In Remodeling magazine's 2025 Cost vs. Value report, adding a 16-by-20-foot deck in New England averaged $25,817 with composite decking and $20,603 with pressure-treated wood decking, both on a pressure-treated frame. Size, height above the ground, stairs, railings, footings and the decking material move a Massachusetts deck's price most.
What does a new deck cost in New England?
| Project | Typical scope | New England average, 2025 | About per sq ft of deck | Cost recouped at resale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deck addition, composite | Add a 16 × 20 ft deck on a pressure-treated frame, with composite decking, railing and stairs | $25,817 | $80.68 | 95.8% |
| Deck addition, wood | Add a 16 × 20 ft deck with pressure-treated decking, railing and stairs | $20,603 | $64.38 | 79.1% |
New England average, 2025. © 2025 Zonda Media, a Delaware corporation. Complete data from the Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com. These are regional averages for standard projects, not quotes: your price depends on your house, your choices and the conditions found once work starts. The per-square-foot column is the benchmark job cost divided by 320 sq ft.
We don't publish our own price ranges. Every deck is priced from a site visit and a drawing, with an itemized estimate.
What drives the cost of a deck?
- Size and shape: angles, curves and multiple levels take more framing and cutting than a rectangle.
- Height above the ground: taller decks need longer posts, bracing and guards, and more stairs.
- Decking: pressure-treated wood costs least; composite and PVC cost more but don't need staining.
- Railings: wood, composite, aluminum and cable systems differ widely in price.
- Stairs and landings: each run of stairs adds framing, treads and railings.
- Footings: they must go below the frost line, commonly 48 inches in Massachusetts, and rock or poor soil makes digging harder.
- Attachment: a deck attached to the house needs a properly flashed and bolted ledger; a freestanding deck needs more posts and footings instead.
- Removing an old deck, and extras such as lighting, built-in benches or privacy screens.
Is composite decking worth the extra cost?
Composite cost $5,214 more for the same 16 × 20 ft deck in the 2025 benchmark, and it recouped more at resale (95.8% versus 79.1%). It doesn't need staining or sealing. Wood decking costs less up front but needs regular cleaning and a fresh stain or sealer every few years. In both cases the frame underneath is usually pressure-treated lumber, so the frame details matter as much as the decking.
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Do you need a permit to build a deck in Massachusetts?
Yes for attached decks, and for most freestanding ones. The building department typically inspects the footing holes, the framing and the finished deck. Zoning setbacks apply, and decks near wetlands may need Conservation Commission approval. The residential code requires guards on decks more than 30 inches above the ground below. See the deck section of our permit guide.
How long does it take to build a deck?
Most decks take about 1 to 2 weeks to build, depending on size and features. The permit, the footing inspection and material orders come first, so plan a few weeks ahead if you want the deck ready for summer.
What did our Salem, NH pool deck involve?
The deck at the top of this guide wraps an above-ground pool in Salem, New Hampshire. The photos on the project page show pressure-treated joists framed around the pool, gray decking angled to follow the pool's edge, white railings and stairs. In New Hampshire, deck permits come from each town's building department; see our deck work in Salem, NH.
In Massachusetts we build decks from our base in Northborough and across our service area. A Northborough client shared this about their deck and small addition:
“They built our deck and a small addition. Great communication the whole way. Exactly what you want in a contractor.”
See our deck design and construction service for what we build.
Frequently asked questions
Is a new deck a good investment?
Decks recoup more of their cost than larger remodels such as major kitchens and additions: in the 2025 Cost vs. Value data for New England, a composite deck recouped 95.8% of its cost at resale and a wood deck 79.1%.
Can new decking go on my old deck frame?
Sometimes. If the frame, ledger, footings and connectors are sound, new decking and railings can go on the existing frame. If the ledger isn't flashed and bolted, or the posts and joists are rotting, the frame should be rebuilt first.
When does a deck need railings?
The residential code requires guards where the deck surface is more than 30 inches above the ground below, with a minimum height and a limit on the gap between balusters. Stairs with four or more risers need a handrail.
Sources
- Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report: New England (JLC / Zonda Media)
- Cost vs. Value report data, free download (costvsvalue.com)
Laws, codes and program rules change. This guide is general information, not legal advice; confirm the rules for your project with your town's building department or the state agency linked above.
