24 Deck Building Statistics for Ontario and Canada (2026)
Cited Statistics Canada, NAHB and municipal data on what decks cost in Canada, how lumber and wages drive prices, and why outdoor living still sells homes.
Toronto deck installation prices rose 152.8% since the onset of the pandemic, according to Statistics Canada. Decks still sell homes, but lumber spikes, higher wages and city permit rules shape what Ontario homeowners pay in 2026. The 24 statistics below cover Canadian price indexes, Durham Region project ranges, GTA permit fees, and US cost and demand benchmarks. If you are planning a new build, start with our deck building services or compare firms on a local list such as the best general contractors in Pickering.
Canadian price and wage figures come from Statistics Canada's July 17, 2025 article on deck and patio prices in the Residential Renovation Price Index. Ontario project ranges come from Ramsauer Renovations' 2026 Durham Region cost guide. Permit fees come from Pickering, Aurora and Whitby fee schedules. US cost, ROI and demand figures come from Fixr, the 2025 Zonda Cost vs. Value Report and NAHB / Eye on Housing. All sources were checked on November 5, 2026. For a US-focused overview of the same topic, see our deck building statistics guide.
Key Takeaways
- Toronto deck prices rose 152.8% since the pandemic began, and 198.0% since early 2017 (Statistics Canada).
- Victoria (+21.6%) and Regina (+20.2%) led two-year deck price gains from Q1 2023 to Q1 2025 among the 15-city composite (Statistics Canada).
- Durham Region decks and fences start from about $4,500 in 2026 (Ramsauer Renovations).
- A wood deck addition recoups 94.9% at resale in the US, per the 2025 Zonda Cost vs. Value Report (PR Newswire, citing Zonda).
- 79% of home buyers rate a deck as essential or desirable (Eye on Housing, citing NAHB).
- Only 17.4% of new US single-family homes included a deck in 2024, an all-time low (Eye on Housing).
How much have Canadian deck prices risen?
Statistics Canada tracks contractor prices to install decks and patios across 15 housing markets in its Residential Renovation Price Index. The indexes include materials, labour, equipment, overhead and profit. They exclude sales tax and design fees. Deck prices have risen faster than patio prices nationally, mostly because lumber costs climbed.
1. Toronto deck prices more than doubled since the pandemic
In Toronto, prices to install a deck rose 152.8% since the onset of the pandemic and were 198.0% higher in the first quarter of 2025 than in the first quarter of 2017 (Statistics Canada). Homeowners replacing an older deck face a sharp sticker shock.
2. Victoria led two-year deck price gains at 21.6%
From the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2025, Victoria deck prices rose 21.6%, the largest gain among the 15-city composite. Regina followed at 20.2% (Statistics Canada).
3. London and Ottawa–Gatineau deck prices fell over two years
Not every market rose. London deck prices fell 4.9% from Q1 2023 to Q1 2025, and Ottawa–Gatineau slipped 0.7% (Statistics Canada).
4. Vancouver deck prices rose 64.4% since the pandemic
Vancouver deck prices were up 64.4% since the pandemic began and 113.6% higher in Q1 2025 than in Q1 2017 (Statistics Canada).
5. Montreal saw the smallest big-city deck gains
Among Canada's three largest cities, Montreal recorded the smallest deck increases: up 52.0% since the pandemic and 73.7% since early 2017 (Statistics Canada).
6. Calgary deck prices rose faster than Edmonton's
From Q1 2023 to Q1 2025, Calgary deck prices rose 14.1%, while Edmonton rose 2.6% (Statistics Canada).
7. Toronto patio prices rose 78.1% since early 2020
Patio prices rose too, but more slowly than decks. In Toronto, patio installation prices rose 78.1% since the beginning of 2020 and were 97.5% higher in Q1 2025 than in early 2017 (Statistics Canada).
8. Montreal led recent patio price gains at 16.9%
From Q1 2023 to Q1 2025, Montreal patio prices rose 16.9%, the largest two-year gain. Toronto rose 11.4% and Vancouver 7.6% over the same window (Statistics Canada).
9. St. John's and Moncton patio prices were flat over two years
Patio installation prices in St. John's and Moncton were essentially unchanged in Q1 2025 compared with Q1 2023 (Statistics Canada).
What is driving higher deck prices?
Statistics Canada points to lumber and wages. Decks are usually wood and sit above grade. Patios sit on the ground and rely more on cement-based paving, which rose more slowly.
10. Lumber prices jumped 19.6% in 2020 and 40.4% in 2021
Strong demand for new housing and renovations pushed lumber prices up 19.6% in 2020 and 40.4% in 2021. Compared with 2019, lumber prices were still 26.6% higher in 2024 (Statistics Canada).
11. Deck installers earned $36.36 an hour in 2024
Deck installers, mostly hourly employees at foundation, structure and building exterior contractors, averaged $36.36 per hour in 2024, almost four dollars more than the $32.91 average in 2020 (Statistics Canada).
12. Cement prices rose 22.6% from early 2023 to late 2024
Unlike lumber, cement prices fell in 2020 and changed little in 2021. They began rising in February 2023 and were up 22.6% by the end of December 2024. That slower path helps explain why patio prices trailed deck prices (Statistics Canada).
What do Ontario decks cost, and what about permits?
National indexes show direction. Local quotes and municipal fee schedules show what a homeowner actually pays. Durham Region project ranges and GTA permit fees give a practical floor before you call a contractor.
13. Durham Region decks start from about $4,500
Ramsauer Renovations, based in Oshawa, puts decks and fences from about $4,500 in its 2026 Durham Region cost guide. Kitchens in the same guide commonly run about $13,500 to $40,500 (Ramsauer Renovations). Size, height, railings and material push a deck well above the starting figure.
14. Pickering charges $180 for a minor deck permit
The City of Pickering's July 1, 2026 fee schedule lists a flat $180 for a minor structure such as a deck, which is also the minimum building permit fee (City of Pickering). Raised decks typically need a permit; confirm setbacks with Building Services.
15. Aurora charges $342 for a residential accessory structure
Aurora's 2026 fee schedule sets a flat $342 for a residential accessory structure such as a deck, matching the minimum permit fee for a Part 9 house (Town of Aurora). Decks under about 2 feet above finished grade may not need a permit; raised decks usually do.
16. Whitby lists a flat $305 deck permit
Whitby's 2026 fee for a deck permit is a flat $305, equal to the town's minimum permit fee. House alterations are $10.65 per square metre (Town of Whitby fee schedule, as cited on our Whitby general contractors list). Decks more than 24 inches above grade need a permit.
What do US cost and resale benchmarks show?
Canadian city indexes do not publish a single national average dollar cost. US cost guides and resale studies still help homeowners frame bids, as long as you treat them as USD benchmarks and get local CAD quotes.
17. The US average deck costs about $14,000
Fixr puts the national average cost to build a deck at about $14,000 USD, typically for a 320-square-foot composite deck with railings. The usual range is $9,000 to $20,000 (Fixr).
18. Installed cost runs about $15 to $55 per square foot
Fixr lists average installed cost between $15 and $55 per square foot, depending on material, style and location. Pressure-treated wood often lands near $15 to $25 installed; composite often runs $28 to $40 (Fixr).
19. A wood deck addition recoups 94.9% at resale
In the 2025 Zonda Cost vs. Value Report, a wood deck addition costing $18,263 returned $17,323 at resale, a 94.9% cost-recouped rate. A composite deck addition costing $25,096 returned 88.5% (PR Newswire, citing Zonda).
How popular are decks on new homes and with buyers?
Even as contractor prices climb, buyer demand stays strong. New construction has shifted toward patios in many US regions, so more decks are added after closing. Remodelers still list decks among common jobs.
20. Only 17.4% of new US homes included a deck in 2024
The share of new single-family homes with a deck edged down from 17.6% in 2023 to 17.4% in 2024, an all-time low in NAHB's Survey of Construction tabulation. The share peaked at 27.0% in 2007 and 2008 (Eye on Housing).
21. Patios and decks move as substitutes (correlation -0.85)
From 2005 through 2024, the correlation between the share of new homes with patios and the share with decks was -0.85. As patios became more common, they crowded out decks on new construction (Eye on Housing).
22. New England new homes lead in decks at 69%
On single-family homes started in 2024, 69% in New England included a deck, while only 14% included a patio. In the West South Central division, 82% included a patio and only 3% included a deck (Eye on Housing).
23. The average new-home deck is 278 square feet
The 2025 Builder Practices Survey, based on homes built in 2024, puts the average new single-family deck at 278 square feet nationally. Regional averages range from 163 square feet in the West South Central to 422 square feet in the Mountain division (Eye on Housing).
24. 79% of buyers want a deck, and remodelers still build them
In NAHB's What Home Buyers Really Want survey, 79% of recent and prospective buyers rated a deck as essential or desirable. In the Q4 2024 Remodeling Market Index survey, decks ranked seventh of 22 remodeling projects and were cited as a common job by 23% of remodelers (Eye on Housing).
What this means for Ontario homeowners
- Budget for more than a decade-old quote. Toronto's index alone shows deck prices more than doubled since the pandemic.
- Get itemized local bids. Durham starting figures near $4,500 are a floor, not a typical raised composite build.
- Name the permit holder in the contract. Pickering, Aurora and Whitby all charge flat deck fees, and raised decks usually need one.
- Weigh wood versus composite on maintenance, not only up-front cost. US resale data still favours both types of deck addition.
- Compare vetted firms on our Aurora and Ajax general contractor lists, or request free deck building quotes. For board repairs instead of a full rebuild, see our deck repair cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build a deck in Ontario?
It depends on size and material. Ramsauer Renovations, an Oshawa firm, puts Durham Region decks and fences from about $4,500 in 2026. In the United States, Fixr puts the national average at about $14,000 USD for a 320-square-foot composite deck, with a typical range of $9,000 to $20,000. Get written local quotes before you plan a budget.
Have deck prices risen in Toronto?
Yes, sharply. Statistics Canada reports Toronto deck installation prices rose 152.8% since the onset of the pandemic and 198.0% from the first quarter of 2017 to the first quarter of 2025. Patio prices in Toronto rose too, but more slowly, up 78.1% since early 2020.
Do I need a building permit for a deck in the GTA?
Usually yes for a raised deck. Pickering charges a flat $180 for a minor deck permit as of July 1, 2026. Aurora charges $342 for a residential accessory structure such as a deck. Whitby lists a flat $305 deck permit. Confirm setbacks and drawings with your city before work starts.
Does a new deck add value to a home?
Yes. The 2025 Zonda Cost vs. Value Report shows a wood deck addition recouping 94.9% of its cost at resale, and a composite deck recouping 88.5%. Separately, 79% of recent and prospective home buyers rated a deck as essential or desirable in NAHB survey data cited by Eye on Housing.
Why should I hire a professional deck builder?
A licensed contractor handles footings, joist spacing, railings, and the building permit so the deck meets code. Poor construction can fail inspection and hurt resale. Pro House Maintenance matches you with vetted, insured local pros and free fixed-price estimates for deck building.