Deck Cost Calculator

Deck length (along the house)

Deck width (out from the house)

Deck height above grade

Over 30 in a guard rail is required by code.

Attached to the house?

Railing

Stair steps

About one step per 7½ in of height; 0 for none.

Per step, installed ($)

Stringers, treads, risers and labour, per step of width.

Old deck to remove?

Your local prices. The defaults below are placeholders that show the arithmetic — replace them with lumber yard prices and two or three itemised bids. Decking alone spans a three-fold range from pressure-treated pine to capped composite, and that is only a quarter of the bill.

Decking boards ($ per sq ft of deck)

Pressure-treated 5/4 boards as the placeholder. Waste is added below.

Framing lumber and hardware ($ per sq ft)

Treated joists, beams, posts, ledger, hangers, bolts.

Fasteners ($ per sq ft)

Screws, or hidden clips for composite.

Per footing ($)

Concrete, form tube, digging. Frost-depth footings cost more.

Railing materials ($ per linear ft)

Railing labour ($ per linear ft)

Framing and decking labour ($ per sq ft)

Ground-level rate; the height factor scales it.

Decking waste (%)

Permit and inspections ($)

Most jurisdictions require one; enter the fee.

Contingency (%)

Frost depth, ledger repairs, grade problems.