Decks & Patios

Decks and patios in 2026: real costs across major US metros

HomeGuide's national figures put a new pressure-treated deck at $25 to $50 per square foot installed and a composite deck at $40 to $80. On a 20 by 20 foot footprint that comes to $10,000 to $20,000 in wood and $16,000 to $32,000 in composite. The three cost tiers on this page use those national numbers. The local numbers come from Cost vs Value 2025 and from city permit records.

Cost vs Value 2025 prices one defined project: a 16 by 20 foot deck with a built-in bench and planter, three steps to grade and a full railing. Nationally it costs $18,263 in wood and $25,096 in composite, and recoups 95% and 89% of that at resale. The same deck costs $18,419 in wood and $26,872 in composite in Los Angeles, and $20,294 and $28,639 in Seattle.

Wood, composite, or stone

Pressure-treated pine is the budget option at $25 to $50 per square foot installed. Builders advise staining and sealing it every year. Cedar runs $30 to $47 and redwood $28 to $54 per square foot installed, and both still need regular resealing.

Composite runs $40 to $80 per square foot installed, and Trex $45 to $70. It never needs resealing, and HomeGuide puts its life at 25 to 50 years against 10 to 25 for a wood deck. Ipe, a dense Brazilian hardwood, costs $50 to $70 per square foot installed and lasts 40 to 70 years.

A stone patio skips the frame entirely. A flagstone patio costs $15 to $32 per square foot dry-laid, or up to $45 set in concrete, and a concrete or brick paver patio $10 to $17. Stone suits ground-level spots near a pool or where a raised deck would look out of place.

Covered or open outdoor space?

Decide how you want to use the space in sun, rain and cooler weather. Price a pergola or solid cover as a separate structural scope, including foundations, drainage and any utilities. Confirm approvals and the design for your site before treating a cover as a finish upgrade.

Railing and lighting

A deck more than 30 inches above the ground needs a guard. Wood or vinyl railing costs $20 to $60 per linear foot. Glass and cable systems vary widely by product, so ask each builder to price the railing as its own line. Deck stairs add $1,400 to $2,600 installed.

Low-voltage LED lighting in stair risers, post caps and under-rail strips changes how a deck reads at night. Outdoor lighting runs $80 to $300 per fixture. Skip rope lights and big spot fixtures.

Permits and code essentials

Confirm the requirements for your exact scope with the building department responsible for the property. Structural changes, utility work and changes of use can follow different approval paths. Ask the contractor to identify required permits, fees and inspections in writing; an exemption for one task does not cover the whole project. Have a qualified professional specify the foundations, framing, house connections and water protection for the site. Do not use a generic footing depth or connection detail as a construction drawing.

Further reading: Los Angeles · Seattle