If you're planning a deck for your inner-west home this year, the first question is always the same: what will it actually cost? Here's how decking prices break down across Melbourne in 2026, and what pushes a quote up or down.
The base rates
Most Melbourne deck builders quote per square metre of finished deck. Our current 2026 indicative rates are:
- Treated pine: from around $290/m² — a solid, budget-friendly choice for large family decks and rentals.
- Hardwood (Merbau or Spotted Gum): from around $440/m² — the premium Australian timber look that lasts decades.
- Composite: from around $550/m² — low-maintenance engineered boards; no oiling, no splinters, no rot.
- Restoration (sanding and oiling): from $153/m² for bringing a tired deck back to life.
So a straightforward 20 m² backyard deck in treated pine lands near $5,800, the same deck in hardwood around $8,800, and in composite around $11,000.
What moves the price
The per-metre rate is only the starting point. Five site factors matter most:
- Height. A ground-level deck is one thing; a deck raised 1.5 metres on stumps with stairs and balustrade is a different build entirely. Substructure, posts and railings all add cost.
- Access. Period homes in Seddon, Footscray and Yarraville often have tight side passages or no rear vehicle access. Every board and post carried by hand adds labour.
- Slope. Inner-west blocks vary more than people expect. A sloping yard means longer posts, more excavation and deeper footings.
- Existing structures. Demolishing an old deck, or building over a cracked concrete slab, changes the subframe design.
- Size. Bigger decks cost less per square metre because setup, delivery and framing are spread over more area. A 30 m² deck is better value per metre than a 10 m² one.
The extras to budget for
A few line items sit outside the square-metre rate:
- Building permit: required for most decks in Victoria (we cover the rules in our permit guide). Budget roughly $500–$1,500 depending on complexity.
- Demolition of an existing deck or pergola floor.
- Stairs and balustrade on raised decks — glass balustrade looks stunning on Williamstown period homes but costs more than timber pickets.
- Site works: drainage, retaining edges, weed matting and gravel under the deck.
A fixed written quote means exactly that: the number on the page is the number you pay, unless you change the scope. Always ask for one.
Timber vs composite: the lifetime maths
Composite costs more upfront but needs no annual oiling. Hardwood needs oiling roughly every 12–18 months — a few hundred dollars a time on a typical deck — but can be sanded and refreshed for 25+ years. Over a 15-year horizon, the totals converge. We walk through that trade-off in our composite vs timber guide.
Getting a real number
Ballpark figures are useful for planning, but every block in the inner west is different. With over 10 years of decking experience, we quote fixed in writing after a free on-site measure — no estimates that quietly grow, no pressure. If you're weighing up timber species at the same time, our Merbau vs Spotted Gum comparison is the natural next read.