Cost Per Square Foot Calculator

Cost per square foot, explained honestly

"Cost per square foot" is the metric contractors use to quote fast and homeowners use to compare. In 2026, installed cost per square foot ranges from about $22 for pressure-treated pine up to $65+ for tropical hardwoods like ipe. The catch: two "$45 per sqft composite" quotes can differ by $3,000 on the same deck because one includes railings, stairs, and permits and the other doesn't. Always ask what's inside the per-square-foot number.

What's baked into the number above

The prices in this calculator assume a complete installed deck: framing (joists, beams, posts, ledger), the decking material listed, standard hardware, code-minimum wood railings, one 3-foot-wide stair run for elevated decks, permits, and labor. It does not include site prep (tree removal, grading), premium railings (aluminum, glass, cable), hot tub reinforcement, or lighting.

Material cost per square foot at a glance

• Pressure-treated pine: $22/sqft — the entry point. Excellent value for framing and budget builds; requires staining every 2–3 years.
• Cedar: $32/sqft — natural rot resistance and a beautiful straight-grain look, but softens over 15–20 years.
• Redwood: $38/sqft — West Coast favorite; supply-constrained east of the Rockies.
• Composite (Trex, TimberTech, Fiberon): $48/sqft — the mainstream mid-market choice for the last decade. 25+ year fade warranties.
• PVC / cellular: $58/sqft — lighter than composite, better in constant moisture and heat, premium finish.
• Tropical hardwood (ipe, cumaru): $65/sqft — 40+ year lifespan, museum-grade look, hardest to install.

Why regional labor rates change the answer

Labor is 30–40% of the per-square-foot number, and it varies dramatically by market. A Nashville crew averages $55/hr; the same crew in San Francisco or Boston is closer to $110/hr. That alone can shift a composite deck from $45 to $58 per sqft. When comparing this calculator's output to a local quote, expect the range to skew high in the Northeast and West Coast and low in the South and Midwest.

Using cost per square foot correctly

Use the per-square-foot metric to sanity-check contractor quotes and rule out outliers — not to make final decisions. Two decks of the same size can differ 20% on total price based on height, complexity, and railings alone. For a total project cost estimate that accounts for those, run the numbers through our full deck cost calculator.