A typical Portland deck runs $20–90 per square foot installed in 2026. Pressure-treated is the entry point at $20–40/sqft, cedar at $30–50, composite (Trex-style) at $40–70, and premium composite or PVC at $55–90. For a typical 200-sqft Portland deck, that's anywhere from $4,000 to $18,000 — and the spread comes down to material, railings, height, and what's underneath.
The Portland deck cost table
Installed prices, including framing, decking, and basic railings. Higher-end finishes, custom lighting, built-in benches, and complex elevations push toward the top of each range.
| Material | Cost / sq ft (installed) | Typical lifespan | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated lumber | $20–40 | 10–20 years | Stain or seal every 2–3 years |
| Cedar | $30–50 | 15–25 years | Seal every 3–5 years (optional) |
| Composite (Trex, TimberTech) | $40–70 | 25–30+ years | Hose off, occasional soap |
| Premium composite / PVC | $55–90 | 30+ years | Nearly none |
| Tropical hardwood (ipe, etc.) | $45–85 | 30+ years | Oil annually or let silver |
By deck size — what you're looking at
Mid-range estimates for common Portland deck footprints, including standard 36" railings:
| Size | Pressure-treated | Cedar | Composite | Premium PVC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 sq ft (10×12) | $3,600 | $4,800 | $6,600 | $8,700 |
| 200 sq ft (10×20) | $6,000 | $8,000 | $11,000 | $14,500 |
| 300 sq ft (15×20) | $9,000 | $12,000 | $16,500 | $21,750 |
| 500 sq ft (20×25) | $15,000 | $20,000 | $27,500 | $36,250 |
What moves a Portland deck price
Height above grade
A ground-level deck (under 30 inches) is the cheapest to build. Once you go higher, you need engineered posts, deeper footings, code-compliant guards, and often stairs and landings. Each foot of elevation can add 5–10% to the project total. A 2nd-story deck over a daylight basement easily costs 30–50% more per square foot than a ground-level deck of the same size.
Railings — easy to underestimate
Most homeowners think of decking boards when they price a deck. Railings are where the math gets ugly:
- Pressure-treated 2×2 balusters: $25–45 per linear foot
- Cedar with cap rail: $40–70 per linear foot
- Cable railing: $60–150 per linear foot
- Glass panel railing: $120–250 per linear foot
A 200-sqft deck typically has 35–50 linear feet of railing. Glass railing alone can add $5,000+ to the bid.
Footings and framing
Portland's clay-heavy soil and wet winters reward proper concrete footings. Cheap deck builds use minimal concrete and undersized posts; the deck "feels solid" on day one but sags or rots within a decade. Proper helical piers or 12+ inch concrete footings below frost line cost more but are non-negotiable for any deck attached to your house.
Stairs
A standard set of 3–4 wooden stairs adds $500–1,500. Longer runs, landings, and stairs to a basement-level grade can be $3,000+.
Lighting and electrical
Integrated LED step or post lighting adds $30–60 per fixture installed, plus a low-voltage transformer ($300–800). Running 120V to the deck for outlets adds permit and electrician costs ($600–1,500).
Get a real Portland number for your project
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Get a free estimate →Permits — the under-the-radar cost
Most Portland decks over 30 inches above grade or attached to the house require a building permit. Detached decks under 30 inches and under 200 square feet are typically exempt. Permit costs run $200–800 depending on the project's valuation, plus plan-review time of 2–6 weeks. Your contractor usually handles this and includes it in the bid — confirm it's there.
Composite vs cedar — Portland-specific math
The most common Portland choice. The honest tradeoff:
- Cedar: $30–50/sqft, beautiful naturally, but you re-seal every 3–5 years (or let it silver, which most PNW homeowners actually prefer). Lifespan 15–25 years.
- Composite: $40–70/sqft, ~40% more expensive day one, but zero refinishing for 25–30 years. Holds color through wet winters. No splinters.
Break-even is roughly the 10-year mark when factoring re-sealing labor and materials. If you plan to be in the home 10+ years, composite is the rational pick. If you love wood and plan to move within five years, cedar can be the smarter call. See our deeper comparison: Trex vs cedar deck.
Real-money red flags
A "professional" Portland deck quote under $15/sqft for cedar or pressure-treated is too cheap. The math implies skipping footings, using salvage lumber, no permit, or no insurance. Real PNW construction can't deliver code-compliant decking under about $20/sqft.
How to read a Portland deck estimate
A serious estimate itemizes:
- Footings, posts, and framing
- Decking boards (with brand and grade)
- Railings (with linear footage and style)
- Stairs and landings
- Hardware (joist hangers, fasteners, ledger flashing)
- Permits and inspection fees
- Demolition and haul-off (if applicable)
- CCB license number — required on every Oregon contractor's estimate
If your bid is a single dollar figure with no breakdown, ask for one. A pro will give it to you without complaint.
Save money without cheaping out
- Build to standard widths. Decking boards come in 12-, 16-, and 20-foot lengths. Designing a 16×16 deck wastes less material than a 17×17.
- Skip premium accent boards. Picture-frame borders and inlays add $3–8/sqft. Lovely, not essential.
- Choose pressure-treated for the substructure. Even on a composite deck, the joists underneath are usually pressure-treated lumber — no need to upgrade.
- Book shoulder seasons. April–May and September–October bookings often run 5–10% cheaper than peak summer.