Trex Decking Calculator
Pick your composite brand and product line, enter your deck size, and get board counts plus a material and installed cost range using 2026 retail pricing for each line.
Recommended products for this project
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Outdoor Solid Composite Decking Boards 96"x5.43"x1", Polymer Composite Decking for All Weather Use,Poolside,Backyard,Patio(6 Pcs,Redwood and Maple,21.72sqft)
View on Amazon
ZONEGRACE 1000 PCS Hidden Deck Fasteners for Composite Decking Board,Composite Deck Clips & Plastic Hidden Fastners with Stainless Steel Screws & Installation Tools,Universal Nylon Clips for Decking
View on Amazon
6 Pcs ABS Deck Board Spacer, 1/8 and 3/16 Inch Deck Board Spacing Tool, Orange Deck Spacers for Pressure Treated Composite Hardwood Decking
View on Amazon
Outdoor Solid Composite Decking Boards 96"x5.43"x1", Polymer Composite Decking for All Weather Use,Poolside,Backyard,Patio(6 Pcs,Rosewood and Light Grey,21.72sqft)
View on AmazonHow composite decking is priced
Composite pricing is tiered by cap technology and aesthetics, not by structural performance — every line in a brand's range carries the same load. What you pay more for is a better shell (four-sided capping instead of three), deeper multi-tonal streaking, and a longer fade-and-stain warranty. That's why Trex Enhance Basics and Trex Transcend can differ by more than $6 per square foot while installing identically.
2026 board-only material pricing by line
| Line | Type | Material / sq ft | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veranda ArmorGuard | Capped composite | ~$5.20 | 25 yr |
| Trex Enhance Basics | Capped composite | ~$5.50 | 25 yr |
| Fiberon Good Life | Capped composite | ~$5.90 | 25 yr |
| TimberTech Prime+ | Capped composite | ~$6.50 | 25-30 yr |
| Trex Enhance Naturals | Capped composite | ~$6.80 | 25 yr |
| TimberTech Edge | Capped composite | ~$7.50 | 30 yr |
| Trex Select | Capped composite | ~$7.90 | 25 yr |
| Deckorators Vista | Mineral-based | ~$8.50 | 50 yr limited |
| Fiberon Concordia | Capped composite | ~$9.50 | 30 yr |
| AZEK Harvest | Cellular PVC | ~$10.50 | 50 yr limited |
| Trex Transcend | Capped composite | ~$11.50 | 25-50 yr |
| TimberTech AZEK Legacy | Cellular PVC | ~$14.50 | 50 yr limited |
These are 2026 retail averages for in-stock colors. Special-order colors and 20 ft lengths run 5-15% higher, and dealer pricing on full-pallet quantities can undercut big-box shelf pricing.
Grooved versus square-edge boards
Grooved boards accept hidden clips that set a consistent 3/16-inch gap and leave no visible fasteners — the finish most people want. Square-edge boards are face-screwed with color-matched composite screws and are required for the first and last board, stair treads, and picture-frame borders. Order both: roughly 90% grooved and 10% square-edge for the perimeter, plus fascia board for the rim.
Framing requirements composite adds
Composite is heavier and less stiff than wood, so the frame under it is not optional. Nearly every brand requires joists at 16 inches on center for perpendicular boards and 12 inches on center for 45-degree layouts and stair treads. Blocking is required at butt joints and under picture-frame borders. Skipping this is the single most common cause of a denied warranty claim, and it also produces the bouncy feel people wrongly blame on the boards.
Composite versus wood over 25 years
Composite costs roughly $18 more per square foot up front but eliminates the sand-and-stain cycle that wood needs every two to three years at $2-$4 per square foot each time. Over 25 years, total cost of ownership lands within a few thousand dollars of each other on a typical 300 square foot deck — the real decision is whether you'd rather pay money now or spend weekends later. Run your own numbers in the composite vs wood calculator or read the best composite decking guide.
Get the Smart Decking Calculator app
Estimate decks on the go, save projects, and share with contractors.
Building something else? Try our sister calculators
Smart Fencing Calculator
Estimate fence cost by material and linear footage.
Smart Roofing Calculator
Free roof replacement cost estimates by material.
Smart Drywall Calculator
Android app — drywall sheets, mud, and tape estimates.
Smart Fencing Calculator
Android app — fence cost estimates on the go.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Trex deck cost?
- Trex Enhance Basics boards run about $5.50 per square foot for material; Select is near $7.90 and Transcend near $11.50. Fully installed with a pressure-treated frame, expect $38-$58 per square foot depending on the line and your region.
- How many Trex boards do I need?
- Grooved Trex boards are 5.5 inches wide and install with a 3/16-inch clip gap, so each 16 ft board covers about 7.6 square feet. A 12x16 deck (192 sq ft) needs roughly 27 boards including 8% waste.
- What is Trex cost per square foot?
- Board-only material cost is $5.50-$11.50 per square foot depending on the line. Installed, most Trex decks land between $38 and $58 per square foot in 2026.
- Is TimberTech or AZEK cheaper than Trex?
- TimberTech Prime+ is priced close to Trex Enhance. AZEK and TimberTech Legacy are PVC products and cost meaningfully more than any capped-composite Trex line, but they're lighter and handle heat and constant moisture better.
- Do I need special joist spacing for composite decking?
- Yes — 16 inches on center for perpendicular boards and 12 inches on center for diagonal layouts or stair treads. Some brands require even tighter spacing for 45-degree installs; check the specific installation guide.
