Cost Guide

How much does decking cost in Canberra?

By The WTD Editorial Team · Last verified October 2026 · Methodology

Updated October 2026 · Independently researched · 14 min read

Most decking in Canberra costs $5,500–$17,600

for a standard 15–25 sqm deck

A small 15 sqm hardwood deck in Canberra costs $5,500–$11,000. A medium 25 sqm deck runs $8,800–$17,600. Per-sqm rates range from $200/sqm for treated pine to $770/sqm for composite.

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+3.5% Decking costs in Canberra are up around 3.5% over the past year, re-verified against 90+ sources in October 2026. Year on year

Timber, and hardwood in particular, is what Canberrans search for when they price a deck. Built in merbau it costs $330–$605 a square metre, in blackbutt $365–$680 and in spotted gum $385–$660, while treated pine is $200–$385. Priced as a complete job, a 25 sqm medium hardwood deck comes to $8,800–$17,600. The other local question is upkeep. Timber here swings from January days averaging 28.0 °C to frosty winter mornings, with July lows of -0.1 °C at the airport (BOM averages), and that swing is hard on oil and boards alike.

Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Decking cost in Australia.

Quick answerDecking in Canberra costs $200–$385 /sqm, with most averaging $285 /sqm. GST included — verified October 2026. Get free Canberra quotes →

Detailed Pricing — Decking Cost in Canberra 2026

Service	Low	Typical	High
Treated pine deck (per sqm)	$200/sqm	$285	$385
Hardwood deck — merbau (per sqm)	$330/sqm	$460	$605
Hardwood deck — spotted gum (per sqm)	$385/sqm	$530	$660
Composite deck (per sqm)	$310/sqm	$605	$770
Small deck (15 sqm, hardwood)	$5,500total	$8,250	$11,000
Medium deck (25 sqm, hardwood)	$8,800total	$13,200	$17,600
Large deck (40 sqm, hardwood)	$14,300total	$20,900	$28,600
Deck steps (per step)	$200/step	$330	$440
Deck balustrade / railing (per lm)	$165/lm	$310	$495
Deck sanding + oiling (per sqm)	$28/sqm	$44	$66
Old deck demolition + removal	$22/sqm	$38	$61
Pergola over deck (basic timber or aluminium, about 4 x 4 m to 4 x 6 m)	$5,500total	$8,800	$16,500
Deck stairs (per flight, installed)	$1,100installed	$2,200	$4,950
Elevated / high-set deck surcharge (per sqm)	$55/sqm	$110	$200
Deck re-oil only (clean + 2 coats, no sanding, per sqm)	$16/sqm	$33	$50
Hardwood deck — blackbutt (per sqm)	$365/sqm	$495	$680
Composite deck — premium capped / solid-core, Trex class (per sqm)	$495/sqm	$625	$990

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Prices verified October 2026 · Cross-referenced against 90+ Australian trade pricing sources · See methodology

Prices include GST. Based on Canberra metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.

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Canberra decks: looking after one, and pine against hardwood at 25 m²

Re-oil or sand back a Canberra deck

A re-oil (clean and two coats, no sanding) is $16–$50 a square metre in our Canberra table, and sanding back and oiling $28–$66. On a 25-square-metre deck that is $825 for a re-oil or $1,100 to sand and oil, at the typical rates.

A 25 m² Canberra deck in treated pine or hardwood

Our Canberra table prices a medium hardwood deck of 25 square metres at $8,800–$17,600. In treated pine at the typical square-metre price ($285), the same 25 square metres comes to $7,125.

These answers use the prices in the table on this page.

What Affects Decking Costs in Canberra

Pine, hardwood or composite

Treated pine is the budget choice, typically $285 per square metre. Of the three hardwoods, merbau has the lowest typical price, blackbutt sits in the middle, and spotted gum costs most at $530. Composite boards cost $310–$770, rising to $495–$990 for capped, solid-core premium lines that need no oil at all.

How high the deck sits

ACT rules let a deck with no roof skip a development application when its floor sits 1 m or less above finished ground, dropping to 0.4 m within 1.5 m of a side or rear boundary or in front of the building line. With no walls, a top no more than 3 m high and no unsupported span over 4 m, no building approval is needed. Raised decks add $55–$200 per square metre.

Townhouse courtyards

Semi-detached townhouses and terraces make up 17.2% of Canberra dwellings, well above the 12.6% national share (ABS 2021 Census). A courtyard deck can easily come within 1.5 m of a side or rear fence, where the ACT limit for skipping a development application drops to 0.4 m above the ground. A low deck also keeps the subframe simple, which helps the price on a small area.

Putting a roof over it

The ACT exemption from a development application is written for decks without a roof. Adding a pergola, $5,500–$16,500 for a basic timber or aluminium frame, changes the approval picture, so check what the roofed version needs before you order materials. If a pergola is likely later, tell the builder now so the posts and footings can carry it.

Upkeep through frost and sun

Deck maintenance is the top local search, and the cheapest kind is the regular kind. A clean and two coats of oil is $16–$50 a square metre, or about $825 for a 25 sqm deck. Leave it until the boards grey and crack and it needs sanding as well, at $28–$66. Composite only needs washing.

Licensed builder and insurance

In the ACT a licensed builder is required for any building work that needs building approval. Residential building work insurance rules apply to work costing $12,000 or more, and a large 40 sqm hardwood deck at $14,300–$28,600 sits well inside that range. The builder has to take out that insurance before starting and must hand you evidence of it.

Steps, rails and the old deck

Single steps are priced at $200–$440 each, and a full flight of stairs at $1,100–$4,950. A balustrade costs $165–$495 a lineal metre, which adds up quickly along the open edge of a raised deck. If an old deck has to come out first, demolition and removal is $22–$61 a square metre.

How to Save Money on Decking Cost in Canberra

Before settling the design, measure the finished floor height and the distance to each side and rear fence; those two numbers decide whether you need a DA.

Book oiling for a dry, mild spell in autumn, so the boards go into the frosts sealed.

Re-oil before the timber turns grey: $16–$50 a square metre now saves paying $28–$66 later.

Ask what the subframe is made of, the joist spacing and the clearance to the ground, because the frame, not the boards, sets the deck's lifespan.

Ask whether the boards will be fixed with screws or hidden clips, and how much gap is left between them for drainage.

On a job of $12,000 or more, ask to see the residential building work insurance evidence before you pay a deposit.

Frequently Asked Questions — Decking Cost in Canberra

What does decking cost a square metre in Canberra?

Going by our Canberra table, treated pine costs $200–$385 a square metre, merbau costs $330–$605 a square metre and composite costs $310–$770 a square metre.

How much does deck sanding and oiling cost in Canberra?

In our Canberra table: sanding and oiling $28–$66 a square metre and a re-oil only (clean and two coats) $16–$50 a square metre.

What do merbau and spotted gum decks cost in Canberra?

In our Canberra table, merbau is $330–$605 a square metre (typically $460) and spotted gum is $385–$660 a square metre (typically $530).

Do I need a permit for a deck?

In the ACT an unroofed deck needs no development application if its floor is no more than 1m above finished ground level, or 0.4m in front of the building line or within 1.5m of a side or rear boundary. It needs no building approval if it has no walls, its floor is no more than 1m above ground, its highest point is no more than 3m and no unsupported span is more than 4m.

What does a 15, 25 or 40 square metre deck cost in Canberra?

In our Canberra table, a small hardwood deck (15 sqm) is $5,500–$11,000 (typically $8,250), a medium one (25 sqm) is $8,800–$17,600 (typically $13,200) and a large one (40 sqm) is $14,300–$28,600 (typically $20,900).

What do deck builders charge for removing an old deck in Canberra?

For removing an old deck, our Canberra table shows $22–$61 a square metre, with a typical price of $38.

Our Methodology

These are independent estimates from public cost guides, marketplaces and industry rate data, and no tradesperson can influence them, so always get a few quotes. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our full methodology →