How much does a deck cost to install in 2026?
Per-square-metre rates by region, common job prices, what drives the cost, and how to write a decking quote that wins.
The short answer
Decking installers typically charge $55 to $110 per hour
$180 to $550 per square metre installed. Here is what tradies actually charge in 2026 and how the price gets built.
Decking installers typically quote per square metre rather than hourly. Treated pine decking runs $180 to $280 per sqm installed. Hardwood (jarrah, merbau, blackbutt) runs $280 to $420 per sqm. Composite (Trex, EkoDeck) runs $320 to $550 per sqm. A standard 24sqm rear deck runs $4,500 to $13,000 depending on material. Larger decks with balustrade, steps, and pergola run $15,000 to $35,000+. Pricing depends on board material, height off ground, fixing method (screws vs hidden clips), balustrade inclusion, and access.
Hourly rates
Decking installers hourly rates by region (2026)
Standard daytime rates across the major markets. Metro areas typically command a 20-30% premium. After-hours work is 1.5x to 2x.
United States
Notes
Master deck builders with hidden-fastener systems at the top
United Kingdom
Notes
London 20-30% premium
Australia
Notes
Hardwood and composite specialists at the top
South Africa
Notes
Premium hardwood and balau specialists above this
Canada
Notes
Toronto, Vancouver at the top
New Zealand
Notes
Auckland and Wellington at the top
Ireland
Notes
Dublin commands a premium
India
Notes
Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore at the top
Job pricing
Common decking installer jobs and what they cost
Real-world price ranges for the jobs tradies quote every week. Includes labour, parts, and standard call-out.
Site visit and quote
What's included
Most installers quote free. Detailed CAD plans for complex decks may be charged.
Treated pine deck (per sqm, install)
What's included
Includes joists, bearers, posts, boards (90x22mm), and screws. Standard 1m off ground.
Hardwood deck (per sqm, install)
What's included
Includes hardwood boards (merbau, jarrah, blackbutt), substructure, screws or clips, finish oil.
Composite deck (per sqm, install)
What's included
Includes composite boards (Trex, EkoDeck, NewTechWood), aluminium or treated substructure, hidden clips.
Balustrade (per linear m, timber)
What's included
Includes posts, top rail, balusters, fixings. Standard 1m high to meet safety code.
Balustrade (per linear m, glass)
What's included
Includes toughened glass panels, posts or channel, fixings. Frameless higher cost.
Steps (per step, hardwood)
What's included
Includes stringer, tread, fixings. Multi-step or wide steps cost more.
Pergola or roof structure (per sqm)
What's included
Includes posts, beams, rafters, fixings. Roof covering (Colorbond, polycarbonate) extra.
Deck restoration (per sqm)
What's included
Sand, fix loose boards, replace damaged, re-oil. Extends life of existing deck by 5-10 years.
What drives the price
Six things that change the price of a job
The same job can cost 2x more or less depending on these factors. Knowing them helps customers spot fair quotes and helps tradies justify their own.
Board material
Treated pine ($35-55/sqm material). Hardwood ($90-180/sqm). Composite ($120-220/sqm). The same install structure can be 3x cost depending on board choice. State the board species and grade on the quote.
Substructure quality
H4-treated pine joists and bearers (standard). H5 or hardwood substructure (premium, lasts 30+ years). Aluminium substructure for composite ($25-40/sqm extra). State the substructure material.
Fixing method
Standard top-screw with stainless screws (cheapest). Hidden fasteners (clips between boards) cost 30-50% more in labour but give a flawless finish. State the fixing method on the quote.
Height off ground
Low decks (under 600mm) are easy to build. High decks (over 1m) need stronger posts and structural engineering. Decks over 1m typically need handrails by code.
Balustrade and steps
Balustrade for safety (required if over 1m high) adds $180-650/m. Steps to the ground add $180-320 per step. Quote separately so customers can choose.
Permits and engineering
Decks over a certain size or height need council approval and engineering certification. Quote the permit and engineer fees as line items.
How to quote it
How decking installers should price their work
Tips for tradies on writing quotes that win the job and protect the margin.
Quote per sqm with material spec
'24sqm at $310/sqm in merbau, hidden-clip fixing' beats 'deck $7,500'. Customers verify material and fixing at quote time.
Show substructure detail
Many cheap quotes skimp on bearers and joists. State the size (e.g. 140x45 joists at 450mm centres) so customers see why your quote is solid.
Itemise balustrade and steps
Standard deck $7,500. Balustrade adds $2,500. Steps add $800. Customers can choose what they need. Reduces total-scope sticker shock.
Take a 30% deposit
Boards (especially hardwood and composite) are ordered specifically. 30% covers material. Stage payments cover substructure, deck-laid, and finish milestones.
Quote oil + maintenance program
Hardwood needs oiling every 2-5 years. Quote a 'first re-oil included in year 2' as a $200-450 line. Locks in the maintenance relationship.
Send time-lapse photos via WhatsApp
Customers paying $10,000+ for a deck love seeing it built. Posts day 1, joists day 2, boards day 3-4, oil day 5. Triples your portfolio shareability.
Watch out for
Pricing red flags to watch for
The patterns that usually signal a problem on the quote, with what to do about each one.
No substructure spec
What to do: Insist on joist size, bearer size, and centres. Cheap quotes hide substructure detail because they're using thin material at wide centres, leading to bouncy or failed decks within 3-5 years.
Verbal quote on a $3,000+ job
What to do: Always written. Decks have too many variables (board, substructure, fixing, balustrade, steps, height) for verbal.
Generic 'hardwood'
What to do: Insist on species (merbau, jarrah, blackbutt). Different hardwoods have very different costs and warranties. 'Hardwood' is the substitution scam where merbau becomes whatever's cheapest.
Cash-only with no invoice
What to do: Walk away. Without an invoice you have no warranty, no insurance claim path, and no proof of work for resale. Decks are structural improvements buyers ask about.
No balustrade where required by code
What to do: Decks over 1m off the ground legally require handrails in most regions. A 'cheap' quote that omits balustrade is non-compliant and can be ordered demolished.
Pressure to skip the engineer
What to do: Larger or higher decks need structural engineering certification. Skipping it means the deck can't be legally occupied or sold. Insist on engineer sign-off as a line item.
Sample quote
A real example: line-by-line
Rear deck, 24sqm, 600mm off ground, hardwood (merbau), no balustrade
Site excavation, post holes (8 holes, 600mm deep, concrete-set)
Substructure: H4 treated pine bearers + joists at 450mm centres
Merbau decking boards 90x22mm (24sqm + 10% waste)
Stainless steel screws + hidden butt-joint clips (full deck)
Edge framing, fascia boards, end caps
Installation labour (4 days, 2-person team)
Initial oil coat + 12-month re-oil included (hardwood protection)
Manufacturer warranty (10 years) + installer workmanship (5 years)
FAQ
Decking installers pricing questions, answered
Everything customers and tradies ask about decking installer pricing.
Treated pine: $180-280/sqm installed. Hardwood: $280-420/sqm. Composite: $320-550/sqm. A standard 24sqm rear deck runs $4,500-13,000 depending on material. Composite is most expensive upfront but lowest maintenance over 25 years.
Treated pine: cheapest, lasts 15-20 years, needs oil every 2-3 years. Hardwood (merbau, jarrah, blackbutt): premium look, lasts 25-40 years, needs oil every 2-5 years. Composite (Trex, EkoDeck): zero maintenance, lasts 30+ years, most expensive upfront. Choose by lifetime cost preference.
For decks over $3,000, yes 2-3 quotes. Compare board species, substructure spec, fixing method, balustrade scope, and warranty. Cheapest often uses thinner joists or substitutes hardwood with cheaper species.
Often yes. Most regions require council approval for decks over a certain size (varies, often 10sqm or 20sqm) or height (over 600mm or 1m). The installer should know your local rules and include permit costs in the quote.
Treated pine: 15-20 years. Hardwood with proper oil maintenance: 25-40 years. Composite: 30+ years (often with 25-year manufacturer warranty). Substructure quality determines long-term life as much as board material.
Treated pine: re-oil every 2-3 years ($400-1,200 per service). Hardwood: re-oil every 2-5 years (similar cost). Composite: rinse and brush, no oiling needed. Maintenance neglect cuts deck life by half.
For decks over $3,000: 30% deposit on signing (material order), 30% on substructure complete, 30% on boards laid, 10% on completion. Anyone asking for more than 30% upfront is a risk.
Yes, DIY is possible for skilled DIYers. Substructure is the hard part; getting bearers and joists level and at correct centres is critical. Most quality boards (composite especially) need specific fixing systems. DIY saves 40-50% but risks failure within 5 years if substructure is wrong.
Get the board species and grade, substructure size (joist and bearer dimensions and centres), fixing method, balustrade scope, and warranty length upfront in writing. Pay via banking app. Verbal cash deals are how 'cheap' decks become $15,000 callbacks 3-5 years later.
Yes, modern decking installers send quotes via WhatsApp as a PDF with sketches and material samples. Faster acceptance, mobile-friendly review, and the message thread doubles as a written record. Tools like QuoteGenio build the PDF on the installer's phone.
Use a template
Free decking installer quote and invoice templates
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