How much is labor to build a 12x12 deck?
The average labor cost to build a deck is between $8 and $22 per square foot.
The average cost to build a deck is $20 – $50 per square foot. This includes both decking material and labor costs—with anywhere from half to two-thirds of the expense coming from the latter. Opting for cheaper material, such as pressure-treated wood, can bring the price down to around $20 per square foot.
16x16-foot Raised Deck: You can buy composite materials for a 16x16-foot (256 square-foot) deck for about $5,600 to $9,800 if you build it yourself. A contractor would charge closer to $7,800 to $15,700 to construct a deck of this size.
So how long does it take to build a deck? If you have a simple design and everything goes according to plan, you can get through the entire process in about one to three weeks. However, it often takes much longer than this. Waiting for the necessary permits and adding extra features to your deck can slow things down.
Cost Range for Deck Repair
Most homeowners pay about $28 per square foot to replace damaged deck boards when a pro does the work. Treated lumber repairs cost less; High-end composite and aluminum will cost more.
Professional decking companies typically charge between $15 and $35 per square foot to build an average-size deck. That cost varies based on location, size of deck, and materials used. If a building permit is required to add a traditional deck as a permanent structure, the average cost is $500.
$8.00 – $55.00 per Linear Foot | Installation labor cost to install deck railing. Most costs $15 – $25 per linear foot to install.
Labor. Labor costs to install composite decking run between $1,500 and $2,000 per project or $10 to $14 per square foot.
For example, a 12-foot x 12-foot deck of 5/4 x 6 pressure treated wood decking on 16 inches on center spacing of joists will require: A 12-foot long deck with joists 16 inches on center will require 10 joists. 20 fasteners x 26 (number of rows of decking) = 520 fasteners. Add 10 percent to be safe.
Expect to pay about $21 per square foot for a deck. The average cost to build a deck is $7,320, and most homeowners pay $3,920 – $10,540. However, some large and lavish decks cost as much as $17,000, and some small decks cost as little as $1,600. Expect to pay about $21 per square foot for a deck.
How much does it cost to build a deck 12x24?
Dimensions | Total Square Feet | Average Price Range |
---|---|---|
10 x 20 | 200 | $8,000 – $12,000 |
12 x 20 | 240 | $9,600 – $14,400 |
14 x 20 | 280 | $11.200 – $16,800 |
12 x 24 | 288 | $11,520 – $17,280 |
Choose wood, but carefully: Untreated wood decks are generally the cheapest to install, but don't forget long-term costs. Wood decks require yearly maintenance and deteriorate quickly if they don't get it.

According to Home Depot (opens in new tab), you need 29 12ft long deck boards for a 12x12 deck.
When we're talking about simple and straightforward deck construction, a professional crew can have the job complete in under a week. Especially if it's of average size, between 300 to 400 square feet.
Most deck owners can expect to pay between $5 and $10 per square foot for removing decking.
High-end deck repair cost - $10,000 to $17,000. A high-end deck repair includes replacing an entire wood decking of a 12x12 deck. Replacing railings or upgrading to composite decking material will add up to that price.
Rebuilding the Whole Deck:
If the deck is old or decrepit, removal costs $5 to $15 per square foot, so taking down a 10 x 12-foot deck would set you back about $1,200. A new wood deck costs an average of $14,360, according to Remodeling magazine, and a new composite deck is over 5 grand more at $19,856.
Share: The average cost to frame a house ranges from $7 – $16 per square foot1 or $11,200 – $48,0003 for homes between 1,600 and 3,000 square feet. The average size of a home is 2,687 square feet as of 2019, which would have cost $5,374 – $32,2443 to frame.
For the deck surface, you can use 2x4s, 2x6s, or 5/4x6s. The 5/4 decking, pronounced "five-quarter," is available in cedar and pressure-treated fir, is one inch thick and 5 1/2 inches wide, with rounded edges that make for a splinter-free surface.
Depending on the type of material, expect to pay about $110 per linear foot for the railing, which includes the cost of labor, which is about $30 per foot, and the cost of material, which is about $80 per foot. A 10-foot railing will cost between $900 and $1,500, depending on the type of material.
What is the easiest deck railing to install?
Vinyl and composite railings are considered among the fastest and easiest to install, even more so than the metal options we'll talk about below.
Stairways having four or more risers, or rising more than 30 inches in height, whichever is less, must have at least one grab rail.
Spacing of Deck Posts
The two most common sizes used for deck posts are 4×4 and 6×6. When using 4×4 posts, place them no more than 6 feet apart, and when using 6×6 posts, no more than 8 feet apart. The reason for these standards is that the railing system won't have proper support if the posts are too far apart.
Deck joist spacing should never exceed 16″ on center (with the exception of MAX deck boards, which allow for maximum 24″ on center). For a more rigid feel, 12″ or less may be preferred. If adding additional framing, be sure to keep all boards level and in plane across the tops.
How wide apart should decking joists be? In North America, joist spacing for residential decks is 12″ to 16″ apart, or according to local building code. Most decks require 16″ spacing for the deck itself, with 12″ spacing used for special applications, such as stairs or commercial structures.
Durability comes at a cost, as composite decking is more expensive than wood. It could cost 15 to 20 percent more for composite material than pressure-treated pine.
But in general: Composite deck prices range between $4.50 and $13 per square foot. The average price of PVC decking ranges between $10 and $15 per square foot.
So how much does composite decking cost? On average, a composite deck costs between $4.50 to $13 per square foot for the decking alone, or about $30 to $60 per square foot installed, including the substructure (joists, posts, and beams). Natural wood decks cost $25 to $43 per square foot installed.
Should I use Decking Nails or Decking Screws? Decking screws are better than nails when building a deck. Decking screws hold down your decking more securely than nails and will stop your decking from warping. Also, you can easily remove screws for deck maintenance without causing damage.
In order to protect your deck's substructure from weathering and moisture, protective tape for your joists is a must.
Does a deck need beams and joists?
Beams are a crucial part of any deck, so it's imperative that they're properly installed. A beam runs across the posts, parallel to the ledger, and supports the joists.
Winter construction may need to be done in stages, depending on inclement weather, but labor and materials should be in ready supply. You may even save money by building in winter, as labor and materials can be cheaper in the off-season.
A 12x12 deck is the perfect starter size, offering plenty of room for an outdoor furniture set. Enjoy an intimate evening with a friend or a solo night catching up with your favourite author's latest.
Depending on the series and color, Trex decking costs $5 to $12 per square foot, plus another $5 to $15 per square foot for installation. For a complete Trex deck—including framing, decking, railings, and stairs—budget $20 to $62 per square foot.
How much does it cost to build a 12-foot by 12-foot shed? Building a shed costs an average of $60 to $150 per square foot, so a 12-foot by 12-foot shed would run $8,640 to $21,600, depending on the type of materials.
For an attached 12 x 12' deck, you'll need at least 3 footings, plus at least 2 more if you're planning on building stairs with it.
Depending on your skill level and the tools you have available, it could take from 20 to 50 hours to construct a 12×12 shed. Sometimes it will take more time than you planned. If you usually make $20/hr, a 40-hour shed project will require $800 worth of your labor; at $25/hr, it will be worth $1000.
The average cost of constructing a deck is $25 per square foot, with most homeowners spending anywhere from $4,380 to $10,500 on the project. A low-cost deck built with basic materials costs $15 per square foot, while a high-end deck costs $35 per square foot.
Expect to pay about $21 per square foot for a deck. The average cost to build a deck is $7,320, and most homeowners pay $3,920 – $10,540. However, some large and lavish decks cost as much as $17,000, and some small decks cost as little as $1,600. Expect to pay about $21 per square foot for a deck.
Spacing of Deck Posts
The two most common sizes used for deck posts are 4×4 and 6×6. When using 4×4 posts, place them no more than 6 feet apart, and when using 6×6 posts, no more than 8 feet apart. The reason for these standards is that the railing system won't have proper support if the posts are too far apart.
How far apart should deck stud be?
Deck joist spacing should never exceed 16″ on center (with the exception of MAX deck boards, which allow for maximum 24″ on center). For a more rigid feel, 12″ or less may be preferred.
Joist boards come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 2-by-4 to 2-by-12. You can choose the size that works best with your overall deck design and dimensions. The bigger your deck is, the larger joists you need. Commonly used joist sizes are 2-by-6, 2-by-8 and 2-by-10.
Most composite brands have the same thickness, but softwoods and hardwoods will range from 1" to 2" thick for decking. Softwoods should be at least 1 1/4 inches thick for a 16" on center span. 2 inches thick will allow for a 24" on center span.
FOOTINGS: - Poured concrete footings should be a minimum of 8” wider than the posts (4x4 post – 12” min. width, 6x6 post – 14” min. width), a two level deck or deck with roof – 24”x24”. - The bottom of the footings must be a minimum of 36” below finish grade level.
There are several ways to set deck posts; we recommend attaching the posts to concrete footers above the ground. This helps to prevent wooden posts from rotting. Set footers a minimum of 6 inches below the frost line for your area to prevent movement during freezing temperatures.
In general, a deck footing is usually used if it is going to be higher than your waist or larger than 100 square feet. The footings ensure that the deck will not fall, tip or rot away after a few years.
References
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/mortgages/cost-to-build-deck
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