What a new deck actually costs in the Twin Cities
Across Minneapolis and St. Paul, a typical deck build lands between $7,000 and $13,500. That number covers a lot of ground: a modest pressure-treated deck on one end, a mid-size composite deck on the other. Where your project falls in that range depends mostly on three things: square footage, decking material, and how much structure you need to get the deck off the ground and keep people from falling off it.
This guide breaks that range down so you can see where your specific job should land before you call anyone.
Cost by size and material
Contractors here price decks by the square foot, and the material you pick changes that per-foot number more than almost anything else. Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest structural and decking option. Cedar costs more but resists rot and looks better without paint. Composite costs the most upfront but needs no staining or sealing, which matters through Minnesota's freeze-thaw cycles.
| Deck size | Pressure-treated | Cedar | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | $2,800 - $4,300 | $3,800 - $5,600 | $4,900 - $7,000 |
| 200 sq ft | $5,200 - $7,800 | $7,000 - $10,000 | $9,000 - $12,800 |
| 300 sq ft | $7,500 - $11,400 | $10,200 - $14,700 | $13,200 - $18,900 |
A 150 to 220 square foot single-level deck in pressure-treated or cedar is the most common job in this market, which is why the $7,000 to $13,500 figure holds up as a realistic middle. Go bigger, go composite, or add structure below, and you move past it. Go smaller and stick with pressure-treated, and you can come in under it.
What pushes a job above the average
Square footage and material set the baseline. These add-ons are what actually move a quote from the low end to the high end within a given size and material.
Elevation and support structure
A deck that's a foot or two off the ground on a flat lot is the cheapest version of any size. Once you're building a second-story deck off a walkout basement or a sloped backyard, you're paying for taller posts, more concrete, additional beams, and often engineered plans. Elevated decks routinely run 15 to 30 percent more than a ground-level deck of the same footprint.
Stairs
Each stair run adds both material and labor, plus another set of railings and often another footing. A simple 3 to 4 step run might add $600 to $1,200. A full stairway down from a second-story deck can add $2,000 or more once you include railings on both sides.
Railings
Basic pressure-treated railing is usually included in the base per-square-foot price. Upgrading to cable rail, glass panel, or composite railing to match composite decking can add $40 to $80 per linear foot over the basic option, which adds up fast on a wraparound deck.
Minnesota climate factors that affect price
Winters here are hard on decks and on the ground the deck sits on. Because the frost line runs deep in this climate, footings need to be dug well below it so the deck doesn't heave when the ground freezes and thaws. That means more digging, more concrete, and more labor per footing than you'd see in a warmer state, even before the deck itself goes up. It's also part of why cheaper "deck in a day" pricing you might see advertised nationally rarely applies here.
Material choice matters more in this climate too. Pressure-treated lumber and cedar both need re-staining every 2 to 3 years to handle the freeze-thaw cycle and UV exposure. Composite costs more initially but skips that maintenance, which is worth factoring into the real cost over 10 years, not just the build price.
Permits and inspections
Minneapolis and St. Paul, along with most surrounding suburbs, require a building permit for a new deck, particularly if it's attached to the house or elevated above ground level. Expect at least two inspections during the build: one for the footings before they're covered with concrete, and one for the finished framing before decking or railing goes on. Permit fees and exact submission requirements vary by city and by the value of the job, so confirm the current fee and process with your specific city's building department before you sign a contract. A licensed contractor who works in your city regularly should already know the local process and typically pulls the permit as part of the job.
Skipping the permit is a real risk here, not just a technicality. An unpermitted deck can complicate a home sale later and, if it's not built to code, may not hold up under Minnesota's snow loads.
How to get an exact number for your deck
Everything above is a range because your yard, your slope, and your material pick are specific to you. The fastest way to get a real number instead of a range is to skip the back-and-forth quote process. Take a few photos of where the deck will go, describe the rough size and how you want to use it, and note whether the ground is flat or sloped. That's enough for FairlyQuoted to give you an instant local price range built on real Twin Cities job data, not a guess.