Updated October 2026· Independently researched·14 min read
Most decking in Sunshine Coast costs $4,850–$15,500
for a standard 15–25 sqm deck
A small 15 sqm hardwood deck in Sunshine Coast costs $4,850–$9,700. A medium 25 sqm deck runs $7,750–$15,500. Per-sqm rates range from $175/sqm for treated pine to $680/sqm for composite.
+3.7%Decking costs in Sunshine Coast are up around 3.7% over the past year, re-verified against 90+ sources in October 2026.Year on year
Supplied and built, Sunshine Coast decks are priced per square metre: treated pine $175–$340, merbau $290–$535, composite $270–$680. For a medium hardwood deck of 25 square metres, budget $7,750–$15,500, with $11,650 a typical figure. The coast has more homes with four or more bedrooms than the national average (ABS 2021 Census), and a bigger house tends to call for a bigger deck. Rain falls through much of the year here, so the real decision is whether to pay for upkeep later or for low-maintenance boards now. Figures include GST.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Decking cost in Australia.
Quick answerDecking in Sunshine Coast costs $175–$340 /sqm, with most averaging $250 /sqm. GST included — verified October 2026. Get free Sunshine Coast quotes →
Detailed Pricing — Decking Cost in Sunshine Coast 2026
Service
Low
Typical
High
Treated pine deck (per sqm)
$175/sqm
$250
$340
Hardwood deck — merbau (per sqm)
$290/sqm
$405
$535
Hardwood deck — spotted gum (per sqm)
$340/sqm
$465
$580
Composite deck (per sqm)
$270/sqm
$535
$680
Small deck (15 sqm, hardwood)
$4,850total
$7,300
$9,700
Medium deck (25 sqm, hardwood)
$7,750total
$11,650
$15,500
Large deck (40 sqm, hardwood)
$12,600total
$18,450
$25,200
Deck steps (per step)
$175/step
$290
$390
Deck balustrade / railing (per lm)
$145/lm
$270
$435
Deck sanding + oiling (per sqm)
$24/sqm
$39
$58
Old deck demolition + removal
$19/sqm
$34
$53
Pergola over deck (basic timber or aluminium, about 4 x 4 m to 4 x 6 m)
$4,850total
$7,750
$14,550
Deck stairs (per flight, installed)
$970installed
$1,950
$4,375
Elevated / high-set deck surcharge (per sqm)
$48/sqm
$97
$175
Deck re-oil only (clean + 2 coats, no sanding, per sqm)
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Prices verified October 2026 · Cross-referenced against 90+ Australian trade pricing sources · See methodology
Prices include GST. Based on Sunshine Coast metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
What Affects Decking Costs in Sunshine Coast
Pine, hardwood or composite
Pine, at $175–$340, is the lowest-priced board we list, though it wants oiling often. Hardwood choices span spotted gum ($340–$580), blackbutt ($320–$600) and merbau ($290–$535). Plain composite boards, $270–$680, typically sit above merbau, while premium capped boards climb to $875.
When a deck needs approval
Queensland exempts an unroofed deck from building approval when the deck floor sits no higher than 1 m over natural ground, the plan area is 10 m² or less and every side measures 5 m or under. The Sunshine Coast is in wind region B1, outside the cyclonic Region C where that exemption does not apply. Anything bigger, higher or roofed needs a permit, issued here by a private building certifier.
Bigger houses, bigger decks
Some 39.4% of Sunshine Coast homes have four or more bedrooms, against 34.8% nationally (ABS 2021 Census). Size works in your favour on price: the typical 40 sqm hardwood job, $18,450, comes in under the 15 sqm job, $7,300, once each is divided by its area, because setup, delivery and the connection to the house are spread over more boards.
A rainy summer and autumn
Sunshine Coast Airport records its heaviest rain in February, 217.5 mm on average, and even September, the driest, gets 51.1 mm (BOM averages). Timber that stays damp needs regular care. Cleaning and applying two coats with no sanding costs $15–$44; sanding back and re-oiling costs $24–$58. Composite boards skip both, which is the main argument for paying more up front.
Height, stairs and railings
A high-set deck on a sloping block attracts an extra $48–$175 on every square metre, paying for taller posts and cross-bracing. Decks higher than 1 m need a balustrade on every exposed edge, at $145–$435 a running metre. Stairs cost $970–$4,375 per installed flight; one or two steps are charged at $175–$390 each.
Licence, warranty and deposit
Deck building worth $3,300 or more must be done under a QBCC licence, and residential work over $3,300 carries the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme premium, which belongs in each quote. The deposit limit is 10% where the contract value runs from $3,301 up to $19,999, dropping to 5% above $20,000; at its typical $11,650, a medium deck falls under the 10% limit.
Adding a roof
Once a deck has a roof, Queensland's exemption for small structures stops applying, wherever in the state you live, and building approval is needed. Covering the deck with a simple timber or aluminium pergola is $4,850–$14,550. Demolishing a tired deck, with the timber hauled off, costs $19–$53 per square metre.
How to Save Money on Decking Cost in Sunshine Coast
1
Before settling on a size, test it against the Queensland exemption: unroofed, no higher than 1 m, no larger than 10 m² and no side over 5 m.
2
Aim to build in late winter or early spring, when August and September bring the lowest rainfall of the year at Sunshine Coast Airport (BOM averages).
3
Re-oil hardwood before it greys and dries out; re-oiling without sanding is cheaper per square metre than the sand-back it would otherwise need.
4
Make every quote name the same board, subframe timber and joist spacing, because a deck's lifespan is set by its frame more than its boards.
5
Ask how the ledger is fixed and flashed where the deck meets the house, as that joint is where water finds its way into the wall.
6
Search the QBCC licensee register for your deck builder, and see that the home warranty premium shows as its own line in the quote.
Before you commit — compare your options
Side-by-side guides covering the decisions that most change your final decking cost.
Frequently Asked Questions — Decking Cost in Sunshine Coast
What is the price of merbau decking on the Sunshine Coast?
Going by our Sunshine Coast table, expect $290–$535 a square metre for merbau decking; the typical price is $405.
How much is a hardwood deck by size on the Sunshine Coast?
Our Sunshine Coast table puts a small hardwood deck (15 sqm) at $4,850–$9,700, a medium one (25 sqm) at $7,750–$15,500 and a large one (40 sqm) at $12,600–$25,200.
What does the surcharge for an elevated deck cost on the Sunshine Coast?
In our Sunshine Coast table, the surcharge for an elevated deck runs $48–$175 a square metre, and $97 is typical.
Do I need a permit for a deck?
In Queensland an unroofed deck needs no building approval if its floor is no more than 1m above the natural ground, its plan area is no more than 10 square metres and no side is longer than 5m, except in a tropical cyclone area (Wind Region C). A roofed, higher or larger deck falls outside that exemption.
What do deck builders charge for a basic pergola over a deck on the Sunshine Coast?
For a basic pergola over a deck, our Sunshine Coast table shows $4,850–$14,550, with a typical price of $7,750.
How much should I pay for treated pine decking on the Sunshine Coast?
Our Sunshine Coast prices for treated pine decking start at $175 and reach $340 a square metre, with $250 typical.
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 →
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