The four, side by side
These are the suggested prices our calculators use, last reviewed in : what the boards cost at the store, and what a whole deck costs built by a contractor, frame and footings included.
| Decking | Board, per linear ft | Boards and fasteners, per sq ft | Fastened with | Deck built, per sq ft | 12 × 16 deck built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine | $1.10 | $2.67 | Two screws a joist | $31–$41 | $5,880–$7,950 |
| Cedar | $2.60 | $5.87 | Two screws a joist | $33–$45 | $6,360–$8,610 |
| Composite | $3.40 | $8.21 | Hidden clips | $48–$64 | $9,140–$12,360 |
| PVC | $5.20 | $12.05 | Hidden clips | $50–$68 | $9,630–$13,030 |
The board price is only part of a deck. The frame, footings, hardware and labor are much the same whatever goes on top, which is why composite boards can cost three times as much as pine and the finished deck well under twice as much.
What each one is
Pressure-treated pine is soaked with preservatives that keep rot and insects out. It's the cheapest decking and the frame under nearly every deck, whatever the boards on top are made of.
Cedar resists decay naturally and looks better than pine to most eyes, but it's softer and costs more. Left bare it weathers to gray, so it needs a finish to keep its color, just like pine.
Composite boards are wood fiber mixed with plastic, and most made today have a harder plastic shell around them. They don't need staining. Most have grooved edges for hidden clips, so no screw heads show.
PVC boards are all plastic, with no wood in them at all. They're lighter than composite and cost more, and they're the usual choice where the deck stays wet, such as around a pool.
The cost over the years
Wood's head start shrinks every time it's stained. A pine deck stained by a painter every two or three years can cost more in total than a composite one, if you keep it long enough. How long that takes depends on the size of the deck and on whether you stain it yourself, which is where the tool below comes in.
Four decks over the years
The same deck built four ways, with the wood ones stained on a schedule. Change the size and the years and watch the order change.
Here's the same comparison for a 12 by 16 deck after 20 years, stained by a painter:
| 12 × 16 deck | Built | After 20 years, stained every 2 | After 20 years, stained every 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine | $6,910 | $10,810 | $9,640 |
| Cedar | $7,490 | $11,390 | $10,220 |
| Composite | $10,750 | $10,750 | $10,750 |
| PVC | $11,330 | $11,330 | $11,330 |
Composite and PVC are counted with no upkeep cost at all. They do need washing now and then, and we leave out repairs and replacements for all four, because no one can price those in advance.
How long each one lasts
A maker of composite decking puts traditional wood at 10 to 15 years. Other published estimates give a well-kept pressure-treated deck 15 to 30. The gap between those numbers is mostly care: washing, staining on schedule and the right lumber where it touches the ground.
Composite makers estimate 25 to 30 years for their boards. But a composite deck usually sits on a pressure-treated frame, and the frame decides how long the whole deck lasts. Our guide to how long a wood deck lasts goes into what wears out first.
Which one to choose
- Pressure-treated pine if the budget is tight, you might move in a few years, or you don't mind staining it yourself.
- Cedar if you want real wood that looks the part and you're happy to keep up the finish.
- Composite if you plan to stay a long time and never want to stain a deck again.
- PVC if the deck will be wet much of the time, or you want the least upkeep and the budget allows it.
Whatever you pick, dark boards in full sun get hot underfoot. Look at samples outside before you buy.
Fair questions
Can I put composite boards on my old wood frame?
Often, if the frame is sound. Many composite boards need joists 16 inches apart, and closer on a diagonal, so check yours against the maker's instructions and our joist spacing guide. The resurfacing calculator prices new boards on the frame you have.
Does composite need any care at all?
It needs washing, mainly to keep mold and grime off in shady, damp spots, and the makers publish cleaning instructions for their boards. What it doesn't need is sanding or staining.
How many boards does each one take?
The same number for the same width. The deck board calculator counts them for your deck, with the screws or clips, and finds the board length that wastes the least.
Sources
- TimberTech, How long does decking last?: a composite decking maker's lifespan estimates for wood and composite decks.
- Hunker, What's the average lifespan of a wooden deck?: lifespan estimates for well-kept pressure-treated decks.
- USDA Forest Service, Protecting wood decks from biodegradation and weathering (Morrell, Schneider and Williams, 2001): a test of 32 deck finishes outdoors for over three years, and how long they held up.
- How we calculate: every suggested price behind this calculator, with the date it was last reviewed.
