Composite decking installation cost UK: labour per m², fitted vs DIY

The boards are the part of a deck you price first, and the labour is the part that doubles the bill. This guide is about the second part: what UK landscapers and decking fitters charge per square metre in 2026, what changes the rate, what a fitted deck costs against a DIY one for three real sizes, and how to spend the labour money where it counts.

The short answer

A decking fitter in most of England charges £40 to £60 per square metre to lay composite on a prepared base, and £70 to £110 per square metre where there is groundwork, steps or a raised frame to build. Materials for a complete deck in our boards are £75 to £95 per square metre. So a fitted composite deck lands at £150 to £220 per square metre all in, and a 3.6m by 3m deck at about £1,600 to £2,400 fitted or about £800 to £1,000 done yourself. London and the South East run 20 to 30% above these figures.

Shop the boards: 3.6m composite decking boards and 4.8m composite decking boards, in grey, anthracite, black, brown and oak composite decking.

Labour rates by job type

Job	Labour per m²	Notes
Ground-level deck on an existing patio, battens and boards	£40 to £60	The cheapest install: no digging, no posts
Ground-level deck on soil or lawn, including base and frame	£70 to £90	Dig, level, membrane, gravel, joists on pads
Raised deck on posts, up to 600mm	£80 to £110	Post holes, concrete, bearers; add balustrade separately
Steps	£80 to £150 per step	Framing, treads, step edge board
Balustrade	£40 to £70 per metre fitted	Plus the kit at £160 per 1.5m
Removing an old deck	£15 to £25 per m²	Plus a skip, £200 to £300

Most fitters quote a day rate of £200 to £300 for one person, or £350 to £500 for two, and a straightforward 3.6m by 3m deck on a patio is a one-day job for two people. On a day-rate quote, ask how many days and how many people.

Three decks, fitted against DIY

3.6m by 3m on an existing patio, 10.8m². Materials: 20 boards £500, nine composite battens £155, clips and screws £85, L-trim £60: about £800. Labour at £50 per m²: £540. Fitted about £1,340; DIY £800 and a weekend.

4.8m by 4m on a lawn, 19.2m². Materials: 28 boards £952, plastic joists and posts about £950, clips and screws £110, fascia and trims £130: about £2,140. Labour at £80 per m² including the base: £1,540. Fitted about £3,700; DIY £2,140 and two weekends.

4.8m by 4m raised 500mm with steps and a balustrade. Materials as above plus a step, two balustrade kits and an extra post kit: about £2,600. Labour at £100 per m² plus the step and balustrade: about £2,600. Fitted about £5,200; DIY £2,600 and three weekends, with a helper for the frame.

The cost per square metre guide itemises the materials for each.

What pushes a quote up

• Access. Boards carried through the house rather than a side gate add time; 4.8m boards need a straight route.
• Groundwork. A sloping garden means levelling or a stepped frame. Clay that holds water means a deeper gravel bed.
• Timber frame versus plastic. Plastic joists cost more but fit the same; some fitters add a margin on materials they supply, so buying the frame yourself from the framework range often saves 15 to 20%.
• Diagonal boards need 300mm joist centres and more cuts: add 15 to 20% to labour.
• Picture-frame borders add double joists and mitred corners; an hour or two.

Where to spend and where to save

• Buy the materials yourself. Fitters are used to laying customer-supplied boards, and labour-only quotes are the biggest saving available on a fitted deck.
• Pay for the frame, do the boards. If you want a fitter for the hard part, have them build and level the frame and clip the boards on yourself the following weekend. The installation guide has the clip sequence.
• Do not save on the frame material. A timber frame saves £300 and costs the deck at year ten. The subframe guide explains.
• Get three quotes with the same spec, itemised into base, frame, boards and extras. Two quotes for the same deck can differ by £1,000 on nothing but the day rate.

Doing it yourself

A ground-level deck on a patio is a realistic first project: battens, clips, a drill, a saw and a level. A deck on soil is a harder weekend because of the digging and levelling, and a raised deck with posts is where most people bring in a fitter for the frame. Every figure in the installation guide, from the 350mm joist centres to the expansion gaps by temperature, is the one our boards are made for, and a deck built to it goes together in a day.

Send us the deck size and whether it is going on slabs, soil or posts, and we will list everything you need in one order, delivered in 2 to 4 working days, free over £190. Take that list to your fitter and ask for a labour-only price.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to install composite decking in the UK?

A fitter charges £40 to £60 per square metre to lay composite decking on a prepared base and £70 to £110 per square metre where there is groundwork, steps or a raised frame. With materials at £75 to £95 per square metre, a fitted composite deck costs £150 to £220 per square metre all in. A 3.6m by 3m deck is about £1,600 to £2,400 fitted, or £800 to £1,000 if you fit it yourself.

What is the labour cost to lay decking per square metre?

£40 to £60 per square metre for a ground-level deck on an existing patio, £70 to £90 on soil or lawn including the base and frame, and £80 to £110 for a raised deck on posts. Most fitters quote a day rate instead: £200 to £300 for one person or £350 to £500 for two. London and the South East run 20 to 30 percent higher.

How long does it take to fit a composite deck?

A 3.6m by 3m deck on an existing patio is one day for two people. The same deck on a lawn is two weekends for a DIYer because of the digging and levelling, and a raised deck with steps and a balustrade is about three.

Is supply and fit cheaper than buying the decking myself?

Usually not. Fitters are used to laying customer-supplied boards, and buying the boards and frame yourself then asking for a labour-only price is the biggest saving on a fitted deck, often 15 to 20 percent of the materials cost. Get three quotes itemised into base, frame, boards and extras.

Can I install composite decking myself?

Yes. A ground-level deck on a patio is a realistic first project: composite battens, hidden clips, a drill, a saw and a level, with joists at 350mm centres and the expansion gaps for the temperature on the day. Many people pay a fitter to build and level the frame and clip the boards on themselves.

Every board, trim and frame part is priced on the composite decking price list.