DeckHelm

deck cost calculator · 1,600/mo searches

Deck Cost Calculator: What Will My Deck Cost?

Deck cost scales with size, material and whether you DIY or hire out. Enter your deck dimensions and species for a realistic build-cost range, plus a full code-compliant framing plan so your estimate is grounded in real lumber.

Estimated cost
$2,660–$7,865
192 ft² · $13.9–41/ft²
Joists
2x10
16" o.c., spans 14' max
Beam
2 × 2x8
posts ≤ 6'2" apart
Code-compliant framing plan
HOUSE16 ft wide (13 × 2x10 joists) →beam: 2 × 2x8 · 4 posts @ 5'4" o.c.12 ft projection
Joists13 × 2x10156 lin ft
Beam2 × 2x8IRC R507.5
Support posts4 × 6x65'4" apart
Footing size16″ dia.1.07 ft² · 1600 lb/post
Footing depth48″below grade (frost line)
Concrete38 × 80-lb bags5.59 ft³ per pier
Ledger fasteners½″ lag @ 15″or bolt @ 29″ · R507.9
Stairs5 risers @ 7.2″4 treads · 3'8" run
Guardrail36″ requiredIRC R312

Member sizes read from the IRC R507.6 (joists) and R507.5 (beams) tables for No. 2 Southern Pineat 40 psf live + 10 psf dead. Footings from tributary load ÷ soil bearing (R507.3); ledger fasteners per R507.9. Confirm with your local building department.

Estimated cost & materials
Decking: Pressure-treated pine192 sq ft · ~28 × 16′ boards · Shop materials ↗$575$1,730
Substructure (joists, beam, posts, hardware)192 sq ft framing · Shop materials ↗$1,150$2,495
Footings (concrete piers)4 posts · Shop materials ↗$140$360
Railing / guard40 lin ft · Shop materials ↗$600$2,400
Stairs4 treads · Shop materials ↗$120$380
Permit + fasteners + miscallowance$75$500
Total estimate$2,660$7,865
≈ $13.9–$41/sq ft
28 × 16′ boards, 672 screws

Low is a DIY material budget; high is contractor-installed with labor. Regional prices vary, so treat this as a planning range, not a quote.

Prefer to hire it out? Get free quotes from local deck builders →

Need it for a permit?

Turn this deck into a permit-ready PDF: title block, elevation, framing & footing schedules, code citations.

Deck Cost: what to know

  • Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest framing; cedar and redwood cost more but resist rot and look better as decking.
  • Labor is roughly half a contractor-built deck's cost. Doing your own framing is where the savings are.
  • Footings, stairs, railings and permits add up fast; this estimate covers the structure, not built-ins or grading.

Want a permit-ready deck plan?

This estimate is built for planning. For your permit packet, DeckHelm Pro turns these numbers into a code-referenced framing plan, footing schedule and material list as a printable PDF.

See Pro →

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