Cost guide · Updated 2026

How much does deck building cost?

Building a new deck costs $25 to $50 per square foot installed, depending on the material and design. A 12×12 deck costs $3,600 to $7,200, and a 20×20 deck costs $10,000 to $20,000.

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National averages

Deck Building · 2026

New deck, installed
$25–$50
/ sq ft
Deck replacement
$30–$55
/ sq ft
Second-story deck
$50–$60
/ sq ft
Multi-level deck
$60–$100
/ sq ft

Typical, per sq ft

$25–$50

Sourced from published data

Typical price

$25–$50

per sq ft · source: HomeGuide

Price ranges, per sq ft

New deck, installed$25–$50
Deck replacement$30–$55
Second-story deck$50–$60
Multi-level deck$60–$100
Ground-level deck$10–$20
Labor only$11–$22

National averages. Labor costs differ a lot from one area to the next, so use these to sanity-check a quote, then compare two or three local pros for the same job.

Deck building cost calculator

Deck Building prices, national averages
Job	Typical price
12×12 deckHomeGuide	$3,600–$7,200
20×20 deckHomeGuide	$10,000–$20,000
Typical deck (HomeAdvisor)HomeAdvisor	$4,341–$12,526
New deck, installedHomeGuide	$25–$50 per sq ft
Deck replacementHomeGuide	$30–$55 per sq ft
Second-story deckHomeGuide	$50–$60 per sq ft
Multi-level deckHomeGuide	$60–$100 per sq ft
Ground-level deckHomeAdvisor	$10–$20 per sq ft
Labor onlyHomeGuide	$11–$22 per sq ft
RailingHomeGuide	$20–$60 per linear ft

What changes the price

Size in square feet
Wood or composite
Height, stairs and railings
Permits, footings and site prep
Where you live. Local labor costs, demand and travel time move prices up or down from the national average.

How to pay less

Keep it simple. Ground-level, single-level decks cost the least per square foot.
Compare pressure-treated wood and composite. Wood costs less now; composite costs less to maintain.
Build in the off-season, when deck builders often have more availability.
Compare at least two or three quotes for the same scope. Pros on Job Hound never pay for leads, so no lead fee is built into their price.