Deck framing labor typically runs $15 to $40 per square foot, with most residential projects landing around $25/sf for a standard pressure-treated deck on flat ground. That spread is wide for a reason: a ground-level rectangle with a ledger is a completely different animal than a second-story deck with stairs, multiple levels, and cable railing.
This guide breaks down exactly what drives framing labor costs, gives you real production rates, and shows you how to build estimates that hold up in the field.
Quick Answer: What Does Deck Framing Labor Cost?
Here is a fast reference by deck type and complexity:
| Deck Type | Labor Range | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-level, simple layout | $15 - $22/sf | $18/sf |
| Standard attached deck, ledger | $20 - $28/sf | $25/sf |
| Elevated deck, second story | $28 - $38/sf | $32/sf |
| Multi-level with stairs | $32 - $40/sf | $36/sf |
| Wraparound or complex angles | $35 - $45/sf | $40/sf |
These are labor-only figures. Materials, permits, and inspections are separate. Carpenter wages run $20 to $45 per hour depending on your market, with a typical crew lead at $30/hour.
For a full breakdown of installed cost including materials, use the Deck Cost Calculator to run your numbers by zip code.
What Makes Up Deck Framing Labor?
Framing a deck is not one task, it is five or six distinct scopes bundled together. Knowing each one lets you price accurately and explain line items to clients.
Footings and Post Installation
Digging and setting footings is often the most physically demanding part of the job and gets underpriced. A typical residential deck needs one footing per 6 to 8 linear feet of beam, plus corners.
Production rate: An experienced crew of two can set 6 to 8 footings in a full day, depending on soil conditions, depth requirements (frost line varies by region), and whether you are hand-digging or using a rented auger.
Budget $3 to $6 per square foot of deck area just for footings and post setting, more on rocky or sloped sites.
Ledger Board
The ledger is where the deck attaches to the house. Done right, it involves removing siding, installing flashing, and lag-bolting into the rim joist or band board with proper spacing. This is a code-critical connection and inspection points here are common.
A ledger installation on a typical 12-foot wall section runs 2 to 4 hours for a journeyman carpenter, depending on siding type (stucco and fiber cement add time) and access.
Beam and Joist Framing
This is the heart of the estimate. For a standard attached deck:
- Beam installation: 1 to 2 hours per beam, depending on span and weight
- Joist layout and installation: a two-person crew can frame 100 to 150 square feet per hour on a flat, simple deck
- Blocking and bridging: add 10 to 15 percent to joist time
Production rates drop fast when you add complexity. Angled bays, notched posts, multiple elevations, or non-standard joist spacing can cut your square footage per hour in half.
Stairs
Stairs are where estimates blow up. A standard single stringer set of stairs on a low deck is one thing. A wide set of stairs dropping 6 feet from an elevated deck with a landing is another project entirely.
Budget stairs separately from deck square footage. A typical 4-foot-wide stair with 3 to 4 risers runs 3 to 5 crew hours to frame. Double that for a landing or winding configuration.
Railing Posts and Structure
Railing framing means setting posts, running the top and bottom rail, and preparing for whatever balusters or infill the client chose. Labor for railing runs $20 to $60 per linear foot installed, with a typical price around $40/LF.
Post spacing (usually 6 to 8 feet on center) and post connection method (surface mount versus through-bolt versus notched to rim) all affect time. Through-bolt connections take longer but are structurally superior and increasingly required by code.
Worked Example 1: Standard 16x20 Attached Deck
Project specs: 320 sf attached deck, 8 inches above grade, pressure-treated framing, one stair set (4 risers), 52 LF of railing, standard ledger connection, 8 footings.
Labor breakdown:
| Scope | Hours | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Footings (8 footings, 2-person crew) | 10 | $60/hr crew | $600 |
| Ledger (16 LF, vinyl siding removal) | 4 | $60/hr crew | $240 |
| Posts and beams | 6 | $60/hr crew | $360 |
| Joist framing (320 sf) | 6 | $60/hr crew | $360 |
| Blocking and hardware | 3 | $60/hr crew | $180 |
| Stairs (4 risers, 4-ft wide) | 5 | $60/hr crew | $300 |
| Railing posts and rails (52 LF) | 8 | $60/hr crew | $480 |
| Total labor | 42 hours | $2,520 |
$2,520 divided by 320 sf = $7.88/sf framing labor only. But add decking installation (4 to 6 hours for 320 sf), finish work, cleanup, and site time, and your total labor-only cost lands around $3,500 to $4,000, or $11 to $12.50/sf.
When clients see “$25/sf installed,” that number includes materials. Labor-only is typically 40 to 55 percent of the total installed cost on a pressure-treated deck.
How Do Production Rates Affect Your Bid?
Production rates are the number contractors rarely talk about out loud, but they are the foundation of every accurate estimate.
A skilled two-person crew should be able to:
- Frame 150 to 200 sf of simple flat deck per day (footings pre-set)
- Frame 80 to 120 sf per day on elevated or complex decks
- Install 40 to 60 LF of railing per day
- Build one standard stair set per day
If you are quoting a 400 sf elevated deck with two stair sets and 80 LF of cable railing, do not apply a flat per-square-foot rate from a simpler job. Break it into components, apply production rates to each, and build your crew hours from the ground up.
The Labor Cost Calculator can help you cross-check your crew-hour estimates against regional averages.
Worked Example 2: Elevated 12x24 Deck with Landing
Project specs: 288 sf second-story deck, 9-foot post height, triple 2x10 beam, staircase with landing (8 risers total), 60 LF composite railing.
Because of the height and complexity, production rates drop:
- Joist framing: 80 sf per crew hour instead of 150
- Post and beam: double the time versus ground level
- Stairs with landing: 12 to 16 crew hours instead of 5
Estimated crew hours: 68 to 80 hours At $60 per crew hour: $4,080 to $4,800 in labor Per square foot (labor only): $14.17 to $16.67/sf
That seems counterintuitive compared to a simpler deck, but the square footage is smaller while the complexity is higher. The per-square-foot rate on a complex smaller deck almost always runs higher.
Try EstimationPro free to generate line-item estimates for projects like this in under five minutes.
What Regional Factors Change the Numbers?
Regional labor markets swing deck framing rates significantly. Here is the honest answer: these numbers are national averages. Your local market may be 20 to 40 percent higher or lower.
Higher labor markets: Pacific Northwest, California, New England, Hawaii. Expect carpenter wages at $35 to $45/hour and total framing labor at $30 to $40/sf.
Mid-range markets: Mountain West, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes. Wages at $25 to $35/hour, framing at $22 to $30/sf.
Lower labor markets: Southeast, rural Midwest, parts of the South. Wages at $18 to $28/hour, framing at $15 to $22/sf.
Permit costs, frost depth requirements, and wind/snow load requirements also vary by region and affect how much structural work goes into footings and framing.
Pro Tips: How to Protect Your Margin on Deck Framing
Separate your scopes in every estimate. Never lump “deck framing” into one line item. Break out footings, ledger, framing, stairs, and railing. When a client pushes back, you can explain each component. When something changes in the field, you know which line it hits.
Apply a waste factor to lumber. Even with good planning, expect 8 to 12 percent waste on dimensional lumber for cuts, rejects, and field adjustments. Price materials accordingly.
Bill stairs by the stair set, not by square foot. A stair set on a 200 sf deck takes the same time as one on a 500 sf deck. If you price stairs as a percentage of deck square footage, you will underbid on small decks with stairs every time.
Charge separately for ledger work on difficult substrates. Stucco, EIFS, and fiber cement siding all require extra time and skill to remove, flash, and reinstall. If your standard price assumes wood siding, add a line item for difficult substrate access.
Confirm joist hanger and hardware spec before bidding. On elevated decks, some inspectors require heavier hangers, hurricane ties, or specific post caps. Hardware costs are real, and so is the time to install it correctly.
Get a soil read before committing on footings. Rocky ledge, high clay content, or a high water table can turn a 10-hour footing job into a 25-hour one. A brief site walk before you quote saves you from eating that difference.
Common Mistakes That Kill Deck Framing Profits
Using a flat per-square-foot rate for everything is the most common way contractors leave money on the table or lose bids they should have won. A 100 sf ground-level platform is not the same as a 100 sf elevated corner section with stairs. Price them differently.
Forgetting permit time is another margin killer. Permit applications, inspections, and waiting periods are real time costs. If your permit process takes two site visits and a four-day wait for an inspection, that is labor overhead that needs to be in your bid.
Underestimating post and beam size is a code issue and a time issue. Many contractors size beams by eye from habit. When an inspector calls for a larger beam, you are cutting and re-installing on your dime. Look up the span tables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $25 per square foot for deck framing labor reasonable? Yes, $25/sf is a solid middle-of-market number for an attached, single-level pressure-treated deck in most U.S. markets. Simple ground-level builds may come in at $18 to $22/sf. Complex elevated decks with stairs can push $35 to $40/sf. Always break the quote into components to confirm the number makes sense for your specific project.
How much does adding stairs change the labor cost? A single standard stair set (3 to 5 risers, 4-foot width) adds roughly $300 to $600 in labor. A wider stair with a landing or winding configuration can add $800 to $1,500. Price stairs as a separate line item, not as a percentage of deck area.
What is a typical crew size for deck framing? Most residential deck framing crews are two people: a lead carpenter and a laborer or apprentice. Large or complex decks may use a three-person crew. Solo carpenters can handle small ground-level builds but move slowly on anything elevated where a second set of hands is a safety and efficiency requirement.
How long does it take to frame a 300 square foot deck? A standard attached deck at 300 sf typically takes a two-person crew 2 to 3 days, including footings. Elevated decks or those with stairs will run 3 to 4 days. This assumes permits are pulled and footings can be poured and cured before framing begins.
Should railing labor be included in the framing quote or separate? Either way works, but separate line items make change orders cleaner. Railing choice can change late in a project. If railing labor is buried in a flat per-square-foot price, a client upgrade from wood to cable railing mid-project creates a messy repricing conversation. Price it per linear foot, separately from the deck field.
Build Estimates That Hold Up in the Field
Deck framing labor is one of the most variable scopes in residential construction. The same 300 square feet can require 30 crew hours or 70, depending on height, site conditions, stair count, and framing complexity. Flat rates without component breakdowns set you up for surprises.
For a complete picture of installed costs by material type, see the Deck Cost Guide. It covers pressure-treated, composite, and PVC decking with regional pricing data. If you want a full process for turning a site visit into a line-item bid, the guide on how to estimate construction jobs walks through the workflow from scope to final number. And if you want to make sure your markup actually covers overhead and leaves real profit, read our guide on contractor markup vs margin before you send the bid.
Try EstimationPro free to build professional, line-item deck estimates from your phone on the job site. Upload a photo, add your notes, and get a structured estimate in minutes.
Deck Framing Labor Breakdown ($2,520)
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