Materials for a 18×18 deck

39 deck boards (20 ft)

for 324 sq ft: 39 rows of 5½ in boards with a ⅛ in gap, on 15 joists, with 10% extra.

For a 18×18 foot deck, the boards run along the 18 ft side and the joists span the 18 ft side.

Materials for a 18×18 deck

Deck area324 sq ft
Deck boards (5½ in × 20 ft)39
Linear feet of decking702 ft (+10% = 772 ft)
Joists at 16 in on center15 × 18 ft
Joists at 12 in on center19 × 18 ft
Rim joists2 × 18 ft
Deck screwsabout 1,170

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

39 boards

20 ft long, 5½ in wide (5/4 × 6 or 2 × 6), 39 rows across a 18 ft deck.

Deck area324 sq ft
Rows of boards39
Linear feet702 (about $1,236)
Joists15 at 18 ft
Deck screws1,170 (2 per board at each joist)

Other deck sizes

Questions

How many deck boards do I need for a 18×18 deck?
39 boards 20 ft long (5½ in wide), laid in 39 rows, including 10% extra.
How many joists for a 18×18 deck?
15 joists 18 ft long at 16 in on center, or 19 at 12 in on center.
How many screws for a 18×18 deck?
About 1,170 deck screws: two per board at each joist. A 5 lb box holds roughly 350 to 450 screws.
How much does a 18×18 deck cost?
Decking boards alone run about $1,236 in pressure-treated pine or $3,089 in composite. A finished 324 sq ft deck built by a contractor typically costs $9,720 to $19,440.

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