Decking Calculator

Deck Components

To give you some idea about how a deck is constructed, let's take a look at the parts that make up a deck:

• Posts: vertical framing support for beams and joists.

• Beam: the horizontal support structure for the deck frame, placed on the posts beneath the joists. Check out our wood beam span calculator to help you choose the right size of lumber for your beams.

• Joist: the horizontal supporting boards beneath the decking. Our floor joist calculator can help you properly space your decking joists.

• Decking (deck flooring): the surface of the layer of decks on the joists.

• Fasteners: nails, screws, or hidden clips to attach decking boards.

Here we will focus only on the decking materials, but if you want to know the total cost to build a deck, you'll need to take into account the price of the substructure (posts, beams, and joists)