Deck Cost Calculator
Estimate total deck cost from your local material and labor prices.
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Currency: Amounts are calculated in the currency you select; this site does not convert between currencies and does not use live exchange rates.
What this tool does
Estimate total deck cost from your local material and labor prices. Prices are user-entered, not a local quote. Waste is applied only to materials.
How to use the Deck Cost Calculator
- Enter or select length in ft.
- Enter or select width in ft.
- Enter or select material cost per square foot.
- Enter or select labor cost per square foot.
- Enter or select permits and other fixed costs.
- Enter or select waste allowance (%).
- Read the calculated result; change any measurement to compare alternatives.
Formula
cost = area × (materials × (1 + waste/100) + labor) + fixed
- length
- Length (ft, before metric conversion)
- width
- Width (ft, before metric conversion)
- materials
- Material cost per square foot
- labor
- Labor cost per square foot
- fixed
- Permits and other fixed costs
- waste
- Waste allowance (%)
Prices are user-entered, not a local quote. Waste is applied only to materials.
Worked example
For deck cost calculator, the following measurements illustrate the exact method: Length: 20; Width: 10; Material cost per square foot: 15; Labor cost per square foot: 20; Permits and other fixed costs: 500; Waste allowance (%): 10.
Inputs
- Length20 ft
- Width10 ft
- Material cost per square foot15
- Labor cost per square foot20
- Permits and other fixed costs500
- Waste allowance (%)10
Result
- Estimated project cost$7,800.00
- Material cost$3,300.00
- Labor cost$4,000.00
- Deck area200 sq ft
Results explained
- Estimated project cost
- Estimated project cost from the formula above. Prices are user-entered, not a local quote. Waste is applied only to materials.
- Material cost
- Material cost from the formula above. Prices are user-entered, not a local quote. Waste is applied only to materials.
- Labor cost
- Labor cost from the formula above. Prices are user-entered, not a local quote. Waste is applied only to materials.
- Deck area
- Deck area from the formula above, expressed in sqft before metric conversion. Prices are user-entered, not a local quote. Waste is applied only to materials.
Frequently asked questions
Multiply area by material and labor rates, then add permits and other fixed costs.
Use the deck area and your contractor's quoted per-square-foot rates.
Use 5–10% for simple layouts and 10–15% for diagonal cuts or complicated outlines; the allowance is editable.
Split the outline into rectangles or triangles and calculate each section separately. Do not count overlapping sections twice.
This is a purchasing estimate, not a structural design. Confirm measurements and local requirements before buying or building.