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Deck material calculator
Enter the deck size, height off the ground and joist spacing, and get the whole subframe and deck priced out: post lengths, bearer and joist runs, board metres with waste, screws, and the labour hours to build it.
AnyDeck
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Open AnyBuild freeHow the deck takeoff is worked out
The numbers follow the way a carpenter actually sets a deck out, not a flat cost-per-square-metre guess:
- Posts are laid out on a grid at maximum 1.8 m (AU) or 8 ft (US) spacing in both directions, then each post length includes the height off the ground plus embedment for the footing.
- Bearers run the length of the deck, one row per post line, with 5% added for cuts and joins. In the US set they are doubled 2×8s, as is normal practice.
- Joists are counted across the span at your chosen centres (450/600 mm, or 16/24 in on centre), plus one, then multiplied by the run with 5% waste.
- Decking boards are counted as rows across the width allowing for the board face plus a drainage gap, then converted to lineal metres or feet with 10% waste, which covers cuts and the odd bowed board.
- Labour is hours, not a lump sum, so scaling the deck scales the hours: set-out and subframe, laying, plus a labourer allowance for digging and concreting.
Things worth checking before you order
- Spans in this calculator are the common domestic cases. Anything unusual (long spans, high decks, bushfire or cyclonic areas) needs the span tables or an engineer, so check AS 1684 or the IRC deck guide (DCA 6) for your case.
- Decking is sold in set lengths. Order to the stock lengths your yard carries rather than the raw metre figure, or you will pay for offcuts twice.
- A deck over about a metre off the ground usually needs a balustrade to code, and the handrail line in the takeoff is an allowance only.
- Hardwood and treated pine move differently. Leave the gap your board supplier specifies, not the one that looks right on the day.
Common questions
How much decking do I need for a 6 x 4 m deck?
About 24 m² of deck area. With 140 mm boards and a 4 mm gap that is roughly 28 rows, so around 168 lineal metres before waste and about 185 m with 10% waste. Punch your exact size into the calculator for the board count with the subframe included.
What spacing should deck joists be at?
450 mm centres is the common default in Australia and suits most decking; 600 mm centres works with thicker boards or where the span tables allow it. In the US the equivalents are 16 in and 24 in on centre. Closer spacing means a firmer deck and more joists.
How much waste should I allow on decking?
10% is a sensible allowance for cuts, joins and the occasional unusable board, and that is what this calculator uses. On a small deck with lots of angles, allow more.
Does this include the cost of labour?
Yes, as hours rather than a lump sum: carpenter hours for set-out, subframe and laying, plus labourer hours for digging and concreting. In the AnyBuild app those hours price at your own rates.
These figures are indicative and use sample regional trade prices, so treat them as a starting point for a quote rather than a final price. Quantities follow common practice and standard allowances; spans, footings, fixings and compliance for your specific job should be confirmed against the current standards and, where required, an engineer.
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