Cost guides › Decking
Australia
Decking cost: building a new deck
Building a 25 m² merbau deck close to the ground, oiled and with a couple of steps, typically costs $12,100 including GST, with most quotes between $9,400 and $15,700. The same deck in treated pine is around $7,750, and in spotted gum about $13,700. Choose composite, a raised deck, a balustrade or demolition of the old deck in the calculator to price them.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | $8,150 | $12,700 | $14,400 |
| Western Australia | $7,950 | $12,300 | $14,000 |
| Northern Territory | $7,850 | $12,200 | $13,800 |
| New South Wales | $7,800 | $12,100 | $13,800 |
| Queensland | $7,700 | $12,000 | $13,600 |
| Victoria | $7,700 | $12,000 | $13,600 |
| South Australia | $7,450 | $11,600 | $13,100 |
| Tasmania | $7,250 | $11,300 | $12,800 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Set-out, concrete footings and stumps or posts
- Treated pine bearers and joists
- Merbau deck boards, screwed down with stainless or galvanised screws
- Two coats of decking oil
- Deck built low, under about 1 m, so no balustrade is priced
- Two to three steps down to the yard in the same timber
- Cleanup and removal of offcuts
What affects the cost
Timber or composite
Treated pine is the cheapest board. Merbau is the classic reddish hardwood deck, spotted gum and blackbutt cost a bit more, and composite lands in a similar range to hardwood but needs no oiling.
Height
A low deck on short stumps is quick to build. Once the deck is over about a metre it needs taller posts, bracing, a balustrade and usually approval, which adds a large share to the price.
Balustrade
Balustrades are priced per metre. Timber and wire is the usual budget option; frameless or semi-frameless glass costs noticeably more but keeps the view.
Site and access
A flat, open backyard is the cheapest. Sloping blocks, rock, reactive clay or a site where every board has to be carried through the house add labour.
Bushfire-prone areas
If your block has a bushfire attack level (BAL), the deck has to be built to suit it, which can limit the timber species, board spacing and what is allowed under the deck. Ask the builder to confirm the BAL and materials in the quote.
Removing the old deck
Pulling up an old deck and taking the timber away is usually a separate line in the quote, priced by the square metre.
How to save
- Keep the deck under the height that needs a balustrade and approval, if your yard allows it.
- Use merbau or composite rather than spotted gum or ironbark if the look matters less than the price.
- Stick to a rectangle with boards running one way; picture framing and angled boards add cutting time.
- Oil the deck yourself once the builder is done, if the quote itemises the finish.
Grants, tax and rules
Approvals and licences
Whether a deck needs council or certifier approval depends on your state, its height and its size. Check before the builder starts, and make sure they hold the building licence your state requires for the value of the job.
GST
Quotes to households include 10% GST, and so do our figures.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a deck cost per square metre in Australia?
For a low deck, treated pine is the cheapest per square metre, merbau and composite sit in the middle and spotted gum is higher. For 25 m² of merbau with a couple of steps, expect about $12,100 including GST.
Merbau or spotted gum?
Merbau is cheaper and easy to get, with a deep red-brown colour, but it bleeds tannin onto paving for the first months. Spotted gum is a dense Australian hardwood that is popular in bushfire-prone areas; it costs a bit more per square metre.
Is composite decking cheaper than timber?
Not usually up front: good composite boards cost about the same as hardwood. The saving comes later, because composite never needs oiling or sanding.
Do I need council approval for a deck?
It depends on your state and council, the height of the deck, its area and how close it is to the boundary. Low decks are often exempt, raised decks usually are not. Your builder or local council can tell you before work starts.
How often does a timber deck need oiling?
In most of Australia, a timber deck in full sun needs a fresh coat of decking oil every year or two to stop the boards greying and cracking.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 55.5 · Labour: $5,552 · Materials: $5,406
Sources: ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates; market check: Mid = 25 m2 merbau deck, low, oiled, 2-3 steps, incl. GST. What's The Damage decking cost guide (verified Sep 2026): medium 25 sqm hardwood deck $8,000-16,000, typical $12,000; merbau $420/sqm typical. hipages decking cost (6 Jan 2026): hardwood $320+/m2. Karven (3 Jun 2026) worked example 24 m2 merbau ~$9,500..
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · How we calculate costs · Editorial policy