Deck pack: estimate, check, and order
A complete deck job in one page for Canadian contractors, renovators, and serious DIY builders. Run the calculator, work the pre-job checklist, fill in the material list in purchasable units, and take the print page to the truck or the supplier counter. All results are estimates.
Standalone calculator: Deck materials estimator on the BuildTrue home page. This hub bundles the same math with the job paperwork around it.
Deck materials calculator
Boards run along the deck length. Joists at 400 mm / 16 in centres. This section is a full duplicate of the standalone deck calculator logic, adapted as a self-contained section for this hub page. See the integration note for the reasoning.
Canada default is metric. Switch at any time: the values on screen convert so the physical size stays the same. Results show both systems.
Formula: boards = ceiling of (deck width / (board width + gap)). Linear length = boards x deck length. Joists = ceiling of (deck length / 0.4 m) + 1. Screws = boards x joists x 2 screws per crossing. Whole counts use an epsilon safe ceiling, so an exact result never rounds up to one extra unit.
Pre-job checklist
Site prep
- Confirm the finished deck height against the door threshold and any step down the owner expects.
- Locate underground services before digging footings. In Ontario, request locates through Ontario One Call before you dig.
- Check grade and drainage under the deck footprint. Water should move away from the house, not pool under the deck.
- Confirm footing locations clear fences, property lines, easements, and septic components where present.
- Stage lumber off the ground, covered, with stickers between layers so boards stay straight before install.
Measurements to confirm
- Deck length and width, measured to the outside of the finished frame, not the house wall alone.
- Board width and gap together. The pair sets the pitch that drives the board count.
- Joist spacing. This pack assumes 400 mm (16 in) centres, matching the calculator.
- Stair location, stair total rise and run, and where the stair stringers land.
- Railing length on each open side, gate locations, and any privacy screen sections.
Permits and code notes for Canada, general level
- Many Canadian municipalities require a building permit for a deck above a set height off grade, for a deck attached to the house, or both. The threshold varies by municipality.
- Guard requirements, stair handrails, and footing depth below frost line are code matters that depend on height, soil, and local amendments.
- General information only, not code advice. Confirm local code and permit requirements with your municipality and a qualified professional before you build.
Material list template
Deck material list template. Quantities are in purchasable units. Fill in the quantity column from your calculator result, then confirm your waste allowance before you order.
| Item | Specification or size | Purchasable unit | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deck boards | Board width as entered, length equal to deck length | Board, sold by stock length | ____ | One board per row across the width. Round a partial row up to a whole board. |
| Joists | Length equal to deck width | Piece, sold by stock length | ____ | Count from the calculator at 400 mm (16 in) centres, plus end joists. |
| Rim and ledger boards | To match frame layout | Piece, sold by stock length | ____ | Ledger needs flashing and structural fasteners, sold separately. |
| Deck screws | Exterior rated, length suited to board thickness | Box | ____ | Calculator counts 2 screws per board per joist crossing. Buy by the box and keep a spare box on site. |
| Joist hangers and hardware | Sized to the joist | Piece | ____ | Count one hanger per joist end that lands on a beam or ledger. |
| Footing material | Tube forms, concrete, or screw piles as designed | Bag, tube, or pile | ____ | Quantity follows the footing design, not the board calculator. |
| Stair material | Stringers, treads, risers | Piece | ____ | Measure total rise on site before cutting any stringer. |
Print the companion checklist page in this pack for a paper copy you can take to the supplier counter.
Pro tips
- Measure the width in three places before you order boards. Houses are rarely perfectly parallel to the property line, and the widest reading sets your board count.
- Sort boards on the ground before fastening. Put the best faces up in the high traffic centre and move bowed boards to short cuts at the edges.
- Pre-drill the ends of boards near a cut. End grain splits most often in the last 50 mm, especially in cold weather.
- Leave the planned gap with a spacer you trust, such as a nail or a jig block, and check it every few rows. Small drift compounds across 25 rows.
- Snap a chalk line for screw rows over each joist. Straight screw lines are the fastest visible quality signal a client notices.
- Cut one board long and trim the full edge at the end with a straightedge guide. A single trimmed edge looks cleaner than 25 individual end cuts.
- Photograph the frame, footings, and ledger flashing before the boards go down. That record settles most questions later.
All calculators run in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent or collected.
Print version: Deck checklist and material list for print. Worked example: Deck worked example with hand checked numbers.