Deck repair costs $100 to $3,321 per repair in 2026
Deck repair costs $100 to $3,321 per repair in 2026. Bob Vila puts the national average at $2,019, with a typical range of $859 to $3,321. Fixr says the average is $1,500. Small fixes such as loose stairs cost the least. Rot, termites, and sagging can cost thousands more. Your deck size, wood type, and how much of the frame is hurt all move the price.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| Bob Vila | Bob Vila says the national average deck repair is $2,019 with a typical range of $859 to $3,321, and joist repair is $100 to $300 per joist. |
| Fixr | Fixr says the average deck repair is $1,500 with a range of $500 to $3,000, and labor is $50 to $100 per hour. |
| Airtasker | Airtasker lists deck repair at $100 to $3,000 with a median of $1,500, and loose deck stairs at $150 to $300. |
Deck repair prices by job
| Job | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average deck repair | $1,500 | Fixr |
| Typical range for a deck repair | $859 to $3,321 | Bob Vila |
| Loose deck stairs | $150 to $300 | Airtasker |
| Patch holes or cracks, 300 square foot deck | $150 to $500 | Fixr |
| Joist repair | $100 to $300 per joist | Bob Vila |
| Replace a post | $200 to $400 each | Fixr |
| Resurface a 300 square foot deck | $1,500 to $3,500 | Fixr |
| Rot repair | $300 to $5,000 | Bob Vila |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Type of damage | Airtasker lists loose stairs at $150 to $300. Fixr lists rot at $300 to $5,000 and sagging at $750 to $10,000, so deeper harm costs far more. |
| Deck size | Fixr prices general repair at $10 to $55 per square foot. A bigger deck needs more boards, more labor, and more time on site. |
| Deck material | Bob Vila lists cedar repair at $25 to $55 per square foot and composite at $12 to $45. Wood type and finish change the cost of every board. |
| Frame parts | Fixr lists joists at $150 to $350 each and posts at $200 to $400 each to replace. Bob Vila lists joist repair at $100 to $300 per joist. |
| Labor and call out fees | Fixr lists labor at $50 to $100 per hour and a call out fee of $50 to $75. Emergency visits can add $50 to $150. |
What the price includes
Most deck repair quotes cover labor and the boards, screws, or hardware needed to fix the damaged part. Sealing, staining, pressure washing, railing work, and permits are often priced apart. Bob Vila lists pressure washing at $200 to $400 and sealing or staining at $540 to $1,250. Ask the contractor to list each part of the job. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
DIY or hire a pro
Small jobs can be DIY if you are safe on a ladder and handy with tools. Swapping a few boards, tightening loose screws, or sealing the wood are common DIY tasks. Airtasker lists stain and seal at $3.50 per square foot. Hire a pro for the frame. Joists, posts, footings, and the ledger board hold up the whole deck. Rot or sagging there can be unsafe. A pro can also tell you if your town needs a permit. Bob Vila lists joist repair at $100 to $300 per joist.
How to tell you need it
Look for boards that feel soft or spongy, or screws that stick out. Push a screwdriver into the wood. If it sinks in, the wood is rotten. Check for wobbly stairs, loose railings, and a deck that sags or bounces. Look under the deck for cracked joists, rust, or gaps near the house wall. Fix these soon, because small damage grows.
How to judge your quote
- Does the quote say which boards, posts, or joists will be fixed?
- Does the price include sealing or staining, or is that extra?
- Did the contractor check the frame and the ledger board for rot?
- Is a permit needed for the work, and who pays for it?
- Compare the total with the range above: $100 to $3,321 per repair for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Fix small problems early. Airtasker lists loose stairs at $150 to $300, while Fixr says sagging can reach $10,000 if it is left alone.
- Seal or stain the wood on a schedule. Bob Vila lists sealing and staining at $540 to $1,250, which is far less than a big rot repair.
- Patch before you resurface. Fixr lists patching a 300 square foot deck at $150 to $500, and resurfacing it at $1,500 to $3,500.
- Ask for a price by the square foot. Fixr and Bob Vila both list general repair at $10 to $55 per square foot, so you can compare.
- Get three written quotes. Fixr says the average job is $1,500, but Bob Vila says $2,019, so quotes can differ by hundreds of dollars.
Why this costs more in 2026
Trade labor now runs about $75 to $150 an hour in most of the US. Lumber, steel, copper, PVC and concrete all cost more than in 2024, and freight went up after the oil shock that began with the Iran war in February 2026. Deck repair stays costly in 2026 because labor is a big part of the bill, and Fixr lists it at $50 to $100 per hour.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from Bob Vila, Fixr and Airtasker. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does deck repair cost?
Bob Vila says the average is $2,019, with a typical range of $859 to $3,321. Fixr says the average is $1,500. Airtasker lists a median of $1,500.
How much does it cost to replace deck boards?
Airtasker lists rotten wood and board replacement at $500 to $1,000. Bob Vila lists board replacement at $500 to $4,000. The price depends on deck size and wood type.
How much does it cost to resurface a deck?
Fixr lists resurfacing a 300 square foot deck at $1,500 to $3,500. Airtasker and Bob Vila both list $15 to $50 per square foot.
How much does it cost to fix a sagging deck?
Fixr lists sagging at $750 to $10,000. The range is wide because the cause can be a few posts or a large part of the frame.
How much do contractors charge per hour for deck work?
Fixr lists labor at $50 to $100 per hour. Bob Vila lists total labor at $100 to $500 for a job. Some contractors add a call out fee of $50 to $75.