Deck Calculator
Deck boards, fasteners, and total cost for your deck size. Updated for 2026.
Last reviewed July 2026 · Free · Nothing you enter is stored
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Planning estimate using standard formulas and 2026 national average prices — confirm quantities with your supplier and get local quotes.
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How this calculator works
Board math uses standard 5.5"-wide decking with a 1/4" gap: 2.09 linear feet of board per square foot of deck, plus 10% waste (15% for diagonal layouts). Hidden fasteners or screws run about 3.5 per square foot. Cost estimates use 2026 installed averages — $35/sq ft pressure-treated, $57/sq ft composite — and a DIY materials-only average around $20/sq ft.
Frequently asked questions
How many deck boards do I need?
For standard 5.5"-wide boards with a 1/4" gap, figure 2.09 linear feet per square foot of deck plus 10% waste. A 16×12 deck (192 sq ft) needs about 440 linear feet — 28 sixteen-foot boards.
How much does a deck cost in 2026?
Nationally, pressure-treated decks average about $35 per sq ft installed ($25–$50), composite about $57 ($40–$80). DIY materials alone run $14–$28/sq ft. A 200 sq ft PT deck: roughly $4,000 DIY or $7,000 built.
Is composite decking worth the extra cost?
If you'll keep the home 7+ years, usually yes. Composite's premium (~$20+/sq ft more installed) buys freedom from the $500–$1,000 restain-and-seal cycle every 2–3 years, and it won't splinter or rot.
Local costs by state
Material and labor prices vary widely by region. Pick your state for cost estimates adjusted to local construction pricing:
- Alabama88% of national avg
- Alaska125% of national avg
- Arizona86% of national avg
- Arkansas80% of national avg
- California115% of national avg
- Colorado91% of national avg
- Connecticut118% of national avg
- Delaware105% of national avg
- District of Columbia102% of national avg
- Florida85% of national avg
- Georgia88% of national avg
- Hawaii120% of national avg
- Idaho88% of national avg
- Illinois110% of national avg
- Indiana90% of national avg
- Iowa97% of national avg
- Kansas90% of national avg
- Kentucky87% of national avg
- Louisiana82% of national avg
- Maine86% of national avg
- Maryland93% of national avg
- Massachusetts118% of national avg
- Michigan103% of national avg
- Minnesota106% of national avg
- Mississippi80% of national avg
- Missouri95% of national avg
- Montana91% of national avg
- Nebraska88% of national avg
- Nevada95% of national avg
- New Hampshire93% of national avg
- New Jersey111% of national avg
- New Mexico88% of national avg
- New York118% of national avg
- North Carolina80% of national avg
- North Dakota92% of national avg
- Ohio92% of national avg
- Oklahoma83% of national avg
- Oregon108% of national avg
- Pennsylvania96% of national avg
- Rhode Island107% of national avg
- South Carolina86% of national avg
- South Dakota89% of national avg
- Tennessee85% of national avg
- Texas82% of national avg
- Utah89% of national avg
- Vermont85% of national avg
- Virginia85% of national avg
- Washington105% of national avg
- West Virginia93% of national avg
- Wisconsin99% of national avg
- Wyoming90% of national avg
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