The Short Answer
On our estimates, composite decking costs about £90 to £150 per m² supplied and fitted, so £1,350 to £2,250 for a 15m² deck. Hollow-core boards sit at the bottom of that; solid or capped boards at the top. Fitting takes one to three days.
You pay more than softwood (£70 to £110 per m²) and save on upkeep: Cladco says cleaning is just warm soapy water and a soft brush. The frame matters too, because Cladco's warranty depends on the joists you use.
Decking cost calculator
Priced per square metre for the frame and boards, plus height, rails and taking the old deck away.
Estimated total
£1,350 to £2,250
| Composite deck, 15m², frame, boards and fixings | £1,350 to £2,250 |
Composite decking prices
| Boards | Per m², fitted | 15m² | 25m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow-core composite | £65 to £110 | £980 to £1,650 | £1,650 to £2,750 |
| Solid-core, capped composite | £100 to £160 | £1,500 to £2,400 | £2,500 to £4,000 |
| PVC decking | £65 to £100 | £980 to £1,500 | £1,650 to £2,500 |
Hollow or solid, capped or not
- Hollow-core boards are the cheapest composite, but they're not as strong as solid boards and can flex or break underfoot over the years.
- Solid-core boards are stronger, and heavier to handle, so fitting can cost a little more.
- Capped boards have an outer shell for added protection; composite maker Cladco puts its capped range on a longer warranty than its standard boards.
- PVC decking is all-plastic, an alternative to wood-plastic composite.
The frame and the warranty
Read the warranty before you choose a frame. Cladco, for example, gives its capped boards a 15-year warranty when they're fitted on its composite joists and 20 years on its recycled plastic joists. If you're keeping an old timber frame, ask the board maker whether that's covered.
Planning
A composite deck more than 30cm above the ground counts as a raised platform, which needs planning permission. See decking. More on timber decks on our decking page.
Get composite decking quotes
Composite decks are priced by area, board quality and the frame.
Free, no obligation. We're paid by MyJobQuote when a tradesperson buys your job, never by you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a composite deck cost per m2?
On our estimates, about £90 to £150 per m² supplied and fitted, depending on the boards.
How much to lay composite decking per m2?
Fitting is part of our £90 to £150 per m² estimate, and we estimate about two days' fitting for a typical deck.
How much does a 12x12 composite deck cost?
A 12ft by 12ft deck is about 13.4m², so roughly £1,200 to £2,000, on our estimates.
What are the downsides of composite decking?
It costs more than softwood up front, hollow boards can flex over the years, solid boards are heavy to handle, and the warranty can depend on the frame it's fixed to.
Is composite decking more expensive than wood?
Up front, yes: £90 to £150 against £70 to £110 per m² for softwood, on our estimates.
How we priced thisView sources (2, 1 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- OfficialThe Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 1, legislation.gov.uk. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- IndustryUK composite decking prices and installation costs guide, Cladco. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
