Composite deck cost

A composite deck costs $40 to $100 per square foot installed, typically around $60. A 300 square foot deck is $12,000 to $30,000, with most straightforward ground-level projects landing near $18,000.

Composite boards themselves are $9 to $16 per square foot. The rest, and it is most of the price, is the frame underneath, the hardware, the railing, the stairs and the labor. That is why swapping to a cheaper board saves far less than people expect.

Where the money goes

On a 16 by 20 foot deck at $60 per square foot, roughly $19,200:

Railing is the line that surprises people. Cable and glass railing systems cost $120 to $200 per linear foot, so 60 feet of perimeter can be $7,000 to $12,000 on its own, more than the decking.

Composite against PVC and wood

Composite is wood flour mixed with plastic. Modern boards are capped, meaning a polymer shell is bonded to the outside, and that cap is what resists fading and staining. Uncapped composite from before roughly 2010 fades and stains badly, and its reputation is why some people still avoid the category.

PVC decking is all plastic with no wood content. Lighter, cooler underfoot, completely impervious to moisture, and 15% to 30% more than capped composite. It is the right answer near saltwater or over a pool.

Wood is a third to a half cheaper and needs staining every two to three years.

Over twenty-five years composite works out cheaper than wood once staining is counted. Over seven years it does not.

Brands and tiers

Every major manufacturer sells three tiers, and the difference between them is the cap and the warranty, not the core.

Entry-tier boards are often capped on three sides only, leaving the bottom exposed. That is fine structurally and it is where manufacturers save money.

Read the warranty carefully. Most cover fade and stain for 25 to 50 years, but they are usually prorated and they usually cover material only, not the labor to replace it. A board failing in year 20 gets you a discounted board and a bill for fitting it.

What composite does not fix

Heat. Composite gets hotter than wood in direct sun, and dark colors reach temperatures that are genuinely uncomfortable barefoot. If the deck faces south with no shade, choose a light color and take the sample outside on a hot day before committing.

Scratches. Capped composite resists them well but not perfectly, and a scratch cannot be sanded out the way it can on wood. Furniture pads matter.

The frame. A composite surface on a pressure-treated frame still has a wooden structure with a 15 to 25 year life. Steel framing exists and adds $8 to $15 per square foot; it is worth considering only if you intend the deck to outlast the boards.

Drainage and ventilation. Composite needs airflow underneath. A deck built too close to the ground without ventilation traps moisture, and that shortens the frame's life regardless of what the surface is made of.

Re-decking an existing frame

If your frame is sound, you do not need a new deck. Replacing only the boards and railing on an existing structure is $20 to $45 per square foot, less than half the cost of building new.

Have the frame inspected first, specifically the ledger where it attaches to the house, the footings, and the joist tops. If the joists are sound, adding joist tape before the new boards go down costs a few hundred dollars and adds years.

This is the best-value option in this article, and most people never hear about it.

Frequently asked questions

How long does composite decking last?

Twenty-five to fifty years for capped boards, and warranties reflect that. The pressure-treated frame under it is the shorter-lived part.

Does it fade?

Capped composite fades slightly in the first year and then stabilizes. Uncapped composite fades substantially. Warranties usually specify a maximum color change measured on a standard scale, which is worth reading if color matters to you.

Can I paint or stain it?

You should not. It is not designed to hold a finish, and painting it voids most warranties and creates a maintenance obligation you bought composite to avoid.

Is it slippery when wet?

Less than people expect, because most boards are embossed. Algae growth on a shaded, damp deck makes any surface slippery, composite included, and washing once a year prevents it.

Does it need any maintenance at all?

Washing twice a year with soap and water, and clearing debris from between the boards so water can drain. That is the whole list, and it is the reason most people choose it.