Cost to build 20×20 deck

Useable outdoor living space is more popular than ever, with many homeowners and prospective homebuyers citing it as a top desire. Installing a deck can not only fulfill this want, but the right deck can also add unrivaled style and function to a home. Moreover, it also offers an excellent return on investment—80%, according to The Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

If you’re wondering what that initial investment is, below, we break down how much a new deck costs and compare various types of decks and decking materials. Whether you want a deck to entertain, lounge, or simply add value to your home, we’ll fill you in on everything you need to know to budget for this lucrative home renovation!

Cost to build 20×20 deck

The average cost to build a deck is around $7,500, but like most construction projects, the costs associated with a new deck will break down to deck material and labor costs. On the low end, you may pay only slightly more than $4,000 for a small, basic deck. But if you want a top-of-the-line outdoor space with plenty of room, high-quality wood and extra features like built-ins, you could be on the hook for as much as $45,000. While adding a deck is pricey, it’s a great way to transform your backyard into an oasis.

Deck Cost Calculator

If your project will use a popular deck wood like cedar, redwood or pressure-treated lumber, and you’re not looking for a bunch of extras, you can assume a deck cost per square foot of about $30 to $60. That includes labor along with all the extras you’ll need for the project, like hardware, beams, balusters and more.

That makes this range a good starting point for a deck cost calculator to determine approximately how much you’ll pay. The below table outlines the typical price range for a basic deck that’s about 250 square feet.

Deck Material Costs

The material you choose for your new deck will far and away be the largest variable to consider. Here’s a breakdown of deck prices based on the type of material you’re thinking about using.

While most people simply opt for pressure-treated lumber when having a new deck installed, other popular materials include cedar, redwood and bamboo. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of popular decking materials and what you might expect to pay for them.

Pressure-Treated Lumber

Most decks installed today are made of pressure-treated lumber since it’s resistant to rot and insects. One thing it’s not resistant to: the weather. Pressure-treated lumber can and will split, crack and wear in the elements, so you’ll have to be committed to yearly maintenance in the form of sanding and staining in order to keep it looking attractive. Expect to pay between $5 and $8 per square foot for pressure-treated lumber.

Cedar

Not only is it naturally beautiful, but cedar wood is also exceptionally rot resistant as well, which is key for decks that are constantly exposed to the elements. It’s a rather soft wood, though, and is therefore susceptible to dings and scratches. Cedar costs between $4 and $8 per square foot.

Redwood

Another great choice for decking due to its resistance to insect damage and warping, redwood runs about $7 per square foot. It does require yearly maintenance to keep it in top shape, especially when exposed to direct sunlight. Well-maintained redwood takes paint and stain well, for a beautiful finish.

Bamboo

One of the least expensive decking materials you can choose, bamboo is growing in popularity and can make a beautiful deck. Yearly maintenance requirements are similar to wood, but bamboo typically boasts a longer life than wood. At only $3 to $4 per square foot, bamboo is a great option as long as you don’t live in an area where it rains constantly, as this will rot the bamboo.

Composite

A green option when it comes to your deck material, composite decking is made of wood byproducts and recycled plastics. It’s long-lasting and maintenance-free, but do note that you’ll pay as much as $10 to $15 per square foot for materials.

Ipe

Native to Brazil, Ipe is a nearly indestructible hardwood that’s quite beautiful but quite expensive as well. You’ll pay as much as three times the amount you’d pay for cedar, with Ipe wood clocking in around $15 per square foot for materials alone. Ipe is weather-, insect- and rot-resistant but does need to be oiled yearly to keep it in top shape.

Deck Installation Costs

You should begin working with a decking professional very early on in the process of adding a new deck to your home. That’s because they can help with design and layout, advising you on things you may not have thought about when it comes to your decking needs.

Once that part is finished, you can expect your decking professional to be responsible for leveling and preparing the space where the deck will be built, along with the entire building process, from support beams to finishing touches.

The average labor cost to build a deck is between $8 and $22 per square foot. This makes up about half the total deck cost per square foot. At that rate, you might consider making your deck project a DIY. In this case, you can eliminate the labor costs and only have to pay the deck material costs.

As long as your project is relatively low to the ground and straightforward as far as design, a deck is a beginner to intermediate DIY project that can be done over the course of a few days.

Labor Cost to Build a Deck Per Square Foot

The average cost per square foot to build a deck is between $20 and $25. Costs vary depending on the size of the deck, materials used, and whether you hire a contractor or do it yourself.

Average cost to build a deck: $20-$25 per square foot (about $10-$12 per linear foot). This estimate includes materials, but not labor costs. That said, if you are willing to do some of the work yourself, you can save up to 50 percent on labor costs.

Cost to Build a Deck Calculator

Here’s an easy way to calculate the approximate cost of building your own deck:

Measure the length and width of your deck in feet (or meters). Multiply these two numbers together for total square footage. For example: 12′ x 15′ = 180 sq ft, or 1.8 m x 1.5 m = 3m^2). The result is how many square feet your deck will cover when built (in our example, it would be 3m^2). Now multiply this number by 20 cents per square foot ($0.20) — this gives us $6 as our estimated material cost for this example project.

The cost of a deck is dependent on many factors. Labor costs can vary depending on the region and the experience of the contractor. The materials used also affect the cost, as well as the size and complexity of your project.

Below are some average costs to build a deck:

Material Costs: $10,000 – $15,000

Labor Costs: $20 – $25 per square foot (includes framing, finishing and trim)

You can hire a professional to build your deck, or you can do it yourself.

If you decide to build a deck yourself, you will have to purchase materials and tools and find plans for the design you want. You may also need to rent equipment such as a power saw, nail gun and drill. You can hire someone to help with the construction of your deck as well.

The cost of building a deck will depend on what type of deck you want and how much material is used. If you want a large deck with multiple levels, then the cost will be higher than building a simple single-level deck.

You should also consider how much time it will take for the project to be completed. If there are many steps involved in building your deck, then this can increase the overall cost of building it yourself.

Here are some factors that may affect the cost of building your own deck:

Size – How big do you want your new deck? This affects how much material is needed and how many boards are required for each section of decking material.

Hiring a contractor to build your deck can be expensive, especially if you live in a major metropolitan area. Depending on the size and complexity of your project, you could spend thousands of dollars on construction costs alone.

However, if you are handy with tools and are comfortable working with them, you may consider doing the labor yourself. In this case, it is important to know what exactly goes into building a deck so that you have a better idea of how long it will take and how much it will cost.

The average cost of building a deck is between $7,000 and $20,000 depending on its size and features. Let’s look at some common factors that affect the price:

A typical deck is built using pressure-treated lumber, which costs about $1 per square foot. The average size of a deck is 400 square feet, so the cost is $400.

If you use composite wood instead of pressure-treated lumber, it will cost you $1.50 per square foot. For a 400 square foot deck, this means an extra cost of $600 for composite wood over pressure-treated lumber.

You can save money by building the frame yourself and asking someone else to install it for you. If you do this, however, make sure that they are experienced in installing decks because it can be tricky to do properly. It’s also important to get all your materials from one store so that they can be cut and assembled correctly with no mistakes.

A 16×20 deck will cost you about $3,600 to $5,000. This will include the cost of materials and labor.

If you want to build a deck yourself and save money, then you will have to buy all the materials and tools required for the job. The material costs are around $1,300 to $2,000 depending on the type of wood used.

You will also need other tools like a hammer, saws and drills which can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on their quality.

If you hire a professional contractor to do this job for you, then they will charge anywhere between $4-$10 per square foot for labor costs plus material costs for building decks in your area.

In addition to this general estimate of how much does it cost to build a 16×20 deck, there are also some other factors that may affect the final price such as:

1) The size of your deck – bigger decks tend to cost more than smaller ones because they require more materials like lumber and plywood or OSB sheets etc… Also bigger decks require more time and effort from workers so their hourly charges increase too which means that it is going

A typical 16 by 20-foot deck will cost between $4,000 and $5,000. The average cost for labor to build a deck is about $15 per square foot. This means that if you have a 16-by-20-foot deck, it will cost between $240 and $300 in labor costs. Of course, costs vary depending on where you live and the materials used for construction.

Labor Costs for Building a Deck

The average cost of labor to build a deck is about $15 per square foot. This means that if you have a 16-by-20-foot deck, it will cost between $240 and $300 in labor costs. Of course, costs vary depending on where you live and the materials used for construction.

Materials Cost For A Deck

The average material cost for building a 16×20-foot deck is around $2,500-$3,500 depending on what kind of material you choose and where you live in the country. Materials include wood or composite lumber (treated wood), railings (aluminum or vinyl), posts (concrete or pressure treated wood), joists (2x6s) or purlins (2x8s)

Labor costs are typically the most expensive part of building a deck. You can reduce the overall cost by doing some of the work yourself, but make sure you have enough experience to avoid making mistakes that will cost you in the long run.

The average cost to build a 16×20 deck is around $7,500, according to HomeAdvisor’s cost estimator. That price includes labor, materials and permits. It doesn’t include any additional costs for design or planning services.

Here’s how much it could cost:

Labor costs to build a deck are generally under $10 per square foot, including materials and equipment.

The average cost of labor for a DIY deck is about $120 per linear foot. For example, a 100-foot long by 20-foot wide deck would cost $3,600 to build yourself with basic tools and skills.

The average cost of labor for a professionally built deck ranges from $15 to $25 per square foot. This includes the price of materials and equipment such as lumber, nails, screws, fasteners and flashing but not paint or stain.

The exact price depends on the complexity of your project and the amount of work needed to complete it.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck?

The cost of building a deck will vary depending on the size and complexity of your project. However, if you’re looking to get an idea of how much it will cost, here are some ballpark figures for the average size deck:

Deck Size Average Cost Per Square Foot

12’x16′ $15-$45

12’x20′ $25-$65

14’x20′ $35-$80

12’x24′ $30-$80

12’x28′ $40-$100