Cost guide
How much does decking cost?
£2,600 is the average 30 square metre timber deck in 2026. Installed rates run £40 to £73 per square metre for softwood and £62 to £110 for hardwood, with decking specialists charging £200 to £300 a day, or £250 to £350 in London and the South East.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on your room.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Softwood decking installed, per square metre | £40 to £73 |
| Hardwood decking installed, per square metre | £62 to £110 |
| Labour only, per square metre | £22 to £55 |
| 15 square metre softwood deck | £600 to £1,100 |
| 25 square metre hardwood deck | £1,550 to £2,700 |
| Steps, per flight installed | £150 to £450 |
Sub-frame timber and the pads under it are where a low figure gets made. Ask what section the joists are, what they bear on and how far apart they run, because none of it is visible once boards go down.
What moves the price
- Board species, from pressure treated pine at £10 per square metre supplied to teak at £70.
- Deck height, because anything raised needs larger posts, bracing and a balustrade.
- Ground conditions, since sloping or soft ground means more pads, posts and levelling.
- Balustrades and steps, at £300 to £900 and £150 to £450 a flight.
- Deck size, as fixed setting up costs spread further across 40 square metres than 15.
Who quotes for it
Questions about decking
Can decking be laid over an existing patio?
Yes, with the frame bearing on the slabs and enough clearance for air and water. Drainage still has to work, so a solid perimeter must not dam the existing falls. Height is the catch: a frame and boards over paving often push the surface close to the damp proof course.
What upkeep does timber decking need?
A wash each spring to lift algae, and a fresh coat of oil or stain every one to two years. Fixings get checked at the same time, since boards cup and lift as they weather. North facing decks need cleaning more often than sunny ones do.