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UK cost guide

Garden Decking Cost UK

UK garden decking costs for softwood, hardwood and composite decks, including supply and installation.

Last reviewed: 1 September 2026 · Sources & data · Methodology

Typical planning costFrom around £70 per m² for softwood
Broader project rangeAbout £2,400–£3,600 for many 15–30 m² decks
Planning figures are estimates rather than quotations. Live calculators combine dated UK benchmarks with clearly separated modelling assumptions such as region, size, condition and specification.

What affects the cost?

Decking cost is driven by deck area, material, subframe, ground preparation, steps, balustrades and design complexity. Composite and hardwood generally cost more than treated softwood.

  • Deck area
  • Softwood, hardwood or composite
  • Subframe and ground preparation
  • Steps and levels
  • Balustrades and handrails
  • Access and waste

Typical cost breakdown

Softwood deck, medium projectAround £2,400
Composite deck, medium projectAround £3,000
Hardwood deck, medium projectAround £3,600
Softwood supply & installFrom around £70 / m²
General landscaping decking rangeAround £50–£120 / m²

Regional planning examples

The examples below apply our published modelling factor to the same national benchmark. They are not claimed as observed city-wide average quotes.

London£90–£150 / m²
Manchester£70–£110 / m²
Birmingham£70–£120 / m²
Glasgow£70–£110 / m²
Cardiff£60–£110 / m²

Sources used for this guide

Checkatrade

Garden Decking: Cost Breakdown 2026

Published / checked: Checked September 2026

Used for: Softwood, hardwood and composite decking project and per-m² benchmarks

View source ↗

Frequently asked questions

How much does garden decking cost per m²?

Current UK guidance starts around £70 per m² for professionally supplied and installed softwood decking, with material and design pushing costs higher.

Is composite decking more expensive than softwood?

Usually. Current examples for medium decks put composite above softwood but below many hardwood installations.

Related costs

Cost guide

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UK garden landscaping costs for turf, artificial grass, levelling, terracing, paving, decking and brickwork.

£250–£2,500 for many landscaping projectsView guide →Cost guide

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Typical UK patio laying costs by area, material, ground preparation and labour.

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Landscaper day rate

Typical UK landscaper day and hourly rates for garden and outdoor projects.

£180–£280 per dayView guide →