Quick Answer
- Pressure-treated deck: $25 per square foot installed (most popular)
- Cedar deck: $40 per square foot installed
- Composite (Trex-style): $55 per square foot installed
- A typical 12×16 treated deck runs about $4,800; the same deck in composite about $10,560
These are our actual 2026 installed rates at Revisions Unlimited — not national averages from a lead-generation site. They include design, materials, frost-depth footings, framing, decking, fasteners, cleanup, and our 2-year craftsmanship plus 10-year structural warranty. Here's how the math works on real deck sizes, and what moves the number up or down.
Deck Cost by Size (2026, Installed)
| Deck Size | Sq Ft | Pressure-Treated | Cedar | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 10 | 80 | $2,000 | $3,200 | $4,400 |
| 10 × 12 | 120 | $3,000 | $4,800 | $6,600 |
| 12 × 12 | 144 | $3,600 | $5,760 | $7,920 |
| 12 × 16 | 192 | $4,800 | $7,680 | $10,560 |
| 12 × 20 | 240 | $6,000 | $9,600 | $13,200 |
| 14 × 20 | 280 | $7,000 | $11,200 | $15,400 |
| 16 × 20 | 320 | $8,000 | $12,800 | $17,600 |
Want a number for your exact size? Use our free deck cost calculator — pick your dimensions and material and get an instant ballpark.
What Makes a Deck Cost More (or Less)
- Height off the ground. An elevated deck needs taller posts, more framing, and engineered connections. Figure roughly +$500 and up versus a ground-level platform.
- Railings. About $25 per linear foot installed. Minnesota code requires a 36″ guardrail on decks more than 30″ above grade.
- Stairs. About $200 per step. A 4-foot-high deck typically needs 6–7 steps.
- Removing an old deck. $300 for a small deck, around $600 for a large one, hauled away.
- Reusing existing footings. If your old footings are sound, you save real money — we pass that on instead of digging new ones you don't need.
- Site access. A backyard we can reach with equipment costs less than one where everything moves by hand.
Why Minnesota Decks Cost What They Do
Frost. Footings here have to reach 42–48 inches down to get below the frost line, or the deck heaves the first winter. That's real digging, real concrete, and real labor that contractors in warmer states simply don't have. When you see a too-good-to-be-true deck price in Central Minnesota, the corner being cut is usually underground where you can't see it — until February.
Treated vs. Cedar vs. Composite — Which Should You Pick?
Pressure-treated is the budget workhorse: strong, code-approved, and 15–20+ years of life with periodic sealing. Cedar looks beautiful and resists rot naturally, but wants regular maintenance to keep its color. Composite costs the most up front and then asks nothing of you — no staining, no splinters, 25+ year warranties from the big brands. Over a 20-year life, composite often ends up cheapest per year of use; treated is cheapest today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We come out anywhere in Central Minnesota, measure, talk through materials, and hand you a written line-item estimate at no cost and no obligation.
Yes — permit applications and inspections are included in our deck projects.
Most decks take 3 days to 2 weeks depending on size, height, and features. You get a written timeline with your estimate.
A 2-year craftsmanship warranty plus a 10-year structural warranty in accordance with Minnesota Statutes Chapter 327A.