Deck Material Cost Comparison
Side-by-side cost, lifespan, maintenance, and 25-year TCO across every mainstream deck material — from $4.50/sqft pressure-treated to $28/sqft ipe. Use this to narrow your material before running the per-material calculator for a permit-ready BoM.
| Material | $/sqft installed | Lifespan | Maint $/sqft/yr | 25-yr TCO low | Best for | Calc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pressure-treated SYP Wood | $5–$7 | 12–20 yr | $0.30 | $12 | Budget builds, framing-only, garden-bed liner | Open |
Cedar (Eastern White) Wood | $6–$10 | 18–22 yr | $0.45 | $17 | Midwest/Northeast budget cedar option | Open |
Cedar (Western Red) Wood | $8–$12 | 20–25 yr | $0.45 | $19 | Premium aesthetic at wood prices, natural rot resistance | Open |
Composite — Entry tier Trex Enhance · Fiberon Good Life · Veranda Composite | $11–$15 | 25–30 yr | $0.05 | $12 | First-time composite buyers, value-priced premium | Open |
Composite — Mid tier Trex Select · TimberTech Edge · Fiberon Sanctuary Composite | $13–$17 | 25–30 yr | $0.05 | $14 | Most popular composite tier — broadest color range | Open |
Garapa (Brazilian ash) Premium hardwood | $14–$20 | 30–40 yr | $0.40 | $24 | Ipe aesthetic at lower price, lighter color | Open |
Composite — Premium tier Trex Transcend · TimberTech AZEK · Fiberon Paramount Composite | $16–$22 | 30–50 yr | $0.03 | $17 | High-end builds, lifetime warranty seekers | Open |
PVC (cellular) AZEK · Wolf Serenity · Fiberon Paramount PVC | $17–$24 | 30–50 yr | $0.02 | $18 | Pool decks, coastal exposure, zero-maintenance priority | Open |
Ipe (Brazilian walnut) Premium hardwood | $18–$28 | 50–75 yr | $0.45 | $29 | Lifetime decks, exotic aesthetic, public pier installs | Open |
$/sqft installed = materials + labor + waste + fasteners. 25-yr TCO low = lowest install price + 25 years of maintenance at the listed rate. Pricing 2026-Q1 from RSMeans, manufacturer dealer pages, Home Depot Pro, and Lowe's Pro.
Cheapest material
Pressure-treated SYP at $4.50/sqft. 12-20 yr life with annual sealing — TCO ~$12 over 25 years.
Longest lifespan
Ipe at 50-75 years. PVC at 30-50 years. Premium composite (Trex Transcend) at 30-50 years.
Lowest 25-yr TCO
Composite mid-tier ($14-$18 total). Composite premium ($16-$22). Both beat annual-sealed wood by year 12.
Frequently asked
What's the cheapest deck material?
Pressure-treated southern yellow pine ($4.50-$7/sqft installed) is the cheapest mainstream option. It's also the most permits-friendly because it's IRC-coded for both decking and framing. Lifespan: 12-20 years with annual sealing.
What's the most expensive deck material?
Ipe (Brazilian walnut) at $18-$28/sqft installed — the densest commercial decking material with 50-75 year lifespan. PVC and premium-tier composite (Trex Transcend) sit just below at $16-$24/sqft.
Cedar vs composite — which is cheaper over 25 years?
It depends on maintenance. Cedar at $7.50-$12/sqft + $0.45/sqft/yr finish maintenance × 25 yr = $18.75-$23.25 total per sqft. Composite at $13-$17/sqft + $0.05/sqft/yr × 25 = $14.25-$18.25 total per sqft. Composite wins on 25-yr TCO unless you let cedar weather (no maintenance — cedar wins at $7.50-$12).
Is composite always more expensive than wood?
Yes upfront, but composite's 25-yr maintenance ($0.03-$0.05/sqft/yr) is much lower than wood's ($0.30-$0.45/sqft/yr). Over 25 years, mid-tier composite is roughly equivalent to or cheaper than annual-sealed cedar — and significantly cheaper than annual-sealed PT.
Does the cost include installation?
Yes — all $/sqft figures on this page are installed (materials + labor + waste + fasteners). DIY installs save 35-50% on labor but add 30-50% to project time. Our individual calculators break out materials, labor, and add-ons separately.
What about Trex, TimberTech, and Fiberon specifically?
All three offer entry, mid, and premium tiers with similar pricing. Trex (the original composite, 1996) leads brand recognition. TimberTech AZEK is the only one offering full PVC at composite prices. Fiberon undercuts both by 5-10% with similar warranties. Use our brand-specific calculators for current SKU pricing.
Ready to run the math?
Pick a calculator below to get a permit-ready BoM, regional labor adjustment, and embed code for your project.