Pricing Deck Work in Deck and Patio Services Packages

What to take away

This article covers general deck and patio contracting information. It is not structural, engineering, building-code, permit, fall-protection, employment, tax, insurance or legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your local authority having jurisdiction and qualified professionals.

What a package actually is

A package is a fixed list of what the homeowner receives, what they do not, and when money changes hands. It is not a discount and it is not a square-foot rate.

The rate hides everything. Two 12 by 16 foot decks can differ by thousands because one sits on undisturbed soil and the other needs a new ledger board, deeper footings or a crane lift over a fence.

Write the inclusions in the customer's language. "Framing with pressure-treated lumber at the joist spacing your engineer specifies" beats "premium structure." Lumber brands such as YellaWood and ProWood do not change that rule.

Installed deck prices typically land between $35 and $60 per square foot in most U.S. markets as of 2026. Composite decking sits at the top of that band, pressure-treated pine at the bottom.

Inclusions to name, one by one

Site visit and measurement. One visit, one measurement sheet, one sketch. A measured visit typically bills at $150 to $400 and is credited against the signed contract. Free visits are how you fund other people's shopping.

Design and drawing handoff. Say who draws the plan, how many revisions are included, and what an extra revision costs. A simple permit drawing typically runs $300 to $900. Most disputes start at revision four.

Permit application support. You prepare and submit; the homeowner pays the fee. Residential deck permits typically cost $150 to $600, set by the municipality. State that approval timing is the municipality's, not yours.

Foundation and footings. Name the method. Cast-in-place concrete piers with Simpson Strong-Tie post bases and connectors are common. In the U.S., depth and sizing follow the locally adopted International Residential Code (IRC), local amendments and the engineer's specification; requirements vary by jurisdiction. The Canada-specific footing-depth reference does not set U.S. requirements, so do not publish a universal footing number in a sales document.

Framing. Joist size, spacing and fastener type belong in the specification sheet attached to the package, not in the marketing line. Pressure-treated framing at 16 inches on center, with hot-dip galvanized hangers and fasteners, is the usual baseline.

Decking and fasteners. Name the board brand and line. Trex Transcend and TimberTech AZEK Vintage are capped composites that typically retail at $6 to $9 per square foot. Fiberon Good Life and Deckorators Voyage sit lower. Say whether hidden clips like Trex Hideaway or Camo are included or an upgrade.

Railing. Name the height and material. Trex Signature and Fortress Building Products aluminum railings typically run $50 to $90 per linear foot installed. Guard and load requirements come from the building code and the authority having jurisdiction.

Stairs, landings and lighting. List them or exclude them in writing, because they are the most common "I assumed that was included" items. Low-voltage LED deck lights typically cost $25 to $60 per fixture plus labor.

Site protection and cleanup. Include disposal of old material, lawn protection, and a magnetic sweep for fasteners. A haul-away dumpster or trailer load typically runs $300 to $600. Small line, large complaint volume.

Walkthrough, punch list and warranty. State the warranty length, what it covers, and how a callback is scheduled. Trex and TimberTech publish 25-year to lifetime limited fade-and-stain warranties on their composite boards. Your workmanship warranty is separate.

Exclusions to write down

Footing depth beyond the specified depth. Rot discovered behind a ledger board. Permit fees. Engineering stamps, typically $400 to $1,200 where a stamp is required. Hot tub or pergola loads. Irrigation and gas line relocation. Snow removal during the build.

Each exclusion is a sentence, not a paragraph. A homeowner who reads the exclusion list before signing is a homeowner who does not call you angry in June.

Pricing the package with your own numbers

Do not copy a regional rate. Build the price from four variables you control.

Quoted price = (H x R + M) / (1 - O). Substitute your own figures. If the result is below what a competitor advertises, your H is probably optimistic.

A two-person deck crew typically loads at $65 to $120 per hour in most U.S. markets as of 2026, once payroll taxes, workers' compensation and insurance are counted. That is the R most contractors underestimate.

Worked example: three jobs, one package

Take a 12 by 16 foot ground-level deck with railing on two sides: about 192 square feet of decking and 30 linear feet of railing. Job A sits on level, undisturbed soil.

Job B needs the old ledger replaced. Job C has a slope that requires a lift.

Same package name, different site conditions. The table records shared inclusions, not a total quote. The package defines the work; the site changes labor hours, materials and price. Calculate each job with your own figures.

Running the package through the build

Seventeen steps carry a job from first call to warranty visit. The customer should always know which one comes next.

Assign one person to hold the schedule and flag exceptions the same day. Fall protection on a residential deck build follows the applicable rules; see OSHA residential fall protection guidance and your own regulator.

Advertising and records

Any claim you publish about the package has to be truthful and supported. The FTC advertising FAQs for small business covers claims, endorsements and disclosure of material relationships.

Keep the paperwork that proves what you sold and what you spent. The IRS recordkeeping guidance explains what a system has to show. Your accountant sets the retention period for your situation.

Where the customers come from

Paid lead platforms typically charge $15 to $100 per lead, and several sell the same lead to more than one contractor.

Common questions

What should a basic deck package include?

A complete deck project includes these stages:

Anything you leave off that list becomes a free upgrade later.

Should the site visit be free?

Charge for it or credit it against the signed contract. A free visit costs you a crew hour and a vehicle, and it attracts homeowners who are collecting four quotes.

How do I price a package without copying a regional rate?

Use your own labor hours, loaded crew cost, material cost and overhead percentage. Recheck the hours after three completed jobs, because the first estimate is usually the optimistic one.

Where do I find the current code and permit requirements?

In the United States, the local building department or other authority having jurisdiction administers permits and enforces locally adopted code. Many jurisdictions base residential requirements on the International Residential Code (IRC), published by the International Code Council (ICC), but editions and amendments vary. There is no single national deck-permit form or contractor license; check the local building department's deck permit application and whether your state's contractor licensing agency regulates the work.