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How much does a deck cost?

United States: homeowner survey

Households in the American Housing Survey that hired out a new porch, deck, patio or terrace reported a median of $6,000; the typical range (middle half of 594 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) was $3,000 to $15,000.

When the household built it itself: a median (302 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) of $2,000.

How measured: hired-out finished jobs, survey-weighted, not adjusted for inflation; do-it-yourself jobs the same way. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data read 16 October 2026.

These figures are estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data years 2021-2023, read 16 October 2026, for the United States. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.

Researched by the InstaBids editorial team. Last checked: 16 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-16

What is the average deck cost?

The survey groups four outdoor jobs under "Added porch, deck, patio, or terrace". A raised wood deck, a poured patio and a covered porch all count, and the item asks only about additions, so rebuilding or repairing an old deck is not in it.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.

Close to two-thirds of these additions were built by a hired crew (64 percent), a higher share than for kitchen remodels, where 59 percent were hired out.

Builders who did it themselves reported a third of the hired-out median, the gap shown in the second line of the answer at the top.

What is the cost to build a deck?

The lumber changed two decades ago. EPA says wood treated with chromated arsenicals was used for decks and playsets before 2004, and its makers stopped producing it for homeowner uses in December 2003.

Source: U.S. EPA, Chromated Arsenicals (CCA), read 16 October 2026.

For an older deck that stays, EPA suggests a penetrating stain or sealer applied on a regular basis to reduce leaching, and warns never to burn treated wood at home.

Source: U.S. EPA, Chromated Arsenicals (CCA), read 16 October 2026.

EPA lists wood-alternative and composite materials, including steel, fiberglass-reinforced concrete and laminated wood, as alternatives, and advises goggles, a dust mask and hand washing when sawing treated wood.

Source: U.S. EPA, Chromated Arsenicals (CCA), read 16 October 2026.

Tearing out an old deck raises a disposal question: EPA says treated wood can usually go out with household trash, must not be reused as mulch, and may fall under state or local disposal guidance.

Source: U.S. EPA, Chromated Arsenicals (CCA), read 16 October 2026.

What changes the porch cost?

Get written bids

Contractors who take part estimate from your photos and a written scope card, so nobody visits before you see any prices. InstaBids is in an early pilot in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Sources for the figures on this page