Most homeowners ring us with one question first: how much to build a deck? It is a fair question, and most deck builders will not answer it without a site visit. This page gives you honest ballpark figures for the cost of building a deck in NZ, specifically in Palmerston North and Feilding, and explains what moves the deck price up or down, so you can work out a budget before you ask for a deck quote.
These are indicative ranges only, not a quote. They are a rough guide based on typical New Zealand deck pricing, set deliberately wide. Height off the ground, ground conditions, access, board and fixing choice, stairs, balustrade, removal of an old deck and whether consent is needed all move the final number, sometimes a long way. The only price that counts is the fixed written price we give you after measuring up on site. Prices include GST.
| Decking | Indicative installed price | Example: 20m² ground-level deck |
|---|---|---|
| H3.2 treated pine | $300 – $550 per m² | $6,000 – $11,000 |
| Kwila & hardwood | $450 – $850 per m² | $9,000 – $17,000 |
| Composite | $550 – $1,000 per m² | $11,000 – $20,000 |
These are deck cost per m² figures for a straightforward deck close to the ground, covering the frame, the boards and the labour to lay the decking. Everything below is what changes them. Want to plug in your own size? Try our deck calculator.
Deck cost per m² in NZ, by material
Decking price per m² is mostly about the boards: treated pine is the cheapest, kwila and other hardwoods sit in the middle, and composite decking costs the most in NZ, typically $550 to $1,000 per m² installed. The price to lay decking itself, the labour, is a smaller share than most people expect. The deck construction cost underneath, piles, bearers and joists, is similar whichever board you choose, except that composite needs closer joists.
