Deck Project Planner
Enter your deck once and get everything: a shoppable lumber + hardware bill of materials, an itemized project cost with your state's labor rate, IRC 2021 compliance checks, a live 3D preview, and PDF / CSV export. Brand-neutral, mobile-first, no signup.
How do I plan a deck — materials and cost — in one place?
- Output
- BOM + cost + 3D
- Materials
- All brands
- Cost
- Free forever
Dimensions
Plan-view length × width.
IRC R312 requires a 36″ guardrail above 30″.
192 sq ft · Trex Enhance · straight · 1.22× labor · incl. 10% contingency
Project advisories · IRC 2021
Joist span too long — 12′ > 10.4′ max
IRC R507.62×8 SPF joists at 16″ o.c. only span 10.4′. Reduce the width, add an intermediate beam, or step up to 2×10/2×12 joists. Run the Joist Span Calculator to size it.
Guardrail included (deck 36″ off grade)
IRC R312IRC R312 mandates a 36″ guardrail on open edges above 30″. 40 lf of Composite system priced into the project.
Joist spacing set to 16″ o.c. for Trex Enhance
Manufacturer specTrex Enhance is rated for 16″ on-center under your straight pattern. The takeoff and board count already reflect this spacing.
Footings to 36″ frost depth (PA)
IRC R403.1.4Pier footings must extend below the local frost line. PA minimum is 36″. Concrete quantity above assumes 12″⌀ piers — deepen as needed.
Hidden-fastener install premium applied
Manufacturer specTrex Enhance uses concealed clip systems — labor runs ~25% longer than face-screwing wood. That premium is baked into the labor line.
Lumber & hardware — shoppable list
Material-only quantities at 2026-Q1 national-average retail. Tap Home Depot / Lowe’s on any row to price it locally. Waste factored in (10% for the straight pattern).
Project cost summary
Lumber quantities use the same engine as DeckMath’s programmatic pages; pricing reflects 2026-Q1 national-average retail (Home Depot / Lowe’s) and RSMeans labor indices. Expect ±15% local variance. This plan is for budgeting and permit prep — not a substitute for a licensed inspector or structural engineer.
Your rectangular deck
16′ × 12′ bounding footprint · ≈ 192 sq ft deck surface.
Visual preview · not engineered drawings
Keep this deck — no account needed
Saved in this browser only. The whole project lives in the link — open it anywhere, or email it to a contractor.
Same deck, three materials side by side
Your 16′ × 12′ deck (192 sq ft), re-priced across brands. 25-year TCO adds maintenance to the build cost.
| Material | composite | wood | composite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project total | $18,629 | $15,065 Lowest upfront | $19,488 |
| Cost / sq ft | $97 | $78 | $102 |
| Lumber & hardware | $2,963 | $1,819 | $3,705 |
| Labor (install) | $10,248 | $8,198 | $10,248 |
| Maintenance / yr | $10 | $86 | $10 |
| 25-yr total cost | $18,869 | $17,225 Best long-term | $19,728 |
25-year total = build cost + 25 years of maintenance (stain/seal for wood; rinse-only for composite/PVC). Wood is usually cheapest upfront; composite/PVC often win on lifetime cost. Brand-neutral — no product is favored. Change the deck above and these scenarios re-price instantly.
Seasonal maintenance — Trex Enhance
No sanding, staining, or sealing — ever. Rinse 2× a year and spot-clean spills.
Spring
- • Wash the deck (soap + water; composite: follow the brand's cleaner).
- • Inspect ledger flashing, fasteners, and railing posts for winter movement.
- • Check board clips are seated.
Summer
- • Keep the gaps between boards clear so they drain and ventilate.
- • Spot-check for loose boards before heavy entertaining season.
- • Rinse off pollen and grease; no sealing needed.
Fall
- • Clear leaves and debris from board gaps and corners (they trap moisture).
- • Deep-clean before winter; check that water still drains off.
- • Trim back vegetation touching the deck.
Winter
- • Sweep off wet leaves and standing water.
- • Avoid metal shovels and harsh ice-melt that can mar the surface.
- • Otherwise minimal — milder winters are easy on decks.
Upkeep cost is an estimate ($0/sqft/yr for Trex Enhance × 192 sq ft). Wood needs periodic stain/seal; composite & PVC are rinse-only. Always follow your manufacturer’s care guide.
How to use
How to use the Deck Project Planner in 5 steps.
- 01
Enter your dimensions
Set the deck length and width. Area and perimeter update instantly, and the 3D preview resizes to match.
- 02
Pick a board + pattern
Choose any decking material — pressure-treated, cedar, Ipe, or composite/PVC from every major brand — and a layout pattern. Joist spacing auto-sets to the board's code-rated maximum.
- 03
Add railing, stairs, lighting
Toggle the systems your project includes. Railing auto-flags as required above 30″ per IRC R312; stairs derive their step count from the deck height.
- 04
Review the shoppable BOM + cost
Get an exact lumber-and-hardware list with Home Depot / Lowe's price-check links, plus an itemized project cost with regional labor, permit, and 10% contingency.
- 05
Export or share
Download a PDF plan or CSV bill of materials, print it for the lumber yard, or copy a link that restores the whole project — no signup, ever.
How we calculate
How DeckMath calculates the result — IRC 2021 sources.
The planner runs one project state through DeckMath's shared takeoff engine, then prices every line at 2026-Q1 national-average retail. Lumber and hardware are material-only quantities (board count, joists, beams, posts, footings, fasteners); railing, stairs, lighting, and skirting are installed estimates; labor scales with area, your state's RSMeans index, the material category, and the footprint complexity.
IRC references
- R507.6 — joist spans
- R507.5 — beam spans
- R507.3 / R403.1.4 — footings & frost depth
- R312 — guardrails
- R311.7 — stairs
- R507.9.2 — lateral load anchors
Quantities use the same engine as DeckMath's programmatic pages. Pricing reflects 2026-Q1 national-average retail (Home Depot / Lowe's) and RSMeans regional labor indices. Plan for ±15% local variance and always get 3 contractor bids.
Waste rises with the pattern (10% straight → 32% herringbone). Board face width and stock length come from the selected material.
On-center spacing is auto-set to the material's prescribed maximum (tighter for angled patterns), so the board count stays code-compliant.
Footing concrete assumes 12″⌀ piers; deepen to your state's frost line. Lateral anchors (DTT2Z) are included on ledger-attached decks per IRC R507.9.2.
Lumber is priced material-only at retail; railing/stairs/lighting are installed estimates; labor scales with area, region, material category, and footprint complexity. The 10% is a contingency reserve.
People also ask
Deck planner questions, answered.
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