How Much Does a Deck Cost on the Gold Coast? (2026 Pricing Guide)

"What does a deck cost?" is the question we're asked most. Deck pricing comes down to three things: the material, the height, and the extras. Here's how it generally breaks down on the Gold Coast in 2026.

Price per square metre, installed

• Treated pine: roughly $450–$700/m² — the budget-friendly workhorse. Fine structurally, but as a decking surface it needs more maintenance in coastal conditions.
• Merbau: roughly $600–$900/m² — the value hardwood. Durable and termite-resistant.
• Spotted Gum / Ironbark: roughly $750–$1,100/m² — premium Australian hardwoods that handle salt air brilliantly and age beautifully.
• Composite decking: roughly $700–$1,100/m² — low maintenance, no oiling, though it lacks the feel of real timber underfoot.

Not sure which timber suits your site? We compared them head-to-head in our guide to the best decking timber for Gold Coast homes.

What moves the price up

• Elevation. Once a deck leaves the ground it needs engineered footings, stronger framing, stairs and compliant balustrades — elevated decks typically cost 30–50% more than the same deck at ground level.
• Balustrades: roughly $250–$600 per lineal metre depending on material — timber, aluminium or glass.
• Approvals and engineering. Elevated and larger decks often need building approval — as a rough planning allowance, certification and engineering commonly run $1,500–$4,000, though only a private building certifier can confirm what your project needs. Our approvals guide explains how the process works.
• Site access and ground conditions. Sloping blocks, tight access and rock all add labour.

Worked examples

• 20m² ground-level treated pine deck: roughly $9,000–$14,000
• 25m² ground-level Merbau deck: roughly $15,000–$22,500
• 30m² elevated Spotted Gum deck with stairs and balustrade: roughly $30,000–$45,000 including approvals

The cost that matters more: the substructure

Most of the failed decks we're called to repair didn't fail on top — they failed underneath. Undersized joists, wrong fixings and poor drainage kill decks years early on the coast. We build substructures with hot-dipped galvanised or stainless fixings and proper ventilation as standard, because a deck is only as good as its bones. Salt air makes this non-negotiable — it's the same story we see across all coastal home maintenance.

Repair or rebuild?

If you have an existing deck, don't assume it needs replacing. We restore decks — new boards over a sound frame, targeted structural repairs, sanding and oiling — for a fraction of rebuild cost, and we'll tell you honestly which route your deck deserves.

Get a fixed price for your deck

Send us your rough dimensions and a couple of photos of the space, and we'll give you a free, itemised quote for your new deck or deck restoration — materials, labour, approvals and timeline, all in writing.