How Much Does Composite Decking Cost?

Published on October 11, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Educational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources.

Composite decking has matured from a niche upgrade to a default choice for homeowners who want a low-maintenance, long-lasting deck. If you are pricing a new build or a tear-off replacement, you’re asking the same question millions ask each year: How Much Does Composite Decking Cost? This guide translates board prices, labor, railings, stairs, and the “little extras” into a clear bill you can plan for, drawing on Angi’s 2025 composite cost guide.

Composite boards cost more upfront than wood, yet the lifetime outlay often narrows once you add stain, sealing, and repair work that wood needs. National remodeling data also tracks what sellers typically recover at resale, so you can weigh budget against ROI, see the Cost vs. Value composite deck addition and the broader 2024 report.

Article Highlights

• Installed composite decks commonly price $25–$54 per sq ft in the U.S., with materials $12–$22 per sq ft (see Angi’s build-a-deck guide).
• The benchmark 16×20 ft composite model averages about $24,000, recouping ~68% at resale (per Cost vs. Value).
• Value composite boards often net ~$5.60–$5.70 per sq ft at retail before clips, fasteners, and waste—typical for Trex value lines at Home Depot.
• Maintenance savings are real; hired-out wood staining and sealing often runs $3–$5 per sq ft over time (see DecksDirect’s long-term cost notes).
• Off-season buying, simpler layouts, and mixing value field boards with nicer rails can cut thousands—run scenarios with TimberTech’s cost calculator.

How Much Does Composite Decking Cost?

The cost for a composite decking built by a contractor in the United States ranges around $25–$54 per square foot installed, which includes boards, substructure, and typical hardware, with materials-only ranges often $12–$22 per square foot for composite boards and basic fasteners. A modest 200-square-foot platform might tally $5,000–$10,800, a 300-square-foot family deck $7,500–$16,200, and a 500-square-foot entertainer $12,500–$27,000, depending on line choice, railings, and layout. DIY can save on labor, just remember that savings trade for design time and code compliance.

Remodeling market data gives a benchmark scenario for apples-to-apples comparisons. The Cost vs. Value model deck, a 16×20 ft (320 sq ft) composite addition with matching rail and basic stairs, shows an average job cost near $24,000 and typical resale value near $16,500 (about 68% recouped), a helpful ROI sanity check in balanced markets.

Table 1. Typical composite decking price tiers (United States, installed)

Ranges synthesized from recent national contractor pricing and Cost vs. Value benchmarking.

Prices vary with deck size, materials, and complexity. A quick thumbnail: smaller decks around 200 sq ft generally run $5,000–$10,000, while 400–500 sq ft builds often price $10,000–$25,000+, figures echoed by estimates from Lawn Love and manufacturer roundups like Oakio’s 2025 guide.

Zooming out, homeowner portals such as HomeAdvisor and contractor blogs like Ergeon place typical installed composite anywhere from the high-teens to the low-fifties per square foot, depending on board type and scope. UK trade sources (e.g., Checkatrade) show a similar “materials vs. installed” spread.

Real-Life Cost Examples

Example A, small platform: Using the $25–$54/sq ft composite band, a 10×12 ft (120 sq ft) starter deck lands around $3,000–$6,500 with simple rail and one step. That aligns with Angi’s overview of composite decking and recent 144-sq-ft examples near $5,700.

You might also like our articles about the cost of Trex decking, StruXure pergola, or Mbrico tile.

Example B, mid-size family deck: A retailer-backed take that includes footings, posts, rail with balusters, and a built-in bench pegs a 16×20 ft composite build near $19,000 vs. wood around $13,000, a clean picture of the upfront gap that maintenance later narrows (see DecksDirect’s “price a deck” guide).

Example C, large 20×20 upgrade: A 400-sq-ft layout using a value composite such as TruNorth Enviroboard prices boards around $3.07–$3.59 per linear foot. With fasteners and framing, materials land mid-four-figures; add labor, rails, and stairs and the total reaches the high-teens to mid-twenties (per Composite Deck Direct).

Cost Breakdown

Boards. Capped composite lines sit in the middle; deeper embossing, richer color-mixes, and premium textures push price. Value lines like Trex Enhance often pencil out around $5.60–$5.70 per sq ft on the board-only math before clips and screws, handy for quote sanity checks.

Structure, hardware, rails. Joists, beams, footings, and connectors can eat a third to half of the bill. Rail kits typically run $40–$100 per linear foot, and stairs add both materials and more time for code-correct stringers and treads. Don’t forget hidden fasteners, fascia, risers, and skirt trim.

Labor. Flat sites and simple rectangles live near the low end; picture-frame borders, herringbone fields, and multi-level landings climb. Many pros see labor landing near half the installed total on straightforward builds.

Factors Influencing the Cost

Brand & line. Entry collections from Trex, TimberTech, and Fiberon price lower; multi-tonal, deeper-grained lines cost more and often pair with premium rails. For specs and accessory calls, TimberTech’s current product guide is a solid reference.

Layout & site. A single-level rectangle on grade is fast. Add chevrons or long stair runs and crew hours jump. Seasonality matters too; spring and early summer book up, nudging bids higher in many metros.

Alternative Products or Services

Pressure-treated wood remains the cheapest upfront ($3–$6/sq ft boards) but needs periodic stain/seal. Ipe and other hardwoods run $10–$20/sq ft for boards and are tougher to work. Composites at $5–$14/sq ft (boards) land between on materials and save time later. Run quick comparisons with a deck cost calculator or read a primer such as Better Homes & Gardens’ explainer.

Ways to Spend Less

Buy off-season. Ask for overstock colors. Keep the footprint simple. Those three moves often deliver the biggest savings. Get at least three quotes.

Other levers: do your own demo, reuse code-worthy framing, choose value field boards and splurge on the rail you’ll see from the house. Manufacturer calculators help model the extras so you can trim without regret.

Expert Insights & Tips

Many estimators allocate roughly half of the finished price to labor on no-frills decks, simplifying the plan is the cleanest way to save without sacrificing board quality. A classic rectangle with a picture-frame border is timeless and budget-friendly.

Retail listings are useful proxies for board math: value composites like Trex Enhance often net about $5.60–$5.70 per sq ft on the board itself; then you add clips, screws, a waste factor, and color-matched fascia/risers.

For third-party ROI context, the composite deck addition has hovered near two-thirds payback in Cost vs. Value. Build for your family first, then let ROI be the tiebreaker.

Total Cost of Ownership

Composite’s long game is maintenance, or rather, less of it. Hired-out staining and sealing on wood often runs around $3/sq ft for stain and $2/sq ft for seal, which stacks up fast on a 300-sq-ft deck over 5–7 years (see DecksDirect’s cost breakdown). Resale perception helps, too: buyers recognize “low-care” upgrades, which supports that steady ROI.

Hidden & Unexpected Costs

Delivery fees, tear-off disposal, permits, concrete or pier footings, and design detailing can add hundreds to low-thousands. Waste matters more than most people expect, so add 10–15% for offcuts and patterns. Picture-framed fields need extra perimeter boards and clips.

Annual care is simple but not free: a bottle of composite cleaner, a soft brush, and a half-day of elbow grease. Hiring a wash? Plan a few hundred dollars per season. Check your brand’s cleaning guidance to protect the warranty.

Financing & Payment Options

Store cards sometimes offer special financing windows that smooth cash flow if you pay within the promo period—see Lowe’s credit offers. Traditional choices include a personal loan, home-equity loan, or HELOC; compare total interest paid against your mid-tier deck plan (e.g., Navy Federal’s home-improvement overview).

Seasonal & Market-Timing Factors

Spring is busy. Crews book up and bids creep higher. Late fall/winter often bring discounts on colors being cleared before new lines arrive. The average new-home deck sits around 284 sq ft nationwide—a useful yardstick when reading “typical job” pricing (see NAHB’s Eye on Housing).

Outside the U.S.: recent UK guides cite installed composite at roughly £90–£110/m² (~$10–$12/sq ft in Sept 2025), while Canadian contractor pages often quote $30–$50/sq ft CAD installed (~$22–$37/sq ft USD). Always check local labor markets (Checkatrade UK; Absolute Home Services, Canada).

Answers to Common Questions

Is composite decking worth the price against wood?

For owners who would otherwise hire out staining and sealing, the lifetime bill can be competitive by year five to seven—especially on decks around 300 sq ft+. The standard composite model’s ROI has hovered near ~68% nationally.

How much does a 500-sq-ft composite deck cost to build?

A realistic contractor range is $12,500–$27,000 depending on line choice, rail style, stair count, and site complexity, using the $25–$54/sq ft national band.

What’s the cheapest composite option that still looks good?

Value lines from major brands keep board math around $5–$7/sq ft before fasteners. Save more with simple layouts and fewer rail runs; ask about overstock or discontinued colors.

Can I DIY to cut costs without quality issues?

Yes—on low platforms with simple rectangles. Use manufacturer span tables, follow clip systems precisely, and check local code for footing and rail requirements. Hire out stairs if needed.

As of October 2025, prices and ranges above reflect recent national cost guides and current retailer/pro references where cited.