Is concrete or decking cheaper?
Ava Mcdaniel
Updated on February 22, 2026
Overall, a concrete patio will generally be cheaper to install compared to a deck. While your specific house and yard set-up may determine which is cheaper for your individual needs, a wood deck is likely to have a better return on investment compared to a concrete patio.
Is decking cheaper than concrete?
It's cheaper to build a concrete patio in terms of both the initial cost to lay a concrete patio, as well as its cost of maintenance over time. A concrete patio costs only $4 per square foot, while a deck costs roughly $6 per square foot for lower-cost pressure treated lumber.Is concrete cheaper than wood?
New Studies Reveal that Concrete Based Construction is Less Expensive than Wood.Is it cheaper to build a deck or patio?
Patios generally cost less to build than decks do.Patios consist of more affordable materials like stamped concrete or stone as opposed to wood or bricks which are common for decks. Patios also require less labor and maintenance, which can help keep the costs down.
What is cheaper a concrete patio or a composite deck?
After calculating both the cost of materials and the cost of installation, you'll find that concrete is typically cheaper than composite decking.Deck or Patio (which is best?)
What is the cheapest way to make a patio?
Concrete is one of the cheapest and most popular materials that can be used to build a hard-surface patio. The aggregates of concrete can be stone, gravel, sand, or shells, which are mixed with water to form a paste that dries into a hard surface when left to settle.What adds more value to a home a deck or patio?
Both a deck and a patio offer an impressive resale value. However, patios are usually less expensive to put in and their resale value sits at 100%—which is slightly higher than the 76% resale value of a deck.How much is a 12x12 concrete patio?
The average cost for a 12′ x 12′ concrete patio is about $1,700, or $12 per square foot. The typical range for a concrete patio depending on design, color, and texture is $6 to $16 per square foot, or $864 for a plain slab to a vibrant custom design that costs $2,300.How much does it cost to build a 20x20 deck?
The average homeowner spends $2,200 to build a 10x10 foot deck, $6,160 to build a 14x20 deck, and $8,800 to build a 20x20 deck. The cost to build a deck with pressure-treated wood, hardwood, or composite is about $25 per square foot, for both materials and installation.What's more expensive patio or decking?
With these factors in mind, mid-range patios end up being a more cost-effective option than garden decking. This is because a patio's upfront material costs, which they might be slightly more expensive, last far longer than decking – and this means you pay less ripping out and replacing over time.What are the disadvantages of concrete?
Disadvantages of Concrete
- Compared to other binding materials, the tensile strength of concrete is relatively low.
- Concrete is less ductile.
- The weight of compared is high compared to its strength.
- Concrete may contains soluble salts. Soluble salts cause efflorescence.
