The short answer
Decking is usually priced by the square metre. Supply-only boards run roughly £15–£30/m² for softwood, £65–£105/m² for hardwood, and £37–£92/m² for composite. Installed — boards, sub-frame and labour together — that typically becomes around £60/m² for softwood, about £120/m² for hardwood, and roughly £100–£150/m² for composite, with premium composite up to £140–£200/m². To estimate your own deck, multiply your area in square metres by the installed rate for your chosen material — then allow extra for steps, balustrades, awkward access or a raised sub-frame.
Because decking is priced per square metre, knowing the rate for each material lets you sketch a rough budget before you get a measured quote. The figures below separate supply-only boards from the installed cost.
Per-m² rates
- Softwood boards~£15–£30 / m²
- Hardwood boards~£65–£105 / m²
- Composite boards~£37–£92 / m²
- Softwood installed~£60 / m²
- Composite installed~£100–£150 / m²
Supply-only versus installed
There are two figures worth keeping separate. Supply-only is just the boards — useful if you're fitting it yourself or want to sanity-check a quote. Installed rolls in the sub-frame timber, fixings, ground preparation, labour and waste removal, which is why it is well above the board price. Most homeowners care about the installed rate, because that is what a finished, level, safe deck actually costs.
| Material | Supply-only | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Softwood | ~£15–£30 / m² | from ~£60 / m² |
| Hardwood | ~£65–£105 / m² | ~£120 / m² |
| Composite | ~£37–£92 / m² | ~£100–£150 / m² |
| Premium composite | higher | ~£140–£200 / m² |
Indicative UK per-m² figures for guidance. Sources: trade cost guides and timber merchants.
How to estimate your deck
Measure the length and width of the area you want decked and multiply them to get the square metres. Multiply that by the installed rate for your material — for example, a 20m² composite deck at £125/m² is around £2,500, while the same area in softwood at £60/m² is around £1,200. Then add a margin for anything beyond a flat, simple deck: steps, a balustrade, a raised or sloping sub-frame, and difficult garden access all push the per-m² figure up, so treat the rate as a starting point rather than a final price.
Want a per-m² quote for your garden?
We'll match you with a vetted decking installer who measures the area, accounts for the sub-frame and access, and quotes a clear rate for your chosen material.
Frequently asked questions
How much is decking per square metre installed?
Roughly £60/m² for softwood, around £120/m² for hardwood, and about £100–£150/m² for composite — with premium composite up to £140–£200/m². The installed rate includes the sub-frame, fixings and labour, not just the boards.
How do I work out how much decking I need?
Measure the length and width of the area in metres and multiply them for the square metres, then multiply by the installed rate for your material. Add a margin for steps, balustrades, a raised sub-frame or awkward access.
Why is the installed price so much higher than the board price?
Because the installed figure includes the sub-frame timber, fixings, ground preparation, labour and waste removal — often a large share of the job — whereas the supply-only price is just the deck boards.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific garden. They are guidance, not a quotation.