Materials for a 12×12 deck

29 deck boards (12 ft)

for 144 sq ft: 26 rows of 5½ in boards with a ⅛ in gap, on 10 joists, with 10% extra.

For a 12×12 foot deck, the boards run along the 12 ft side and the joists span the 12 ft side.

Materials for a 12×12 deck

Deck area144 sq ft
Deck boards (5½ in × 12 ft)29
Linear feet of decking312 ft (+10% = 343 ft)
Joists at 16 in on center10 × 12 ft
Joists at 12 in on center13 × 12 ft
Rim joists2 × 12 ft
Deck screwsabout 520

Framing sizes (joist depth, beams, posts and footings) depend on spans and local code; check your building department’s deck guide before you build.

Change the numbers

Deck boards needed

29 boards

12 ft long, 5½ in wide (5/4 × 6 or 2 × 6), 26 rows across a 12 ft deck.

Deck area144 sq ft
Rows of boards26
Linear feet312 (about $549)
Joists10 at 12 ft
Deck screws520 (2 per board at each joist)

Other deck sizes

Questions

How many deck boards do I need for a 12×12 deck?
29 boards 12 ft long (5½ in wide), laid in 26 rows, including 10% extra.
How many joists for a 12×12 deck?
10 joists 12 ft long at 16 in on center, or 13 at 12 in on center.
How many screws for a 12×12 deck?
About 520 deck screws: two per board at each joist. A 5 lb box holds roughly 350 to 450 screws.
How much does a 12×12 deck cost?
Decking boards alone run about $549 in pressure-treated pine or $1,373 in composite. A finished 144 sq ft deck built by a contractor typically costs $4,320 to $8,640.

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