in seating and lighting are the upgrades that push a simple deck into a custom project.
Footings must go below the frost line and bear on undisturbed soil. Slopes, rocky ground and a deck that needs excavation add labor, and a ledger bolted to the house needs proper flashing.
Most cities require a building permit for a new deck, and many inspect the footings before framing. Permit fees, plan review and the inspection schedule add both cost and time to the job.
Cleaning and sealing costs $300 to $1,500, and refinishing runs $3.00 to $6.50 per sq ft with sanding and a new coat. New pressure-treated wood has to dry before it takes stain.
LawnLove puts DIY material and rental costs at $2,133 to $6,853 against a $7,320 professional average, which shows how much of a deck is framing, footings, railing and finishing labor. Boards are the visible material line; the frame is where the hours go.
LawnLove deck cost guide and HomeGuide deck repair cost guide, material and repair tables, Oct 2026.
LawnLove puts DIY deck costs at $2,133 to $6,853 against a $7,320 professional average. That gap is real, but a deck is a structural build: footings below frost, a ledger bolted to the house, joist hangers and guardrails at code height. Tool rentals and a failed inspection erase the savings fast.
Cleaning, sealing and replacing a few boards are good DIY jobs. A sealer costs far less than the $300 to $1,500 a pro charges, and a board swap is a weekend project. Stay away from framing, footings and anything that changes the railing height.
Material cost per square foot for the boards only, before framing, railing and labor. The cheapest boards are not always the cheapest deck once you count sealing, repairs and how long the material lasts.
LawnLove deck cost and composite decking guides, material pricing tables, compared Oct 2026.
All three build the same deck. The choice comes down to what you pay for boards, how much upkeep you will do, and how long you want the surface to last.
Wood is the cheapest way onto a deck, composite trades upfront cost for less upkeep, and ipe lasts longest if you will pay for it. Get the board material, railing and footing depth itemized, then check the bid with our quote checker.
A deck build runs in a set order, and every step should appear in the contract. If a bid skips one, that is where the savings came from.
The builder sizes the deck, checks height and guardrail rules, and pulls the permit. Most cities require one for a new deck.
Posts sit on concrete footings below the frost line. Depth and spacing follow the plan, and footing inspection usually happens before framing.
A ledger is bolted to the house with flashing, then beams, joists and hangers build the frame. This step decides whether the deck stays level.
Boards go down with a gap for drainage and airflow. Pine, cedar, composite and ipe each need their own fasteners and spacing.
New stairs cost $1,400 to $2,600, and railing runs $20 to $250 per linear ft. Guard height and baluster spacing have to meet code.
The deck is washed and sealed at $300 to $1,500, once new pressure-treated wood has dried enough to accept a finish.
The final inspection checks framing, guards and stairs, then the builder walks you through care, sealing and the warranty.
Detailed cost guides for each job are being written; the tools above price every one of them today.
Checked against the official source on Oct 28, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Decks work is regulated by permit, and by state license for some trades.
A new deck costs $25 to $50 per sq ft installed, so a 12 by 12 ft deck runs $3,600 to $7,200 with $5,400 typical. LawnLove puts the national average at $7,320, with most homeowners paying $3,920 to $10,540 for a 300 to 400 sq ft deck.
Plan on $25 to $50 per sq ft installed, with the low end for pressure-treated pine and the high end for hardwood or a raised multi-level build. LawnLove cites $15 to $50 per sq ft depending on material and design.
Composite decking runs $8.20 to $13.30 per sq ft for the boards alone, before framing, railing and labor. An installed composite deck costs more than a pine deck of the same size. Composite holds up in direct sun and needs less upkeep than wood.
Board replacement runs $175 to $875 per board, railing repair $150 to $5,000, and stair repairs $150 to $300 per stair. Cleaning and sealing costs $300 to $1,500. A deck with rot in the framing is often cheaper to replace than repair.
Cleaning and sealing costs $300 to $1,500, and refinishing runs $3.00 to $6.50 per sq ft with sanding and a new coat. Staining boards alone is $1.00 to $3.50 per sq ft, with rails and spindles at $5 to $8 per linear ft.
Most cities require a building permit for a new deck, and many inspect the footings before framing. Major repairs may also need a permit depending on local code. Ask the builder who pulls it and who meets the inspector.
Wood boards cost $2 to $6.00 per sq ft and last 10 to 30 years depending on species. Composite costs $8.20 to $13.30 and resists weathering better than most wood. Wood needs sealing, while composite needs only cleaning.
Pressure-treated pine lasts 10 to 15 years, cedar 15 to 20, redwood up to 30, and ipe 50 years or more according to LawnLove. Sealing, cleaning and fixing loose boards are what separate a deck that lasts from one that rots.
Deck replacement runs $30 to $55 per sq ft depending on how much of the structure is rebuilt. New boards on sound framing is the cheap version, while new footings, frame and railing push toward the top of that range.