A deck is an outdoor area with a typically wooden platform built to extend your house’s living space. Decks allow you to host gatherings, relax on patio furniture, or cook and serve meals outdoors. 

Adding a deck to your house can increase your quality of life, encourage spending time with nature, and even add value to your home. You can add patio furniture, decor, railings, multiple levels, and more to make it yours. 

Like any other space in your house, a deck offers several ways to customize, including style, materials, layout, and size. Deck size is particularly important to consider fully. 

Constructing an appropriately sized deck will make a beautiful addition to your home, while building an unsuitably sized deck may disrupt your home’s aesthetic or cost you more than needed. 

What Are Common Deck Sizes?

Decking sizes vary from house to house and homeowner to homeowner. Consider speaking to a contractor to find the best fit for your home that matches your preferences. 

But to give you an idea of deck dimensions, here are some typical deck dimensions to compare:

  • 8 x 10 feet (80 sq. ft.)
  • 12 x 12 feet (144 sq. ft.)
  • 10 x 16 feet (160 sq. ft.)
  • 12 x 14 feet (168 sq. ft.)
  • 12 x 16 feet (192 sq. ft.)
  • 10 x 20 feet (200 sq. ft.) 
  • 12 x 18 feet (216 sq. ft.)
  • 12 x 20 feet (240 sq. ft.)
  • 16 x 16 feet (256 sq. ft.)
  • 15 x 16 feet (300 sq. ft.)
  • 16 x 20 (320 sq. ft.)
  • 20 x 20 (400 sq. ft.)

The above list is not exhaustive, but you can see the many options available to accommodate different lifestyles and homes.

Factors to Consider When Determining Your Deck Size

Let’s explore several factors that impact how big your deck should be.

The Average or Standard Deck Size

The average deck size is around 300 to 400 square feet, or between 15 x 16 feet and 20 x 20 feet. 

Although your home may require a smaller or larger deck, it’s easiest to use the typical range of dimensions as a reference point and scale it up or down as you decide.

The Size of Your Property

When determining how long or wide your deck should be, the most important thing to remember is that it should be proportionate to your house. The deck length or width (whichever is longer) should match the length of the house, and it should be longer than it is deep.

A deck that’s too big will overtake your house. In the same way, a deck that’s too small may not be much to look at in the shadow of your larger house. Think of a plastic toddler chair at your dinner table. 

A multi-level deck may be a happy medium if you have a smaller house but like the look of a larger deck. The multiple levels offer subtle or dramatic changes in height to create defined areas that you can use for different purposes and make more out of a smaller deck. 

The Regulations Where You Live

Unlike other remodeling and home projects, building or replacing a deck may require a permit as an accessory structure. Check your state’s building code to confirm your state’s permit requirements. 

If you live in a rural area, you may have fewer building restrictions when it comes to deck building. But in a city or suburb where different types of buildings are closer, local regulations or HOA rules may limit how large your deck can be. 

For example, city ordinances may limit how close you can build your deck to a neighbor’s property. Other regulations may restrict how big your deck can be if your home is too close to a septic tank or drain field.

Some local regulations may base requirements on the specific measurements of the deck. For example, regulations in Orange County, Florida, require all accessory structures to have a permit. Still, those less than 120 square feet (and detached) aren’t required to be reviewed by the county’s building department.

Make sure you know your local and neighborhood regulations before constructing your deck to avoid violations and fines. 

Your Budget

As you might expect, the bigger your deck, the more expensive it is to install. But bigger decks may also be less expensive per square foot because of fixed costs associated with decks of any size. Costs like the permit fee and debris removal may be the same for a 12 x 12–foot deck and a 20 x 20–foot deck. 

Below are some cost estimate ranges from Fixr to install decks of different dimensions:

  • 8 x 10 feet: $1,200–$4,400
  • 12 x 12 feet: $2,160–$7920
  • 10 x 16 feet: $2,400–$8,800
  • 10 x 20 feet: $3,000–$11,000
  • 12 x 20 feet: $3,600–$13,200
  • 14 x 20 feet: $4,200–$15,400
  • 16 x 20 feet: $4,800–$17,600
  • 20 x 20 feet: $6,000–$22,000

If you have a larger home but a tighter deck budget, talk to your contractor to see if you can minimize different variable costs like labor and materials. You can also purchase a freestanding or detached deck, which is less expensive because of the labor saved from not attaching it to the house. 

Your Preferences

As always, what you envision for your home is an important factor to consider. After all, a deck can fit your house, budget, and local regulations, but not your taste. 

Once you know the appropriate deck size for your circumstances, consider what purpose and layout you want.

Your Deck’s Function

What you want to do on your deck will help you narrow your size options. Let’s go back to some of those deck sizes we mentioned earlier.

Note: The deck functions below are ideas and not the only ways to enjoy your home deck. 

If you’re looking for a spot to seat one or two people while enjoying the outdoors, an 8 x 10–foot deck is comfortable for some small patio furniture to sit with a friend. 

If you want a deck that serves a family of five to seven for an outdoor meal, a 10 x 16–foot deck is the perfect size to include a table and chairs. Similarly, a 12 x 12–foot deck could be big enough for a family of four. 

When hosting large dinner parties and gatherings on your deck, the more space you have, the better. A good-sized deck for entertaining many guests provides around 20 to 24 square feet for each person. Aim for at least a 10 x 20–foot deck (enough for about ten people at 200 square feet). 

Your Deck’s Layout

A new deck is a blank canvas for decor, furniture, and amenities. Ask yourself what you’ll need for your new space based on how you plan to use it. 

Here are some larger items that would enhance your outdoor experience and may require a larger deck:

  • Dinner table
  • Hot tub
  • Patio space heater
  • Grill or smoker
  • Umbrella
  • Large lounge chairs

Items that would call for a smaller deck include:

  • Hanging potted plants
  • Small chairs
  • Small coffee tables
  • Small outdoor bar
  • Furniture that doubles as storage 
  • Pop-up canopies or gazebos

Smaller and larger decks can benefit from built-in structures like rails, pergolas, or screens. 

Getting creative with lighting and rugs can also make smaller decks seem bigger with defined sections. 

When determining your deck’s size and layout, be sure to include room to walk for your guests’ safety and comfort, especially around the stairs. You may be able to fit a dinner table and patio furniture on an 8 x 10–foot deck, but you and your guests may be uncomfortable getting to the seating without extra room. 

Choosing a Type of Deck

After determining the size of your deck, you’ll want to choose from several types of decks across three categories: construction, elevation, and style. 

Deck Construction

The two broad types of deck construction that concern your home are the following:

  • Attached deck: A common deck style that connects directly to the house
  • Detached deck: Also called a floating, freestanding, or platform deck because it rests in the yard and does not connect to the house 

Deck Elevation

Decks also vary by the following elevations depending on how your home is built:

  • Low elevation deck: For homes constructed at ground level
  • Mid-level deck: For homes that are constructed off the ground at a slightly raised elevation
  • High elevation deck: For second (and higher) stories or split-level homes that are high off the ground

Deck Style

Below are some popular styles and functions of decks within the broader categories above.

  • Wraparound deck: Connects multiple sides of the house
  • Side-yard deck: Covers small areas off to the side of your backyard
  • Pool deck: Accommodates an above-ground pool to create a hangout spot while taking a dip in the water
  • Entryway deck: Provides a space for lounging at the front of the house leading to the front door 
  • Dedicated-use deck: Functions for one specific purpose, such as an outdoor dining area or party space

Knowing what’s a good deck size for you helps you narrow down your deck’s type, elevation, and style for a beautiful outdoor aesthetic. 

For example, a low-level, detached side-yard deck may be best for a small deck size. But an attached wraparound deck that hugs a corner of your home is a better option if you want a bigger size.

So, What Deck Size Is Right for You? 

After evaluating all the factors in this article, you can hopefully narrow your options for a deck size and type.

It’s important to remember that you have less control over some factors, like your property size and local regulations. But at the same time, you may be able to control your budget and preferences to accommodate a deck that meets your needs and tastes.
Also, while your deck may be attached to your home, it will most likely be covered by a different section of your home insurance called other structures coverage. Make sure you speak with your home insurance provider, like OpenHouse, about adding a deck to your home so they can update your policy accordingly.