If you’re planning a garden project, decking cost is usually the first question you want answered before anything else. The honest answer is there’s no single number that fits every garden. The price depends on the decking material you choose, the size of your garden, the condition of the ground, and any extra features you add along the way.
At JPD Landscaping & Building Services, we’ve installed decking across South East London for over 15 years, from small balcony decks to full 30 square metre garden transformations. This guide breaks down real pricing, explains what actually drives the cost up or down, and includes a real project example so you know exactly what to expect before you get a quote.
Average Decking Cost
Here’s a simple breakdown of what you can expect to pay, based on real project pricing rather than rough online estimates.
| Decking Type | Cost Per m² (Materials + Labour) | Typical Total (20 to 35m² garden) | Maintenance Level |
| Softwood decking | £120 to £160 | £2,400 to £5,600 | Higher (yearly treatment) |
| Hardwood decking (Balau, Ipe) | £150 to £250 | £3,000 to £8,750 | Lower |
These figures are all in, meaning they include installation, not just the raw material cost. Your final price will still depend on your garden’s condition, its size, and whatever extra features you decide to add, so treat these numbers as a strong starting point rather than a fixed quote.
Decking Cost Breakdown by Material
Softwood Decking Cost
Softwood decking, usually pressure treated timber, is the most budget friendly option available. It typically costs £120 to £160 per square metre including installation. It’s a solid choice if you want a natural timber look without the higher price tag of hardwood.
The trade off is maintenance. Softwood needs more regular upkeep, including re staining or sealing every year or two, to stop it from greying, warping, or splitting under constant exposure to rain. If you’re happy to spend a weekend each year on upkeep, softwood is a genuinely good value option that still looks great when properly cared for.
Hardwood Decking Cost
Hardwood decking, such as Balau or Ipe, costs more upfront, typically £150 to £250 per square metre. What you get in return is a much more durable surface that needs far less maintenance over time. Hardwood also has a richer, more premium finish, which is why it tends to be the go to choice for larger, feature focused garden makeovers where appearance matters as much as function.
Our take: most of our SE London customers choosing a garden they’ll use for entertaining or high foot traffic go with hardwood, since it holds up better against London’s wet weather and simply lasts longer than softwood. Over a ten year period, many customers find the higher upfront cost balances out because they’re not replacing boards or repainting every season.
What Affects Your Decking Cost the Most?
Material choice isn’t the only thing that changes your final price. Based on our own project history, here’s what really moves the number up or down.
- Ground preparation. This is, by far, the single biggest cost driver we see on real jobs. Sloped gardens, poor drainage, or uneven soil often need extra levelling and groundwork before any decking boards go down.
- Garden size. Larger decks cost more overall, but they often work out slightly cheaper per square metre, since fixed costs like site setup and delivery get spread across more area.
- Extra features. Steps, multi level decking, balustrades or railings, and built in lighting all add to the total. They also add real usability and value to your outdoor space, so most customers find them worth including.
- Frame and substructure work. Older gardens, or ones with existing decking that needs removing, sometimes require a completely new substructure. This adds both time and cost compared with building on fresh ground.
- Access to the garden. Tight side passages or gardens without vehicle access can slow down material delivery and labour, which can add to the overall price.
Average Project Size and Total Cost
Most of the decking projects we complete in SE London fall in the 20 to 35 square metre range. That’s large enough for a proper dining and seating area, but not so big that it takes weeks to finish.
| Garden Size | Softwood Total Cost | Hardwood Total Cost |
| 10m² (small) | £1,200 to £1,600 | £1,500 to £2,500 |
| 20m² (medium large) | £2,400 to £3,200 | £3,000 to £5,000 |
| 35m² (large) | £4,200 to £5,600 | £5,250 to £8,750 |
These figures assume relatively straightforward groundwork. If your garden needs significant levelling or has drainage issues, add roughly 10 to 20 percent to account for the extra site work.
How Long Does Decking Installation Take?
For a typical residential project, installation takes three to five days from start to finish. This includes site preparation, laying the substructure, fitting the boards, and finishing touches like edging.
This timeline can extend if your garden needs significant ground levelling, or if you’re adding steps, multi level sections, balustrades, or built in lighting. A straightforward flat garden with a simple single level deck might be finished in as little as two to three days, while a sloped garden with multiple features can stretch closer to a week.
Real Project Example: Large Hardwood Deck in SE London
One of our recent projects involved a 32 square metre sloped garden in South East London. The client wanted a hardwood deck that could handle a steep drop at the back of the garden, plus a proper social space for entertaining friends and family.
The project involved full ground levelling and regrading to deal with the slope, which turned out to be the biggest single cost factor on this job. This kind of groundwork is very similar to what’s needed on many retaining wall projects, where managing a level change safely is just as important as the finished surface itself. We then laid hardwood decking, specifically Balau, across the main level. A set of steps connected this main level to a lower section of the garden, and we added balustrades along the raised edge for safety. To finish it off, we installed built in lighting along the step edges and around the deck perimeter, so the space could be used comfortably in the evenings.
Project snapshot:
| Detail | Specification |
| Garden size | 32m² |
| Material | Hardwood (Balau) |
| Key features | Steps, balustrades, built in lighting |
| Main cost driver | Ground levelling on a sloped garden |
| Timeline | 5 days |
The result was a garden that went from unusable and awkward to a fully functional, well lit outdoor space that works for everyday family use as well as hosting guests. It’s a good example of why ground preparation, not just material choice, often ends up deciding your final decking cost.
Softwood vs Hardwood Decking: Which Should You Choose?
| Factor | Softwood | Hardwood |
| Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
| Maintenance | Needs yearly treatment | Low maintenance |
| Lifespan | Shorter | Longer |
| Weather resistance | Moderate | Strong |
| Best for | Budget conscious projects | Long term, low maintenance gardens |
If upfront cost is your main concern, softwood is the clear winner, with lower material and labour costs per square metre. If you’re thinking longer term, hardwood tends to win out, since it needs far less maintenance and lasts significantly longer, particularly in a wet climate like the UK’s.
Softwood is best suited to budget conscious projects where you don’t mind a bit of yearly upkeep. Hardwood is best suited to gardens that will see a lot of use, or for homeowners who want a lower maintenance, longer lasting surface and are happy to pay more initially to get it.
Long-Term Cost: What You’ll Spend Over 10 Years
A lot of homeowners only compare the upfront price and miss the bigger picture. Softwood decking is cheaper to install but usually needs treatment once a year, plus occasional board replacement as it ages. Hardwood costs more initially but rarely needs anything beyond an occasional clean and oil.
- Softwood over 10 years: Installation cost plus roughly 8 to 10 rounds of staining or sealing, plus likely board replacement around year 7 or 8.
- Hardwood over 10 years: Installation cost plus occasional cleaning, with most boards lasting well beyond the decade mark without replacement.
When you factor in maintenance time and materials, the gap between softwood and hardwood total cost often narrows significantly by year ten.
Hidden Costs to Budget For
Before you get a quote, it’s worth keeping a few less obvious costs in mind so there are no surprises later.
- Ground and drainage work, if your garden isn’t level or has standing water after rain.
- Substructure or frame repairs, particularly common on older gardens or ones with existing, ageing decking.
- Added features, such as steps, lighting, or balustrades, which are easy to forget when budgeting from a basic per square metre price.
- Waste removal, for old decking, turf, or other materials that need clearing before work begins.
- Timber treatment or sealant top ups, an ongoing cost for softwood decking specifically, usually once a year.
Decking vs Other Garden Surfaces: A Quick Cost Comparison
It’s worth knowing how decking compares to other popular garden surfaces if you’re still deciding on the right option for your space.
| Surface Type | Typical Cost Per m² | Best For |
| Softwood decking | £120 to £160 | Budget projects, raised or sloped gardens |
| Hardwood decking | £150 to £250 | Low maintenance, long term use |
| Paving/patio slabs | £100 to £200 | Flat gardens, minimal groundwork |
| Artificial grass | £60 to £100 | Low cost, low maintenance flat areas |
Decking generally wins out when you want a defined seating or dining area that sits slightly above ground level, especially on sloped or uneven gardens where paving would need even more groundwork to level out. If your garden is flat and you’d rather compare a hard surface option, our patio and hardscaping installation page covers paving costs in more detail, and if low maintenance ground cover is more your priority, take a look at our artificial lawn installation service.
Checklist: What to Ask Before You Book a Decking Quote
Before committing to a quote, it helps to ask a few key questions so you know exactly what’s included.
- Does the quote include ground preparation and levelling, or is that charged separately?
- What decking material is being used, and where is it sourced from?
- Is a guarantee or warranty included on the workmanship?
- Are extra features like steps, lighting, or balustrades included in the price, or added on top?
- How long will the project take from start to finish?
Asking these upfront avoids the common problem of a low estimate turning into a much higher final bill once work actually begins.
How to Get an Accurate Decking Quote
Because so much of the final price depends on your specific garden, it’s genuinely difficult to get an accurate number without someone actually looking at the space. A rough per square metre figure is useful for early budgeting, but ground condition, access, and the features you want all change the total significantly.
If you’re planning a wider garden makeover rather than just decking on its own, our guide on how much it costs to landscape a garden is a useful next read for budgeting the full project.
The most reliable way to budget properly is to get a free, in person consultation where a professional can assess slope, drainage, access, and your desired features before giving you a fixed quote. This avoids the common problem of a low online estimate turning into a much higher final bill once work actually begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does decking cost per square metre in the UK?
Decking typically costs between £120 and £250 per square metre, depending on whether you choose softwood or hardwood, including both materials and labour.
Is hardwood decking worth the extra cost?
For most gardens, yes. Hardwood decking lasts longer, needs less maintenance, and handles wet weather better, which often makes it cheaper in the long run despite the higher upfront cost.
How long does it take to install decking?
Most residential decking projects take three to five days, though larger gardens or those needing significant ground levelling can take longer.
What increases decking installation cost the most?
Ground preparation is usually the biggest cost driver, especially for sloped or uneven gardens that need levelling before the deck can be built.
Do I need planning permission for decking?
Most garden decking under 30cm in height and covering less than 50 percent of your garden doesn’t need planning permission in the UK. It’s always worth checking with your local council if you’re unsure, especially for raised or particularly large decks.
Does decking add value to a house?
A well built deck can improve how usable and attractive your garden feels, which often helps with kerb appeal and buyer interest, though the exact value it adds depends on your local property market and the overall quality of the finish.
What’s cheaper, decking or paving?
Costs can be similar depending on the materials chosen, but decking is often more cost effective on sloped or uneven gardens, since paving usually requires more extensive groundwork to achieve a level, stable surface.
Get a Free Decking Quote in South East London
If you’re planning a decking project and want an accurate price based on your actual garden, not just a rough estimate, JPD Landscaping & Building Services offers free consultations across South East London.
