Deck Building Quote Template
Free deck building quote template for Australian tradies. Includes timber materials, hardware, labour, and GST — ready to customise and send to clients.
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Or try it on the web →This deck quote template is for carpenters building residential timber or composite decks. It suits everything from a small patio extension to a multi-level outdoor area. Most quotes go wrong on two fronts: underestimating the labour for digging footings, especially on rocky or sloping ground, and forgetting to factor in a 10-15% waste allowance for decking boards. Getting these details right protects your margin. Our template ensures all the critical line items are included, so you can build a professional quote that covers the full scope of the job.
How to Price Decking Materials and Labour
Your biggest material cost is the decking itself. A standard 90mm Merbau board from Bunnings Trade is around $12 per lineal metre, so a 20 square metre deck needs about 238 lineal metres, costing roughly $2,850 plus GST before your markup. Don't forget the sub-frame; H3 treated pine for joists and bearers will add another $800-$1,000. Labour is the other major cost. A good starting point is to charge between $250 and $400 per square metre, including all labour from set-out to clean-up. A complex site with stairs or difficult access will be at the higher end of that range.
What Gets Left Off a Deck Building Quote
It's the small things that eat your profit. Always include a line item for rubbish disposal; a 2 cubic metre skip bin costs around $300. Site access is another one. If you can't get a wheelbarrow to the deck area, you need to charge for carrying materials by hand. Also, check council requirements. Any deck over 1 metre from ground level, or of a certain size, may require a permit and engineering drawings, which is a cost you must pass on. Finally, specify the hardware. Using 316 marine grade stainless steel screws instead of galvanised can add hundreds to the job cost, so specify it clearly in the quote.
Materials Included
- Decking boards (Merbau, treated pine, composite)
- Joists and bearers
- Concrete footings
- Coach bolts and screws
- Stainless steel balustrade
- Stair treads and stringers
Quoting Steps
- 1Measure deck area and access
- 2Select decking material and profile
- 3Calculate joists, bearers, and footings
- 4Add balustrade and stairs if needed
- 5Include labour and markup
- 6Generate and send professional PDF quote
Frequently Asked Questions
For a standard rectangular deck using timber boards like Merbau, a 10% waste factor is usually safe. If you're using composite decking, which can be less forgiving, or laying boards in a herringbone pattern, increase that to 15%. It's cheaper to have a few boards left over than to make a special trip back to the supplier for a single length.
While you don't need to quote the whole rulebook, it’s good practice to state that the work will comply with the National Construction Code (NCC) and AS 1684 for timber framing. This shows the client you're a professional and protects you if they ask for something non-compliant. For balustrades, referencing AS 1170.1 for structural safety is key.
Don't price footings per hole; price them based on total labour and materials. For a standard deck requiring twenty 400x400x600mm holes in stable soil, allow for a full day of labour for digging and pouring. With concrete mix and post supports, you should be quoting at least $1,200-$1,500 for the footings alone, before adding excavation machinery hire if needed.
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