Does a deck add value? Deck ROI calculator
A deck is one of the best-returning outdoor projects: it adds living space at a fraction of an addition’s cost, and buyers can picture using it immediately. Wood recoups slightly more than composite on paper; composite wins on maintenance.
Directional estimate using national cost-vs-value recoup rates (2025 Cost vs. Value report). Returns vary widely by market, quality, and timing — not an appraisal.
How much value does a deck add?
A 16×20 pressure-treated wood deck (about $18,000 with railing and stairs) recouped roughly 95% of its cost in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report; the same deck in composite (about $25,000) recouped about 89%. Both beat nearly every interior remodel, because a deck is cheap usable square footage.
The dollar value added is similar — roughly $17,000–$22,000 — so the choice between wood and composite is about upkeep and lifespan, not resale.
What drives deck ROI
Size in proportion to the house. A deck that fits the yard and the home’s scale adds more than an oversized platform.
Access and flow. A deck off the kitchen or living room gets used; one off a bedroom does not.
Condition. An old, splintering deck is a liability buyers subtract for; a new one is a selling point in the listing photos.
Climate. Outdoor living space is worth more where it gets used nine months a year.
Wood vs. composite
Wood: lower cost, highest recoup, needs staining or sealing every 2–3 years and lasts 10–15 years.
Composite: 30–40% more up front, slightly lower recoup, almost no maintenance and a 25–30-year life — the better choice if you will stay.
Put it in context
Compare this against other projects with the Increase Home Value calculator, check what your home is worth with the Home Value Estimator, and see local prices on the home values map.