How much does decking cost in the UK?
Decking costs £60 to £220 in the UK, typically around £120 per m². What moves the price most is deck area in square metres, so a simpler job sits near the bottom of that range and a larger or higher-spec one near the top. Prices reviewed June 2026.
Decking is priced by the square metre, and the board material is the biggest lever: softwood at the budget end, composite at the top. Height and railings add to the frame work.
Decking cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your decking in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Need to know how much material to order? Try the decking calculator or fencing calculator.
Decking cost breakdown
Typical decking costs, by the unit:
| What | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Per m², supplied and fitted | £60 to £220 per m² |
| + Composite boards (not softwood) | add £50 to £120 per m² |
| + Raised deck with railings | add £600 to £2,000 |
| 10 m² | £600 to £2,200 |
| 20 m² (typical) | £1,200 to £4,400 |
| 40 m² | £2,400 to £8,800 |
What's included in the price?
Typical decking prices include:
- Ground preparation and the supporting frame
- Joists, posts and fixings
- Decking boards supplied and laid
- Cutting, edging and clean-up
What changes the price?
The things that move decking prices most:
Deck area in square metres
Material: softwood is cheapest, hardwood and composite cost more
Height off the ground, steps and railings
Ground conditions and any groundwork
How the price is built up
Most of the price is the deck area, charged at £60 to £220 per square metre and set mainly by the material. A plain softwood deck at ground level, laid on a simple frame, sits near the £60 floor and lands close to the £120 typical figure once you allow for the substructure, fixings and labour. Composite boards in place of softwood add £50 to £120 per square metre and lift the rate towards the top of the band. Raising the deck off sloping ground and adding steps and railings is a separate build, from £600 to £2,000, and is what pushes a job to the £220 end. Poor ground or groundwork adds more. On a typical softwood deck, labour and materials are split fairly evenly, roughly half and half. Choosing composite boards, which add £50 to £120 per square metre, tilts the split towards materials.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Stay with softwood rather than composite. Composite adds £50 to £120 per square metre, so on a 20 square metre deck that is £1,000 to £2,400 extra before any labour.
- Keep the deck low to the ground and skip the railings. A raised deck with railings is a separate £600 to £2,000 build, so a ground-level deck avoids that whole cost.
- Sort out level, firm ground before the fitter arrives. Groundwork is one of the factors that lifts the rate, and clearing or levelling the site yourself keeps you nearer the £60 per square metre floor.
- Get two or three quotes before you commit. The rate spans £60 to £220 per square metre, so on a 20 square metre deck the difference between fitters can run to hundreds of pounds for the same job.
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, decking typically costs around £160 per m², about 30% above the UK average of £120. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £110.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £60 | £120 | £220 |
| London | £80 | £160 | £290 |
| South East / South West | £70 | £140 | £250 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £55 | £110 | £200 |
Guide prices per m², scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Decking cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £50 | £100 | £190 |
| Birmingham | £60 | £120 | £220 |
| Bristol | £65 | £130 | £240 |
| Cardiff | £55 | £110 | £210 |
| Edinburgh | £60 | £120 | £220 |
| Glasgow | £55 | £110 | £200 |
| Leeds | £55 | £110 | £200 |
| Liverpool | £55 | £110 | £200 |
| London | £80 | £160 | £290 |
| Manchester | £60 | £120 | £210 |
| Newcastle | £55 | £110 | £200 |
| Sheffield | £55 | £110 | £200 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for decking, not quotes.
Common questions
How much does decking cost to install?
A typical 20 square metre deck is roughly £1,500 to £4,500, mostly depending on whether you choose softwood or composite boards and how raised the deck is.
Is composite decking worth the extra?
Composite costs more upfront but does not need sanding, staining or sealing and lasts longer, so it can work out cheaper over time. Softwood is cheaper to install but needs regular maintenance.
Do I need planning permission for decking?
Not usually: decking is permitted development if the platform is no more than 30cm above the ground and, together with other outbuildings, covers no more than half the garden. Raised decks that overlook neighbours are where applications and objections start, so keep tall structures away from boundaries or check first.
Is decking cheaper than a patio?
At the entry level they are close: softwood decking starts around £60 per m² installed and basic slab patios around £70. The gap opens with the upgrade paths, as composite boards add £50 to £120 per m² and premium patio stone runs to £220. Decking suits sloped gardens where a patio would need serious groundwork; that is often the real deciding factor, not the headline rate.
How long does decking last?
Softwood decking lasts roughly 10 to 15 years with annual cleaning and periodic re-treatment; neglected, it can rot in well under that. Composite boards last 20 to 25 years or more with almost no upkeep, which is the honest case for paying their premium.
What is the cheapest way to build a garden deck?
The cheapest route is a low, ground-level softwood deck with no railings, which keeps you near the £60 per square metre floor. Softwood is the cheapest material, and staying at ground level avoids the raised deck and railings build that runs from £600 to £2,000. Level, firm ground helps too, since groundwork lifts the rate. A small softwood deck can therefore come in well below the £120 per square metre typical figure.
How much does a 20 square metre deck cost?
At the £60 to £220 per square metre range, a 20 square metre deck runs from about £1,200 to £4,400, with a typical softwood job around £2,400. Composite boards add £50 to £120 per square metre, so £1,000 to £2,400 on that size. Raising the deck with steps and railings is a separate £600 to £2,000 on top.
Does the ground under decking affect the price?
Yes. Ground conditions and any groundwork are one of the things that move the rate within the £60 to £220 per square metre band. Level, firm ground lets the fitter build straight onto a simple frame and keeps you nearer the £60 floor. Sloping, soft or uneven ground means levelling, extra supports or a raised structure, and a raised deck with railings is a separate build from £600 to £2,000.
Can I build decking myself?
Yes, a ground-level softwood deck is a realistic DIY project and a good way to save, since labour and materials split roughly half and half at £60 to £220 per m2. You still buy timber, joists and fixings, and the frame, levels and drainage are what make or break it. Raised decks, awkward ground or composite boards, which add £50 to £120 per m2, are harder, so bring in a pro for those.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.