OUTDOOR
Composite Deck Cost: Per Square Foot in 2026
Estimate composite deck installation cost per square foot — with the free deck calculator.
Composite decking looks like wood, never rots and never needs staining — the premium choice that pays back in maintenance savings. Here's the real 2026 cost.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The short answer
Composite decks run $23.50–$28.75 per sq ft installed in 2026 (Homewyse). Materials run $5–$15 per sq ft; labor adds the rest. A 300 sq ft composite deck runs $7,000–$12,000. It's 2× wood but lasts 25-30 years with zero maintenance.
What it costs
Composite decking runs $23.50–$28.75 per sq ft installed (Homewyse May 2026). Materials run $5–$15 per sq ft; framing and labor add the rest. A 300 sq ft deck runs $7,000–$12,000. Premium capped boards run $30+ per sq ft.
- Installed: $23.50–$28.75 per sq ft
- Materials: $5–$15 per sq ft
- 300 sq ft deck: $7,000–$12,000
- Premium capped: $30+ per sq ft
Composite vs wood
Composite costs about 2× pressure-treated wood ($10–$15 per sq ft installed) but never splinters, rots or needs staining. It lasts 25-30 years vs 10-15 for wood. The payback is in maintenance: wood decks cost $300–$500 a year in cleaning and sealing.
Try the deck calculator
Enter the area and per-sq-ft rates to estimate the project.