How much does decking cost in Hobart?
Deck sanding is the single biggest reason Hobart readers find this page. Sanding back and re-oiling runs $22–$54 per square metre, while a clean and two fresh coats without sanding is $14–$40. For a new deck, installed prices run $160–$315 a square metre for treated pine, $270–$495 for merbau and $250–$630 for composite. Hobart is a city of detached homes, 85.1% of dwellings at the ABS 2021 Census compared with 72.3% nationally, and a 25 m² hardwood deck built off the back of one comes to $7,200–$14,400 as a whole job.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Decking cost in Australia.
Detailed Pricing — Decking Cost in Hobart 2026
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treated pine deck (per sqm) | $160/sqm | $235 | $315 |
| Hardwood deck — merbau (per sqm) | $270/sqm | $380 | $495 |
| Hardwood deck — spotted gum (per sqm) | $315/sqm | $430 | $540 |
| Composite deck (per sqm) | $250/sqm | $495 | $630 |
| Small deck (15 sqm, hardwood) | $4,500total | $6,750 | $9,000 |
| Medium deck (25 sqm, hardwood) | $7,200total | $10,800 | $14,400 |
| Large deck (40 sqm, hardwood) | $11,700total | $17,100 | $23,400 |
| Deck steps (per step) | $160/step | $270 | $360 |
| Deck balustrade / railing (per lm) | $135/lm | $250 | $405 |
| Deck sanding + oiling (per sqm) | $22/sqm | $36 | $54 |
| Old deck demolition + removal | $18/sqm | $32 | $50 |
| Pergola over deck (basic timber or aluminium, about 4 x 4 m to 4 x 6 m) | $4,500total | $7,200 | $13,500 |
| Deck stairs (per flight, installed) | $900installed | $1,800 | $4,050 |
| Elevated / high-set deck surcharge (per sqm) | $45/sqm | $90 | $160 |
| Deck re-oil only (clean + 2 coats, no sanding, per sqm) | $14/sqm | $27 | $40 |
| Hardwood deck — blackbutt (per sqm) | $295/sqm | $405 | $560 |
| Composite deck — premium capped / solid-core, Trex class (per sqm) | $405/sqm | $515 | $810 |
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Get Hobart quotes →Prices include GST. Based on Hobart metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Sanding back a Hobart deck, by deck size
Sanding and oiling a 15, 25 or 40 m² deck in Hobart
At the typical rate in our Hobart table ($36 a square metre), sanding and oiling comes to $540 for a 15-square-metre deck, $900 for 25 square metres and $1,440 for 40. If the boards are past saving, pulling up the old deck is $18–$50 a square metre, and the table prices a new 25-square-metre hardwood deck at $7,200–$14,400.
These answers use the prices in the table on this page.
What Affects Decking Costs in Hobart
Full sand or a re-coat
Boards that have gone grey or furry need the full treatment at $22–$54. If the finish is only dull, a scrub and re-coat that skips the sander, $14–$40, is cheaper across its whole band. February is the driest month at the Ellerslie Road station, averaging 38.8 mm (BOM averages), which gives oil the dry spell it needs to cure.
A cool climate, slow to dry
Hobart falls in NCC climate zone 7, cool temperate. July days average 11.8 °C and nights 4.6 °C (BOM averages), so timber on the shady side of a house can stay damp for weeks and oil cures slowly in the cold. Ask the builder about ventilation gaps under the deck and a subframe treated for wet conditions, because trapped moisture shortens a deck's life.
Freestanding or attached
Tasmania's planning rules exempt an unroofed deck from a permit only if its floor sits less than 1 m above existing ground and it is not attached to or abutting a habitable building, unless the heritage code applies. A deck joined to the house falls outside that, so the City of Hobart recommends advice from a private building surveyor on which approvals you need; applications are lodged through PlanBuild.
Heritage listings and precincts
A property that is heritage listed, or sits inside a Heritage Precinct under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme, usually needs planning approval for any development, and the freestanding-deck exemption does not apply where the local heritage code does. Check the listing for your address before paying for drawings, and leave room in the timeline for the application before a builder is booked.
Choosing the boards
Treated pine is the lowest-priced board in our table whichever end of the range you look at. Spotted gum costs $315–$540 and blackbutt $295–$560. Standard composite, typically $495 a square metre, is dearer than typical merbau, and a premium capped board with a solid core reaches $405–$810, but neither ever needs sanding.
Sloping blocks and height
On a block that falls away from the house, a deck floor soon rises past 1 m, and three costs follow: railing along the open edges ($135–$405 per lineal metre), deeper footings and longer posts, with a height loading added at $45–$160 a square metre of deck, and a stair to the yard ($900–$4,050 per flight). Height also takes the deck outside the permit exemption.
Size and whole-job prices
Hardwood decks priced as complete jobs come to $4,500–$9,000 for 15 m², $7,200–$14,400 for 25 m² and $11,700–$23,400 for 40 m². At typical prices the larger decks work out slightly cheaper per square metre, as setup and delivery are spread over more boards. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.9% of local dwellings, above 39% nationally (ABS 2021 Census); size the deck to the living area it opens from.
How to Save Money on Decking Cost in Hobart
Frequently Asked Questions — Decking Cost in Hobart
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 →