How Much Does a Deck Cost in Michigan?
A West Michigan deck builder’s 2026 cost guide puts a new deck at $45 to $90 per square foot installed. On that guide’s numbers, a 12x16 deck runs $8,500 to $17,000. A 16x20 deck runs $14,000 to $28,000 or more.
A national cost guide’s 2026 edition comes in lower, at $25 to $50 per square foot installed. That range is for a basic pressure-treated pine deck on a one-story home. These are market numbers from published guides, not our price list.
Based in Bay City, we build new wood and composite decks and rebuild worn ones. Our deck building page shows how we set footings for Michigan winters.
What does a deck cost per square foot by material?
Material is the first big choice. Both guides price each material per square foot, installed.
| Material | National cost guide, 2026 | West Michigan deck builder’s guide, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood | $25 to $50 | $45 to $60 |
| Cedar | $30 to $47 | Not listed |
| Composite | $40 to $80 | $65 to $90 |
Pressure-treated wood is the lowest-cost choice in both guides. Composite costs more up front, and the Michigan guide says it needs very little upkeep. The national guide says a wood deck lasts 10 to 25 years, and a composite deck lasts 25 to 50.
The Michigan guide runs higher than the national one. It covers professionally built decks in West Michigan. Its range moves with deck size, material, height, railings and site conditions.
How much does a deck cost by size?
Deck costs are typically figured by the square foot, so size drives the total. An older national cost guide, last updated in 2023, calls 16x20 the most common deck size.
| Deck size | Published range, installed | Kind of source |
|---|---|---|
| 12x12 (144 square feet) | $2,160 to $7,920 | National cost guide, updated 2023 |
| 12x16 (192 square feet) | $8,500 to $17,000 | West Michigan deck builder’s guide, 2026 |
| 16x20 (320 square feet) | $4,800 to $17,600 | National cost guide, updated 2023 |
| 16x20 (320 square feet) | $14,000 to $28,000 or more | West Michigan deck builder’s guide, 2026 |
| 20x20 (400 square feet) | $6,000 to $22,000 | National cost guide, updated 2023 |
That 2023 guide’s low end on a 12x12 assumes a simple platform deck. Keep its date in mind next to the 2026 Michigan figures.
Shape counts too. The 2026 national guide says a deck’s shape and built-in features like seating raise the total cost. It adds that bigger decks cost more overall but usually less per square foot.
What else moves the price of a deck?
Height is a big one. The 2026 national guide prices an attached ground-level wood deck at $25 to $30 per square foot installed. An elevated deck runs $30 to $50, and a second-story deck $50 to $60.
Height also brings code rules. A deck more than 30 inches above the grade below typically needs guards along its open sides. Guards are the code’s word for railings.
Footings come next. Michigan’s residential code typically puts exterior footings 42 inches below grade. The building official can modify that depth in some cases. The national guide says frost depth sets how deep footers go, which costs more in cold climates.
The exception is a freestanding deck, one the house does not support. Its footings need not go below the frost line. On our deck jobs, we work these code rules out with the local building department.
| Cost factor | Published market figure | Kind of source |
|---|---|---|
| Poured concrete footer | $200 to $350 each, installed | National cost guide, updated 2023 |
| Deck stairs | $1,400 to $2,600, installed | National cost guide, 2026 |
| Wood or vinyl railing | $20 to $60 per linear foot | National cost guide, 2026 |
| Tearing out an old deck | Adds $5 to $15 per square foot | National cost guide, updated 2023 |
| Building permit | $50 to $150 | National cost guide, 2026 |
What does it cost to replace a deck?
Replacing a deck costs more per square foot than building new. The 2026 national guide puts a basic replacement at $30 to $55 per square foot, against $25 to $50 new. Part of the gap is removing and hauling away the old decking. It puts the average 20x20 deck replacement at $12,000 to $22,000.
Often a repair is enough, though. The 2023 guide says tearing down a whole deck for age or wear is very rare. In most cases the posts and frame are still in good shape. You may only need new decking, railings or stairs.
The 2026 guide puts most deck repairs at $750 to $2,500. It suggests replacing a deck more than 20 years old. The same goes when repairs would cost over half the price of a new deck. Deck rebuilds are part of our deck work.
Do you need a permit for a deck in Michigan?
Typically yes. Michigan’s residential code exempts a deck from a building permit only when it meets all of these conditions:
- It is 200 square feet or less.
- It is no more than 30 inches above grade at any point.
- It is not attached to the house or its accessory structures, and not within 36 inches of them.
- It serves no door of the house.
Every other deck typically needs a building permit from the local building department, and that department decides what your deck needs. On our deck jobs, we handle the permit or guide you through it.
Do you need to call MISS DIG before digging deck footings?
Typically yes. Michigan law requires notice to MISS DIG 811 before digging. The notice goes in at least three business days, but not more than 14 calendar days, ahead.
MISS DIG’s own homepage tells anyone installing a deck to contact it first. When you hire us, we place that call before any footing hole gets dug.
How do you get a real price for your deck?
A published range is a starting point. A real price comes from measuring the space and looking at the ground and the house.
Want a covered room you can use all year instead of an open deck? That project is a home addition, which we also build. Planning a fence too? Our fence installation cost guide covers those numbers.
From our base in Bay City, we handle deck building and deck rebuilds across the Great Lakes Bay Region. We are licensed and insured, and estimates are free. Call or text (501) 520-1783 to set one up.