How much does decking cost in Gold Coast?
How much a deck costs on the Gold Coast comes down first to the timber. Quotes are per square metre, built and finished: treated pine is $175–$345, merbau is $295–$540, spotted gum is $345–$590, and a standard composite board is $275–$685. Priced as a whole job, a 15 square metre hardwood deck lands at $4,900–$9,800 and a 25 square metre one at $7,850–$15,700. Separate houses are only 56.8% of dwellings in the Gold Coast area, against 72.3% nationally, with semi-detached homes making up 21.1% (ABS 2021 Census); if yours is a townhouse courtyard, the small-deck figure is the one to read.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Decking cost in Australia.
Detailed Pricing — Decking Cost in Gold Coast 2026
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treated pine deck (per sqm) | $175/sqm | $255 | $345 |
| Hardwood deck — merbau (per sqm) | $295/sqm | $410 | $540 |
| Hardwood deck — spotted gum (per sqm) | $345/sqm | $470 | $590 |
| Composite deck (per sqm) | $275/sqm | $540 | $685 |
| Small deck (15 sqm, hardwood) | $4,900total | $7,350 | $9,800 |
| Medium deck (25 sqm, hardwood) | $7,850total | $11,750 | $15,700 |
| Large deck (40 sqm, hardwood) | $12,750total | $18,600 | $25,500 |
| Deck steps (per step) | $175/step | $295 | $390 |
| Deck balustrade / railing (per lm) | $145/lm | $275 | $440 |
| Deck sanding + oiling (per sqm) | $24/sqm | $39 | $59 |
| Old deck demolition + removal | $20/sqm | $34 | $54 |
| Pergola over deck (basic timber or aluminium, about 4 x 4 m to 4 x 6 m) | $4,900total | $7,850 | $14,700 |
| Deck stairs (per flight, installed) | $980installed | $1,950 | $4,400 |
| Elevated / high-set deck surcharge (per sqm) | $49/sqm | $98 | $175 |
| Deck re-oil only (clean + 2 coats, no sanding, per sqm) | $15/sqm | $29 | $44 |
| Hardwood deck — blackbutt (per sqm) | $325/sqm | $440 | $610 |
| Composite deck — premium capped / solid-core, Trex class (per sqm) | $440/sqm | $560 | $880 |
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Prices include GST. Based on Gold Coast metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Gold Coast decks: timbers compared over 15 square metres, refinishing an old deck, steps and railings
Treated pine, merbau or spotted gum on the Gold Coast
Per square metre in our Gold Coast table: treated pine $175–$345, merbau $295–$540 and spotted gum $345–$590. For a 15 square metre deck at the typical prices that is $3,825 in treated pine, $6,150 in merbau or $7,050 in spotted gum.
Sanding, oiling or re-oiling a Gold Coast deck
Sanding and oiling is $24–$59 a square metre in our Gold Coast table, and a re-oil without sanding (clean and two coats) $15–$44. Over 25 square metres that is $975 sanded and oiled or $725 re-oiled, at the typical prices.
Steps, stairs, railings and high-set decks on the Gold Coast
Our Gold Coast table prices deck steps at $175–$390 a step, a full flight of stairs at $980–$4,400, and a balustrade or railing at $145–$440 a metre. A deck built high off the ground carries a surcharge of $49–$175 a square metre.
Houses and apartments on the Gold Coast
Separate houses are 56.8% of dwellings in the Gold Coast - Tweed Heads area, the second-lowest share of the 15 cities we cover, while flats and apartments make up 21.1% (ABS 2021 Census).
These answers use the prices in the table on this page.
Local figures: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census QuickStats, Gold Coast - Tweed Heads.
What Affects Decking Costs in Gold Coast
Picking the boards
Treated pine is the cheapest board at every point of its band, typically $255 a square metre, though it wants frequent oiling. Blackbutt runs $325–$610. A plain composite board sits above merbau at the middle of each band, $540 compared with $410, and the capped, solid-core kind climbs to $440–$880.
What the City expects
The City of Gold Coast says a new timber deck is likely to need building approval from a private certifier. A raised deck is spared only if it is under 10 square metres and less than 1.0 m high, and state rules add that it must be unroofed with no side over 5 m. A deck over 1.0 m high inside a setback also needs the City's approval, which the certifier arranges.
Covering it, and the wind
Putting a pergola over the boards, in timber or aluminium, comes to $4,900–$14,700, and a roof ends any claim to the approval exemption. Queensland's fire and emergency service places the City of Gold Coast in Wind Region B. Cyclones are uncommon here, the City notes, but can bring destructive winds, and the season runs November to April (BOM), so a roof needs proper tie-downs.
Salt, damp and oiling
The coast is NCC climate zone 2, with humid summers, and February is the wettest month at the Seaway, averaging 183.8 mm, ahead of March at 168.2 mm (BOM averages). Bare boards left damp turn grey and split. Sanding back and oiling costs $24–$59, while a wash and two coats with no sanding is cheaper, $15–$44, if the finish has not yet worn through.
Raised decks, steps and railings
Joining a deck to a high-set floor costs an extra $49–$175 per square metre over the board price. Stairs are charged by the flight at $980–$4,400, or by the step at $175–$390 where only one or two are needed. A deck floor standing over 1 m high needs a balustrade under the building code, and railing runs $145–$440 per lineal metre.
Licence, contract and deposit
In Queensland a QBCC licence is required for building work valued at $3,300 or more, and even the bottom of the small-deck band, $4,900, is past that line. Over $3,300 the job also needs a written contract, and home warranty insurance applies. Deposits top out at 10% where the work is valued between $3,301 and $19,999, which covers a typical medium deck at $11,750, and at 5% once it passes $20,000.
How to Save Money on Decking Cost in Gold Coast
A Gold Coast homeowner needed rotting Merbau planks replaced across a roughly 70m² deck top, with sistering to six joists. Estimated at $5,000–$12,000.
Details anonymised. Range is our estimate at enquiry — final quotes vary with access, materials and condition.
Frequently Asked Questions — Decking Cost in Gold Coast
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 →
Five deep-dives on Gold Coast decking cost
