Replacing a deck costs a little more per square foot than building one on bare ground, and the reason is at the front of the job: someone has to tear out and haul away what is already there. That demolition line, plus the condition of the framing underneath, is what separates a replacement price from a new-build price.
This guide collects what the named sources - HomeGuide and Fixr - list for deck replacement, per square foot and per project, plus how replacement stacks up against a fresh build and a repair. For the underlying material and labor costs, our deck cost guide is the pillar this sits under.
Pricing note - reviewed August 7, 2026: Every figure on this page is quoted from a named published cost guide, each opened on August 7, 2026. These are national published ranges, not local quotes or Plank Compass averages - deck work is priced job by job, and prices vary by market, size, material and site. Confirm the itemized total on site with a licensed, insured builder.
How Much Does Deck Replacement Cost?
HomeGuide lists deck replacement at $30 to $55 per square foot on average, and puts a 20-by-20 deck replacement at $12,000 to $22,000. Fixr, on its 300-square-foot basis, lists replacement at $20 to $62 per square foot, or $6,000 to $18,600 for the deck, and separately lists $20 to $70 per square foot once demolition is included.
HomeGuide’s calculator breaks a pressure-treated pine replacement into $27 to $30 per square foot in materials plus $13 to $25 in labor, reaching the $30 to $55 installed figure. That materials share sits higher than a new build’s because a replacement often reuses less and disposes of more. For composite, Angi lists replacing a wood deck with composite at $20 to $47 per square foot, a grand total of $7,200 to $17,000 for an average-sized deck.
Deck Replacement Cost by Size
Most replacement pricing is quoted per square foot, so size drives the total. HomeGuide’s published size figure is a 20-by-20 deck at $12,000 to $22,000, and Fixr’s basis is a 300-square-foot deck at $6,000 to $18,600. For other footprints, the per-square-foot rates carry the estimate: HomeGuide’s $30 to $55 and Fixr’s $20 to $62 per square foot applied to your deck’s area. For a side-by-side of totals by size, the size table in our deck cost guide lists a 10x10 through a 20x20 from Angi and HomeAdvisor.
The material you rebuild in re-enters at its own rate, which is why replacement quotes for the same deck can land far apart. A pressure-treated surface sits at the bottom of the range and a composite or exotic-hardwood surface at the top, following the same by-material spread that guide lays out for a new build. The one line that is unique to a replacement, and the reason it runs above a fresh build, is what comes off before anything goes back on.
Replacement vs New Build vs Repair
The three paths overlap in price but not in scope, and knowing which one you are pricing keeps the quotes honest.
A new build on open ground is the baseline: HomeGuide lists $25 to $50 per square foot installed. A replacement runs a step higher at HomeGuide’s $30 to $55 per square foot, and the difference is largely the demolition and disposal covered in the next section. A repair is the cheapest path when the structure is sound - HomeGuide lists most repairs at $750 to $2,500 and Fixr at $500 to $3,000 - but it stops being the economical choice once the parts adding up approach the replacement figure.
What shifts a replacement toward the cheaper end is reusing what is sound. If the framing, joists, and footings pass inspection, a crew may swap only the decking surface and railings, which lands closer to a resurfacing than a full teardown. If the substructure is compromised, the job moves toward the top of the range because the rebuild starts at the footings. Which of those you are looking at is a call for an on-site inspection, not a price table.
Published guide figures across the three paths
| Path | HomeGuide | Fixr |
|---|---|---|
| New build | $25-$50 per sq ft installed | $15-$55 per sq ft |
| Replacement | $30-$55 per sq ft | $20-$62 per sq ft |
| Repair | $750-$2,500 total | $500-$3,000 total |
Our deck repair cost guide breaks the repair path into its per-part prices, so you can compare a stack of repair line items against the per-square-foot replacement number above.
The Demolition Add-On
Demolition is the line that makes a replacement cost more than a new build. HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide both list demolishing and removing an old deck at $5 to $15 per square foot, and Fixr lists completely removing a deck at $500 to $1,000. That is the tear-out, the hauling, and the disposal of the old boards, framing, and often the footings.
The two demolition figures describe the same work at different scales: HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide’s $5 to $15 per square foot grows with the deck, while Fixr’s $500 to $1,000 is a flat total for removing one outright. On a small deck the flat figure may be the cheaper description of the job; on a large one the per-square-foot figure climbs past it. Either way, what you are paying for is the same work: pulling the boards, cutting out the framing, and hauling it all away, sometimes including old concrete footings that have to be broken up.
Because that cost lands on top of the build, a replacement quote should show it as its own line. Fixr’s $20 to $70 per square foot range is exactly the build-plus-demolition figure, wider than its $20 to $62 build-only replacement number by the removal work. When you compare replacement bids, confirm whether demolition is included or extra before you read the totals as equivalent. Compare replacement crews in Denver through our directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to replace a deck?
HomeGuide lists deck replacement at $30 to $55 per square foot and a 20-by-20 replacement at $12,000 to $22,000. Fixr lists $20 to $62 per square foot, or $6,000 to $18,600 for a 300-square-foot deck, rising to $20 to $70 per square foot once demolition is included.
Is replacing a deck cheaper than building a new one?
No, it runs slightly higher per square foot because of the tear-out. HomeGuide lists a new build at $25 to $50 per square foot installed versus a replacement at $30 to $55, and the difference is largely demolition and disposal. See the deck cost pillar for new-build pricing.
How much does deck demolition cost?
HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide both list demolishing and removing an old deck at $5 to $15 per square foot, and Fixr lists complete deck removal at $500 to $1,000. This is usually a separate line item on a replacement quote.
Should I repair or replace my deck?
Repair is cheaper when the structure is sound - HomeGuide lists most repairs at $750 to $2,500 and Fixr at $500 to $3,000 - while replacement runs $30 to $55 per square foot (HomeGuide) or $6,000 to $18,600 for a 300-square-foot deck (Fixr). Our deck repair cost guide helps you weigh the repair line items against a rebuild.
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