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Got a deck quote? See whether the price is low, fair or high for its size, material and type, and what to ask the builder.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Verdict | A little above the usual range |
| Usual installed range | $8,294 – $10,598 |
| Your quote per sq ft | $62.50 on 192 sq ft |
| Versus the mid-point | +27% (+$2,554) |
| Deck | 192 sq ft × $48 (Composite (Trex/TimberTech)) × 1 × 0.90–1.15 |
High quotes can be right for steep lots, tight access or premium railings. Ask for materials and labour split out and get a second bid.
Type in the price a contractor quoted, the deck's size, the decking material and what kind of deck it is. The checker works out the usual installed range for that deck on this site's deck cost model, adds tear-out if the old deck is coming off, and tells you whether the quote sits below, inside or above it — with the price per square foot and the questions worth asking before you sign.
Divide the price by the deck's square footage and compare it with the usual installed range for that material and type of deck. On this site's model a standard deck with railings and one stair runs about $19.80–$25.30 per sq ft in pressure-treated pine, $43.20–$55.20 in composite and $52.20–$66.70 in PVC. A quote inside the range is normal; outside it, ask what's different.
Yes. A 12 × 16 ft deck is 192 sq ft; a standard composite deck with railings and one stair usually runs $8,294–$10,598 on this model, so $12,000 ($62.50 per sq ft) is about 27% above the mid-point — a little high, but normal for an elevated deck or a busy market. As a simple ground-level deck it would be well above the usual range.
Bids price different decks. One may include the permit, deeper footings, flashing tape on the joists, a picture-frame border and hidden fasteners; another may not. Height, access for materials, how busy builders are and the railing style move the price as much as the decking does. Ask every builder to split materials, labour, railings, stairs and permit.
Size and layout drawing, decking brand and line, framing lumber grade and joist spacing, footing size and depth, ledger attachment and flashing, railing and stair details, fasteners (screws or hidden clips), permit and inspections, tear-out and disposal, clean-up, timeline, payment schedule and the warranty on labour.
About $4 to $8 per square foot for demolition and a dumpster, so $770–$1,540 on a 192 sq ft deck. Use the deck removal cost calculator for a closer figure with height, footings and disposal.
Need the whole roof at once? The free roofing calculator works out roof area, squares, shingle bundles, underlayment, drip edge, ridge cap and installed cost from one set of measurements.