Deck Building Cost on the Gold Coast and Brisbane (2026)

Quick answer: on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane in 2026, a ground-level hardwood deck costs roughly $550-$850 per square metre installed, composite decking $750-$1,200 per square metre, and elevated decks with structural posts, bearers and stairs $900-$1,600 per square metre. A typical 30 sqm deck therefore lands between $18,000 and $42,000.

What is included in a deck price

A deck is a structure, not a floor surface. The price covers footings, posts, bearers, joists, bracing, tie-downs, the deck boards themselves, fixings, balustrade where required, stairs, and finishing. On a well-built deck, well over half the cost sits below the surface you walk on - which is exactly why cheap deck quotes tend to differ underneath rather than on top.

• Concrete footings sized to soil classification and wind loading
• H4 or better treated posts and bearers, or galvanised steel where exposed
• Joists at correct centres for the board type - composite usually needs closer centres than timber
• Cyclone-rated tie-downs and connections appropriate to wind region B or C
• Board fixing - top-fixed and countersunk, or a concealed clip system
• Balustrade to code where the deck exceeds 1 metre above ground
• Stairs with compliant going, rise and handrail

Cost by decking material

• Treated pine - $450-$650/sqm installed. Cheapest entry point, needs regular coating, shorter life in coastal conditions
• Australian hardwood (spotted gum, blackbutt, merbau) - $550-$850/sqm installed. Best appearance, needs oiling every 12-18 months
• Composite decking - $750-$1,200/sqm installed. Higher upfront, no oiling, excellent near salt air and pools
• Aluminium substructure upgrades - add $80-$150/sqm, worth it in high-moisture or poolside locations

What pushes a deck budget up

1. Height - once a deck exceeds 1 metre, balustrade and building approval become mandatory, and posts get longer and footings bigger
2. Sloping sites - very common through Mudgeeraba, Currumbin Valley and Brisbane's western suburbs, where each footing is a different depth
3. Stairs - a compliant flight of external stairs commonly adds $2,500-$6,000
4. Roofing the deck - a roofed patio or pergola typically adds $600-$1,200/sqm and needs approval
5. Poolside compliance - pool barrier requirements, non-slip surfaces and the 1,100 mm non-climbable zone
6. Coastal exposure - stainless fixings and marine-grade hardware add cost but are non-negotiable near the beach or canals
7. Removing an old deck - allow $60-$120/sqm for demolition and disposal

Timber or composite: the honest cost comparison

Over ten years, the gap between a hardwood deck and a composite deck narrows considerably. A 30 sqm hardwood deck at $22,000 that is oiled every 18 months at roughly $900 a service costs about $28,000 over a decade. A composite deck at $30,000 with periodic washing costs about $31,000. Hardwood wins on warmth and appearance; composite wins on time, and it wins decisively in poolside and beachfront applications where salt and chlorine punish timber.

Our full side-by-side is in the timber versus composite decking comparison, and the composite decking service page covers the systems we install.

Approvals for decks in Queensland

As a general rule, a deck more than 1 metre above natural ground level needs building approval, as does any deck structurally attached to the dwelling. Setbacks, site cover and overlays can also apply. The full breakdown is in our Queensland council approval guide - it is worth reading before you finalise a design, because a deck redesigned to sit under a height threshold can save thousands.

How to get a deck quote you can rely on

1. Confirm the board species or composite brand and profile by name, not 'hardwood'
2. Ask what joist centres are specified and whether they suit the board type
3. Confirm footing sizes and soil classification
4. Ask whether balustrade, stairs and handrails are included or excluded
5. Confirm fixing type - stainless in coastal zones
6. Confirm who obtains approval and whether the fee is in the price
7. Ask what finishing coat is applied and what maintenance is recommended