Free price guide · the GTA and Peel Region, Ontario
How Much Does a Deck Cost in Ontario? (2026 Price Guide)
A deck in the GTA typically costs $45 to $120 per square foot built. A simple pressure-treated platform a step off the ground sits near the bottom. Composite decking, a second-storey walkout, railings, stairs and a permit push it toward the top.
Height is the hidden multiplier. A deck 600mm off the ground and the same deck 3m up off a walkout are different structures — the second needs bigger footings, engineered framing, guards to code and usually a permit.
What it costs, by tier
| Tier | Typical cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-level platform | $45–$65per sq ftPressure-treated, low to grade, no guards required, simple rectangle, straightforward footings, no permit in most cases. | Pressure-treated, low to grade, no guards required, simple rectangle, straightforward footings, no permit in most cases. |
| Raised deck | $65–$95per sq ftPressure-treated or entry composite, one storey up, guards and stairs to code, proper footings below frost line, permit and inspections. | Pressure-treated or entry composite, one storey up, guards and stairs to code, proper footings below frost line, permit and inspections. |
| Composite or complex | $95–$150per sq ftPremium composite or hardwood, multi-level, second-storey walkout, aluminium or glass railings, built-in seating, or difficult access and footings through fill. | Premium composite or hardwood, multi-level, second-storey walkout, aluminium or glass railings, built-in seating, or difficult access and footings through fill. |
What moves the price
Decking material is only part of it
Composite costs roughly two to three times pressure-treated per square foot of surface, but the framing underneath is the same work. Switching materials moves the total less than the sample board suggests — and composite removes the staining you would otherwise do every two or three years.
Footings
Footings go below the frost line, around 1.2m in the GTA. How many, how deep, and whether the auger hits fill or old concrete is a genuine unknown until digging starts.
Permits and inspections
Most GTA municipalities require a permit above a certain height, and a deck attached to the house almost always needs one. That is drawings, a fee, and inspection stages the build has to wait for. Skipping it becomes your problem when you sell the house.
Railings and stairs
Guards and stairs are code-driven and labour-heavy. A long run of railing or a wide staircase can add more than the decking itself.
Ledger attachment
Where a deck attaches to the house, flashing and fastening matter enormously — a badly attached ledger is both the most dangerous failure mode and a route for water into your wall.
Red flags when you are hiring
None of these mean somebody is dishonest. They mean the quote in front of you has not been thought through — and that is where the trouble usually starts.
A large deposit up front, with no schedule attached to it
A deposit to cover materials is normal. A deposit that is most of the job, before anything has been ordered or booked, is the pattern behind most of the money people lose. Tie payments to stages of work you can see.
No written contract, or one with no itemised scope
You should be able to read what is included, what is not, what happens if the ground holds a surprise, and what the schedule is. "We will look after you" is not a scope.
Leftover materials from another job, offered at the door
Legitimate contractors do not sell surplus asphalt or stone door to door. This is a seasonal pattern in the GTA and it very rarely ends with work you would want.
Pressure to decide today
A price that expires this afternoon is a sales tactic, not a market condition. Good crews are busy and can tell you when they are free; they do not need you to sign before you have read it.
A price well below the ranges on this page
If the quotes you are holding sit far under $45–$120 per sq ft built, something has been left out — usually the part you cannot see once the job is finished. Ask what the base depth is, what is being disposed of, and what happens if the ground is not what they expected. The answer tells you a lot.
No mention of a permit on a raised or attached deck.
Footing depth unstated, or described as "on blocks" for anything but a low floating platform.
No detail on how the ledger attaches to the house and how it is flashed.
A composite quote that does not name the product line — composite ranges widely in quality and warranty.
Questions people ask
Is composite decking worth the extra cost?
Over ten years, often yes: no staining, no board replacement, and it holds its appearance. Over three years, no. The framing beneath is identical either way, so the decision is really about how long you intend to keep the house and how you feel about a weekend of staining every couple of summers.
Do I need a permit for a deck in the GTA?
Usually yes if it is attached to the house or raised above a threshold height that varies by municipality — often around 600mm. Ground-level floating platforms frequently do not. Confirm with your city, because an unpermitted deck can surface during a sale.
Not sure which end of that range you are at?
That is what a consultation is for. For $150 you get a written verdict on whether your project is viable, the reasoning behind it, and a realistic price range for your site — not the internet average. The fee carries forward if you go further with us.
Typical range for this project: $45–$120 per sq ft built.