Decks guide
Deck building: cost, materials and planning
Published by Clear House · Updated
Short answer
A 16 ft × 20 ft pressure-treated wood deck averaged $18,263 in the U.S. in 2025, and the same deck in composite averaged $25,096, according to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. Clear House's own U.S. planning range for deck installation is $8,000–$30,000.
Deck size, height, materials and railings drive the price, and most decks need a permit. Clear House lets you plan the deck and request a quote from one local pro where one covers your ZIP code.
Key points
- Composite costs more up front but needs less upkeep than wood.
- Raised decks need more structure, stairs and railings.
- Most areas require a permit and inspection for a new deck.
- Clear House planning ranges come from a rules-based calculator that uses U.S. planning rates, not local bids. They exclude permits, taxes and hidden damage, and they are not quotes.
Is there a Clear House pro for deck installation near you?
Enter your ZIP code to check live. Anyone in the U.S. can plan a project and see a ballpark, even where no pro is available yet.
What affects the cost of a new deck
- Size and height off the ground.
- Decking material: pressure-treated wood, cedar or composite.
- Railings, stairs and built-ins.
- Footings, ledger attachment and site slope.
- Permits and inspections.
Published cost benchmarks
These are average costs for specific, defined projects from an independent annual report. Use them to sanity-check a budget, not as a price for your home.
| Project (defined scope) | South Atlantic region | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Deck addition — wood | $18,397 | $18,263 |
| Deck addition — composite | $24,347 | $25,096 |
Average job cost from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (Zonda / JLC). Each figure is for one defined project scope, not your home. Your price depends on size, materials, access, damage found and the contractor.
- Deck addition — wood: Build a 16 ft × 20 ft pressure-treated deck with railing, steps, a bench and a planter.
- Deck addition — composite: The same 16 ft × 20 ft deck in composite decking.
How to plan it
- Decide how you will use the deck and how big it needs to be.
- Check setback rules and HOA requirements.
- Choose wood or composite based on budget and upkeep.
- Call 811 before digging footings.
Questions to ask a contractor
- Can I see your license or registration, if my state requires one for this work, and a current certificate of insurance?
- Who pulls the permit, and is the permit fee included in the price?
- What exactly is included and excluded in this quote, line by line?
- What warranty do you give on labor, and whose warranty covers the materials?
- What is the payment schedule, and how much is due before work starts?
- How will the deck attach to the house, and how is that flashed?
How Clear House helps with a new deck
Clear House is a planning app and marketplace. It does not do the work itself. You choose the project, answer a few short questions and add a photo if you have one. Clear House then shows a planning ballpark so you have a starting budget before anyone visits your home.
Photo previews are not offered for this kind of project yet, so the planning steps focus on scope and budget.
When you are ready, Clear House checks whether a reviewed independent pro covers your ZIP code and this trade. If one does, you send your project to that one pro, who can review it and send a quote in the app. You are not obligated to accept a quote, and your request is not sent to a crowd of contractors. If no pro covers your area yet, you can join the waitlist and Clear House emails you when one is available.
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a deck?
Most cities and counties require one. Your contractor should pull it; confirm who does before signing.
Ready to plan?
Free to plan. See a ballpark before anyone visits. Your project goes to one pro at a time, only where a pro covers your area.
Start a projectSources
- Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report — South Atlantic region and national averages — Published 2025. Costs are averages for a defined project scope, not quotes.
- 2025 Cost vs. Value Report — Methodology — Explains how job costs (Verisk XactRemodel data) and resale values were estimated.
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission — How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam — Advice on licenses, insurance, written estimates, contracts and down payments.
Related
Clear House is a marketplace, not a contractor. Costs on this page are published averages or planning ranges, not quotes, and your price will differ. Always confirm licensing, insurance and permits with the pro you hire.