How Much Does a Trex Deck Cost in 2026?
As of 2026, a Trex or composite deck installed typically runs $20 to $30 per square foot. Pressure treated wood runs $14 to $20 per square foot. The biggest price driver is not the brand of decking board. It is the frost depth footings and strong ledger and post connections that Utah's wind and seismic codes require on an attached deck.
That price range holds true across most of the country. Utah adds its own real costs on top. Below is the market range, what actually moves the number, and why a deck built in Davis County or Salt Lake County costs more to frame safely than a deck in a milder climate.
Decks, especially Trex and composite builds, are Construction Solutions of Utah's specialty. A specialist crew handles a build from footings to railings, not a side job squeezed in between other trades.
How much does a Trex or composite deck cost in 2026?
Here is the current market range for an installed deck. It comes from the 2026 DecksDirect cost guide.
| Decking material | Cost per square foot, installed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trex or other composite | $20 to $30 | DecksDirect, 2026 |
| Pressure treated wood | $14 to $20 | DecksDirect, 2026 |
An independent 2026 guide from HomeAdvisor backs this up. It was last updated June 17, 2026. It gives its own numbers for Trex boards specifically: $5 to $10 per square foot for boards alone, and $10 to $27 per square foot once labor is included. That range is lower and wider than the DecksDirect figure. Two honest national guides rarely land on the exact same number. Deck size, framing, railing choice, and local labor rates all swing the total.
These are market ranges. They are not a Construction Solutions of Utah quote. The company does not publish one fixed online price for decks. Instead, it gives every homeowner a free, written estimate before any work starts. You see the real plan and price for your yard before you commit. Call for a free written estimate on your deck.
What changes the price the most?
A per-square-foot number is only a starting point. A few real factors move it up or down.
Decking tier. Trex sells three residential lines at three price points. Enhance is the entry line. Select is the mid-tier line. Transcend is the premium line. Each line also carries its own warranty. Enhance carries a 25-year limited residential warranty. Select carries a 35-year limited residential warranty. Transcend carries a 50-year limited residential warranty. Picking a Trex line is not just a color choice. It is a real trade-off between the price you pay now and the years of warranty coverage you get.
Footings and framing. Every attached deck needs footings dug below the local frost line. It also needs a ledger board and post connections built for the load above them. Deeper footings and stronger hardware cost more in labor and material than a shallow footing built for a milder climate. This one factor is why two decks the same size, in two different states, can carry two very different price tags.
Railing type. A composite, cable, or metal railing costs more than a basic wood rail. On a long deck, that cost adds up fast.
Size and level count. A single-level deck costs less per square foot than a deck that steps down a sloped yard across two or three levels. Each level needs its own framing and support.
Permit and guard rail rules. Most attached decks, and any deck built 30 inches or more above grade, need a permit and a code-height guard rail. That review and hardware step is part of the honest cost of a safe deck. It is not a surprise add-on. A written estimate should already account for it before you ever see a final number.
Why do Utah decks cost more than the national average?
A deck built in Davis County or Salt Lake County has to meet real structural numbers. A deck in a milder climate does not.
Layton sets a 30-inch minimum frost depth for footings. Layton also requires framing built for 43 pounds of snow load per square foot (43 psf) and 115 mph winds. It adds one of the strictest earthquake ratings inspectors use here (Seismic Design Category D-2). Layton requires a permit for any deck attached to the house. The same rule covers any deck built 30 inches or more above grade. It also requires a guard rail at least 36 inches tall, with no gap wider than 4 inches.
Kaysville sets its own numbers. Footings need a 30-inch minimum frost depth. Kaysville framing has to hold up to 140 mph winds. The city sets that under a strict wind-exposure standard (ASCE 7 Exposure B). It also carries the same tough earthquake rating (Seismic Design Category D2). Decks and balconies need to carry 40 pounds of live load per square foot (40 psf). That wind number is higher than Layton's. Kaysville post and ledger hardware gets built to that stronger standard.
Those numbers are not just code language on a page. NOAA's Storm Events Database logged 42 thunderstorm wind reports and 19 high wind events across Salt Lake County from 2023 through 2025. Gusts reached near 92 mph in April 2024 and near 95 mph in July 2024. The county also logged 6 hail events, with stones up to 1.25 inches. A ledger board and railing hardware built for that kind of wind cost more than hardware sold for a calmer climate. That real difference shows up in the total price of a Utah deck.
Is Trex worth the extra cost over pressure-treated wood?
Trex and other composite decking cost more up front than pressure treated wood. The market range runs about $20 to $30 per square foot installed for composite, against $14 to $20 for wood. For that difference, you get a warranty backed by the maker, not just the installer. Each Trex line carries its own manufacturer warranty, as covered above. Coverage runs 25 to 50 years depending on tier.
Construction Solutions of Utah works with Trex and other composite decking lines. The crew helps homeowners compare boards side by side against their budget and their yard, rather than steering everyone to one brand. You see real board samples and real warranty terms before you sign anything. The company is licensed in Utah, number 14241087-5501, and insured. A specialist crew handles the Trex and composite deck building work from footings to railings.
Whether composite is worth the extra cost over wood depends on your budget today, weighed against the warranty and material choice you want for the years ahead. A free, written estimate is the only way to see both numbers side by side for your exact deck.
Contact Construction Solutions of Utah for a free, written estimate on your Trex or composite deck.
Construction Solutions of Utah is family owned, veteran owned, and locally owned and operated, based in Bountiful, UT. The crew builds decks across the Wasatch Front, including Layton's frost-depth and wind-rated deck builds, composite deck installs across Kaysville, and projects built to hold up to Salt Lake County's real storm and wind history. See the full range of remodeling and building services the crew handles.
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FAQ
Related questions
How much does a 10x10 Trex deck cost?
A 10x10 deck is 100 square feet. At the market range of $20 to $30 per square foot installed, a Trex or composite deck that size runs about $2,000 to $3,000. The same size in pressure treated wood runs about $1,400 to $2,000. These are market ranges, not a quote.
How much does a 12x12 Trex deck cost?
A 12x12 deck is 144 square feet. At $20 to $30 per square foot installed, a Trex or composite deck that size runs about $2,880 to $4,320. The same size in pressure treated wood runs about $2,016 to $2,880. Framing, footings, and railing choice can move these numbers.
How much does a 20x20 Trex deck cost?
A 20x20 deck is 400 square feet. At $20 to $30 per square foot installed, a Trex or composite deck that size runs about $8,000 to $12,000. The same size in pressure treated wood runs about $5,600 to $8,000. A deck this size often needs a permit, which adds its own review time.
How much is 1000 square feet of Trex decking?
At $20 to $30 per square foot installed, 1,000 square feet of Trex or composite decking runs about $20,000 to $30,000. The same square footage in pressure treated wood runs about $14,000 to $20,000. A deck this large usually spans multiple levels or a large entertaining area.