Composite decking gets described a lot of different ways, depending on who’s selling it. This section is the opposite of that: one place for what the boards actually are, what they cost, how they’re installed and how to source them at trade volume.
Everything here is written from the production side. I’m Maggie Zhao — 15 years running WPC extrusion lines, checking raw material batches and loading containers to more than 30 countries. Where a number is a range, I give you the range and tell you what moves it. Where I’m estimating, I say so.
What composite decking is
Composite decking — WPC, or wood plastic composite — is a board made from recycled plastic and wood flour, extruded into a profile that looks like timber but doesn’t rot, splinter or need restaining every year. Two things decide how a board actually performs: the ratio of polymer to wood flour in the core, and the formulation of the outer cap layer. More plastic means better moisture resistance and a slightly softer surface; more wood flour means a more convincing timber look, with more movement in strong heat. Capped boards cost more and hold their colour far longer than uncapped ones. Boards are built either solid or hollow, and that choice affects weight, price and how the board takes a fixing.
How composite decking is priced
Boards are priced per square foot or per square metre, and the figure in a retail listing is not what a trade buyer pays. Three things move the number: board type and cap, order volume and destination, and spec — thickness, width, groove pattern and colour. Longer or non-standard lengths usually mean extra waste or a tooling charge. As a working estimate, expect a finished deck to land at roughly two to three times the board price once you add substructure, fixings, cutting waste and labour. That ratio is an estimate, not a quote; it shifts with joist spacing, deck height and how much edge you have to finish.→ composite decking cost per square foot
How to spec composite decking
Before you ask anyone for a price, settle five things: board type (solid or hollow, capped or uncapped), dimensions (thickness × width × length), colour and surface finish, joist spacing and fixing method, and quantity in m² with a waste allowance. A quote that leaves any of those out can’t be compared with another quote — which is why two prices for “the same board” often come back 30% apart. Buying by the container? The quote should also state the profile, how many m² load into a 40HQ, and the production lead time. Ours runs 25–30 days, before freight.
Where to go next
The cost guide is live, the installation guide is next. In the meantime:
- Trade and wholesale terms — FOB pricing, MOQ and container loading
- Composite decking cost — what boards and a finished deck cost
Composite decking cost per square foot — the four board widths, converted to sq ft and to a deck price - Who writes this — 15 years on the WPC production line
- Request a quote — send quantity, spec and destination port