How Much Does Decking Cost in the UK?

Decking Cost Per Square Metre (2025)

These ranges include the sub-frame, boards and labour for a straightforward ground-level deck. Treat them as a budgeting guide, not a quote.

Material	Cost per m²	Typical 15m² deck	Notes
Pressure-treated softwood	£60–£100	£1,000–£1,500	Cheapest, needs annual treatment
Hardwood (Balau, Ipe, Oak)	£100–£160	£1,500–£2,400	Premium look, long lifespan
Composite	£100–£180	£1,500–£2,700	No maintenance, won't rot

Add 15 to 25% for raised designs, balustrades, steps, or removal of an existing deck or patio.

What Actually Moves the Price

Board choice is the visible cost, but the frame and the ground underneath drive most of the labour. A deck is only as good as its sub-frame.

Sloping or uneven ground is the big one. Many Milton Keynes new-build gardens slope away from the house, and decking is often the smartest fix, because a level deck can bridge a slope that would need serious groundwork to pave. The trade-off is a taller sub-frame at the low end, which adds material and labour.

Other factors that push a quote up: balustrades and handrails, steps between levels, integrated lighting, and clearing whatever is there now. None are hidden costs on a proper quote. They should each appear as a line item. Raised decks over 30cm also fall outside permitted development, so check our guide to planning permission for patios and garden platforms before committing to a raised design.

Softwood, Hardwood or Composite?

Softwood is the budget option and perfectly good when treated regularly. Expect to re-stain or oil it every year or two, and to replace the odd board over time. On MK's shaded, damp plots it will green over without upkeep.

Hardwood costs more and rewards you with density, stability and a lifespan measured in decades. It still benefits from oiling to keep its colour.

Composite has become the default choice for busy households. It costs more upfront, but there's no staining, no rot, no splinters, and most brands carry 25-year warranties. Over a decade of ownership it often works out cheaper than treated softwood once maintenance is counted. For a deeper comparison, our guide to composite vs timber decking is coming soon; in the meantime the same logic applies as in our porcelain vs sandstone patio comparison: pay once for low maintenance, or pay less now and maintain it yourself.

Decking vs Patio on Cost

Like for like, a ground-level softwood deck usually costs slightly less than a block paving patio of the same size, while composite decking sits in the same bracket as porcelain paving. On sloping ground the comparison swings towards decking, because a patio needs the ground levelled first. Our patio cost guide has the paving side of the numbers.

What a Good Decking Quote Includes

• Ground preparation and a weed membrane beneath the deck
• A pressure-treated sub-frame specified for the deck height
• Board fixing method (hidden clips for composite, screws for timber)
• Ventilation gaps to stop the frame sitting in damp
• Waste removal and site clean-up

If a quote is vague on the frame, ask. Boards are replaceable. A rotten frame means rebuilding the whole deck.

When to Book for the Best Price

Decking demand peaks from March to June, when installers' diaries fill fastest and lead times stretch. Booking in autumn or winter often means shorter waits, and some installers price keener in quiet months. Composite and treated timber can both be installed year-round; the frame just needs dry-enough ground to work on.

If you want a deck ready for summer, get quotes in during winter. Around Milton Keynes, spring slots for a good installer are usually gone by February.

Getting an Accurate Price

Rough garden measurements and a few photos are enough for a useful estimate. For a fixed price, a free site visit is standard, and worth insisting on. Levels, access and ground conditions all affect the frame design, and that's where decking quotes genuinely differ.

Our decking design and installation service covers softwood, hardwood and composite, with the sub-frame and groundwork specified properly for local conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does decking cost in the UK?

As a 2025 guide, decking costs between £60 and £180 per square metre installed in the UK, depending on the boards you choose. A typical 15m² deck lands between £1,000 and £2,700 including the sub-frame and labour.

How much does decking cost per m2?

Pressure-treated softwood runs £60 to £100 per square metre installed, hardwood £100 to £160, and composite £100 to £180. These prices include the sub-frame, boards and labour, not just the boards on their own.

Is decking cheaper than paving in the UK?

Like for like, a ground-level softwood deck usually costs slightly less than a block paving patio of the same size, while composite decking sits in the same bracket as porcelain paving. On sloping ground, decking is often cheaper overall because a patio needs the ground levelled first.

How much does composite decking cost per square metre?

Composite decking costs £100 to £180 per square metre installed in 2025, including the sub-frame and labour. It costs more upfront than softwood but needs no staining or sealing, and most brands carry 25-year warranties.

What is the softwood decking price per m2?

Pressure-treated softwood decking costs £60 to £100 per square metre installed in 2025, making it the cheapest decking option. That price includes the sub-frame, boards and labour. Softwood needs re-staining or oiling every year or two to keep it looking good and to stop it greening over.

How much does it cost to have a deck built?

A straightforward 15 square metre softwood deck typically costs £1,000 to £1,500 fully built. The same size in composite runs £1,500 to £2,700. Raised designs, balustrades, steps and removing an old deck or patio first all add to the total.

What is the labour cost for decking in the UK?

Labour is included in the per-square-metre prices above rather than charged separately on most quotes, but it typically makes up 40 to 60% of the total cost. Sloping ground, raised platforms and a stronger sub-frame all increase the labour share of a decking quote.