Composite vs wood deck: what each costs on three deck sizes, and what it costs to keep
Pressure-treated pine, composite and ipe decks priced on a 12×16, 16×20 and 20×24 ft deck from our pricing engine, how long each lasts, the yearly upkeep, and when composite is worth the extra.
The decking you choose sets both the price and the next twenty years of weekends. Here are pressure-treated pine, composite and ipe priced on three deck sizes from the same pricing engine our quote tool uses, and what each costs to keep.
What each costs
| Type | 12 × 16 ft | 16 × 20 ft | 20 × 24 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine | $6,419 | $10,299 | $15,149 |
| Composite | $10,215 | $16,624 | $24,637 |
| Hardwood (ipe) | $13,757 | $22,528 | $33,492 |
Installed, for a deck close to the ground with a simple railing. Height, stairs, railings and permits change the number. On a 16×20 ft deck, composite is about 61% more than pine up front.
What each costs to keep
- Pressure-treated pine: clean and seal or stain every one to two years; 15–20 years of life.
- Composite: wash it; no staining or sealing. 25–30 years. Runs hotter underfoot in full sun.
- Ipe: oil it to keep the colour, or let it weather silver. 40 years and more.
When composite is worth it
The gap on a 16×20 ft deck is about $6,325. Paying someone to clean and seal a pine deck every year or two, plus the boards you replace as it ages, closes much of that over ten years — and the composite deck is still going when the pine one needs replacing. If you will stay more than about ten years, composite usually wins; if you are selling soon, pine is the better buy.
Common questions
Is composite decking more expensive than wood?
Yes: about $16,624 against $10,299 for pine on a 16×20 ft deck.
Is composite decking worth it?
If you will keep the deck more than about ten years, usually.
Composite or ipe?
Ipe lasts longest and costs most; composite is cheaper and needs less care.
Get the homeowner roof-buying playbook
One short email every two weeks: which questions to ask roofers, when to walk away, how to spot inflated bids. No spam.