Prices checked October 2026
Composite decking cost
Composite decking typically costs £100 to £200 per m² fitted in the UK, frame and labour included. Set your garden below for a range that fits it.
Typical fitted price
£1,200 to £2,400
12 m² of decking
A typical range from UK price lists, not a quote. Plan drawn to scale.
Get a price for this deckComposite decking prices by size
Fitted, on level ground, with no extras. Rounded to the nearest £100. Small decks cost more per square metre because the visit, set-up and waste are much the same whatever the size.
| Size | Area | Composite | Softwood, for comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 2 m | 6 m² | £600 to £1,200 | £400 to £800 |
| 3 × 3 m | 9 m² | £900 to £1,800 | £500 to £1,200 |
| 4 × 3 m | 12 m² | £1,200 to £2,400 | £700 to £1,600 |
| 5 × 3 m | 15 m² | £1,500 to £3,000 | £900 to £2,000 |
| 6 × 3 m | 18 m² | £1,800 to £3,600 | £1,100 to £2,300 |
| 5 × 4 m | 20 m² | £2,000 to £4,000 | £1,200 to £2,600 |
| 5 × 5 m | 25 m² | £2,500 to £5,000 | £1,500 to £3,300 |
| 6 × 5 m | 30 m² | £3,000 to £6,000 | £1,800 to £3,900 |
What the extras cost
These sit on top of the price per square metre.
| Extra | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Raised frame on a slope | About 20% to 60% on the deck price |
| Steps | £80 to £200 each |
| Rail and spindle balustrade | £40 to £120 per metre |
| Glass balustrade | £200 to £500 per metre |
| Deck lights | £30 to £100 each, fitted |
| Lifting old decking or flags | £150 to £600 |
Where the money goes
On a typical mid-range composite deck, roughly half the price is boards, fascias and fixings, a fifth to a quarter is the frame, and the rest is labour, waste and the visit. That is why the choice of board moves the total so much, and why a bigger deck is cheaper per square metre.
Boards
Hollow boards are lighter and cheaper, and fine for a level deck that is not in full sun. Capped boards have a hard outer shell that resists stains, fading and algae, which is the sensible middle choice in most Bradford gardens. Solid capped boards feel more like timber underfoot, span further and usually carry the longest warranties, but cost the most.
The frame
Most installers use pressure-treated timber joists rated for ground contact. Aluminium joists cost more but will not rot, which suits decks that are hard to get under later, such as one over a patio or close to the ground in a damp yard. Joists are usually set 300 to 400 mm apart, as the board maker specifies.
The ground
A flat lawn is the cheapest start. Every 30 cm of fall adds posts, footings and bracing, and once the drop is more than about 60 cm you need steps and a balustrade too. In the Bradford district, where a lot of gardens fall a metre or more from the house, this is the most common reason a quote lands above the headline figure. See decking on a slope for prices by height.
Access
If everything has to be carried through the house of a terrace, allow an extra half day to a day of labour. A back gate or a wall low enough to pass boards over saves money.
Where these figures come from
Typical UK prices from published price lists we reviewed, October 2026, covering composite and softwood decking, steps, rails, glass balustrades, lighting and removal. National figures, not Bradford-specific. Guarding heights follow Approved Document K (GOV.UK) and the 30 cm platform limit follows the permitted development technical guidance (GOV.UK).
Composite decking cost questions
How much does composite decking cost per m² fitted?
Typically £100 to £200 per square metre in the UK, including a new frame and labour. Most mid-range jobs on level ground come in around £150 per m².
How much does a 4 × 3 m composite deck cost?
About £1,200 to £2,400 fitted on level ground, before steps, lights or a balustrade.
Is composite decking more expensive than wood?
To fit, yes: treated softwood is typically £60 to £130 per m². Over ten to fifteen years the gap closes, because composite needs no stain, sanding or replacement boards.
What makes composite decking cheaper?
Hollow boards rather than solid, a simple rectangle on level ground, good side access and no old patio to lift. Decking over a sound patio on pedestals also saves the groundwork.
What adds most to the cost?
Height. A raised deck on a sloping garden needs posts, footings, bracing, steps and a balustrade, which together can add more than half again to the price of the boards.
Does the price include VAT?
Some published price lists include it and some do not. If a figure excludes VAT and your installer is VAT registered, expect up to 20% on top.
Also worth a look
- Decking on a slope
Raised decks and what the height adds.
- Decking over a patio
The cheapest way to cover old slabs.
- Small gardens and yards
Prices for 6 to 15 m².
Get a price for your deck
Three quick steps. A rough idea of the garden is plenty: the slope, the size, what you'd like to use it for.
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