

The cost to build a floating deck will vary dramatically based on the most important element of that deck: the wood. So if you were to hire someone to build a floating deck that is 15 feet by 15 feet, or 225 square feet, it would cost you between $3,375 to $7,875 just for the labor. You can expect a deck contractor to charge about $15 to $35 per square foot for this job. However, keep in mind that this assumes you could get the same deals on materials that the pros get, and that may be tough to do if you don't have the connections.

As a result, you could cut the cost of your project in half by doing it yourself. Generally, about 50% of floating deck installation costs go to labor, with the other half going to materials. So, if you were to build a standard 12-foot-by-12-foot deck (144 square feet), you can expect to pay between $420 and $4,800 just for materials for this project.

