A deck quote swings by thousands of dollars depending on one decision — the decking material — so the number you give has to be tied to what the homeowner actually wants. Here's how to price a deck build in 2026 so your number is fast, defensible, and profitable.
Price per square foot — but the material sets the number
Start with the deck's footprint in square feet, then let the material drive the rate. Pressure-treated pine is the budget build; composite costs more but sells itself on low maintenance; aluminum is premium.
- Overall: about $25–$50 per square foot for a new deck ($30–$55 for a replacement).
- Pressure-treated pine: roughly $25–$50 per sq ft.
- Composite: roughly $40–$80 per sq ft.
- Aluminum: roughly $100–$125 per sq ft.
- Labor alone: about $11–$22 per sq ft.
What a deck price has to cover
- Materials — decking, joists, beams, posts, footings, fasteners, railing, and stairs.
- Labor — framing, decking, railing, and finish work.
- Demo & haul — tearing out and removing an old deck (on replacements).
- Overhead & margin — permits, insurance, and your profit on top.
Count the things that add up fast
Height off grade, stairs, railing style, footings, permits, and how the ledger ties to the house all move the price hard. A ground-level rectangle is cheap; the same square footage four feet up with a wraparound stair and a fancy railing is a different job. For reference, a 12'×12' deck commonly runs $3,600–$7,200 and a 20'×20' runs $10,000–$20,000.
Offer Good / Better / Best
Give three options — pressure-treated pine (Good), composite decking (Better), and premium composite or aluminum with built-in seating or lighting (Best). Most homeowners step up to composite once they hear “no staining every year.”
Quote it in the backyard, before you leave
QuoteCrew is built for this. You walk the yard, say the job out loud (“16 by 20 composite deck, 4 feet off grade, one set of stairs, black aluminum railing”), and it builds an itemized, Good/Better/Best quote from your saved rates and texts the homeowner a link they can accept on the spot — before you pull out of the driveway. On your phone, in English or Spanish.
You can price a deck perfectly at your desk. You just can't do it fast enough, standing in the backyard while the homeowner is picturing their summer — and that speed is what closes it.
Ranges above are 2026 U.S. national averages and vary by region, material, and site conditions; always price from your own local costs.