Last Updated on August 22, 2026 by Sam Wood Worker
So you’ve decided you’re building a deck. Now comes the question that trips up almost everyone: what wood do you actually use?
Walk into any lumber yard and you’ll see a wall of options with wildly different price tags, and nobody explains why one board costs three times more than the one right next to it. I get asked about this constantly, so let’s break it down in plain terms — from the budget-friendly stuff to the “I’m never staining this again” premium woods.
Quick answer: if you want cheap and easy, go pressure-treated pine. If you want something that looks great without breaking the bank, cedar or redwood. If money’s no object and you want a deck that’ll outlive you, look at ipe or cumaru. Everything else falls somewhere in between.
I run The Wood Carpenter, and I spend most of my time knee-deep in wood species research, comparing what actually holds up outside versus what just looks good on a shelf at the store. Here’s my honest breakdown of the seven woods worth considering for your deck, organized from most affordable to most premium.
How to Think About Budget Here
Before we get into the list, one quick thing. The price tag on the lumber is just the starting point. Some cheaper woods need more maintenance over the years — sealing, staining, replacing boards — which adds up. Some pricier woods barely need anything for a decade. So “budget” isn’t just what you pay today, it’s what you’ll pay over the life of the deck.
Keep that in mind as we go.
1. Pressure-Treated Pine (The Budget Pick)
Price range: $2 – $4 per square foot
This is the wood most decks in America are built from, and there’s a good reason for that — it’s cheap, it’s everywhere, and it’s been chemically treated to resist rot and insects.
What’s good about it:
- Lowest upfront cost of any real wood decking option
- Easy to find at any home improvement store
- Takes stain and paint well
What to watch for:
- Needs re-sealing every 1 to 2 years or it starts to warp and split
- Can look a little plain unless you stain it
- Lower-grade boards sometimes have knots or slight warping right out of the gate
Pressure-treated pine is a solid choice if you’re working with a tight budget or building a deck you might redo in 10-15 years anyway. Just don’t skip the maintenance, because that’s where this wood either holds up or falls apart.
2. Douglas Fir (The Underrated Middle Ground)
Price range: $3 – $5 per square foot
Fir doesn’t get talked about as much as pine or cedar, but it’s a genuinely solid option if you want something a step up without jumping into premium territory.
What’s good about it:
- Naturally strong and stiff, so boards resist sagging over time
- Nice straight grain that looks clean once stained
- Slightly better rot resistance than untreated pine
What to watch for:
- Still needs regular sealing since it’s not naturally as rot-resistant as cedar or redwood
- Can be harder to find depending on your region, since it’s more common out West
If pressure-treated pine feels a little too plain for you but cedar feels out of budget, fir is worth checking your local lumber yard for.
3. Cedar (The Popular Middle-of-the-Road Choice)
Price range: $5 – $8 per square foot
Cedar is probably the wood people picture when they think “nice wood deck.” It’s got natural oils that fight off rot and bugs, and that warm reddish tone looks great whether you stain it or let it silver naturally.
What’s good about it:
- Naturally resists rot, decay, and insects without chemical treatment
- Beautiful natural color and grain
- Lighter weight, so it’s easier to work with during installation
What to watch for:
- Softer than some other decking woods, so it can dent or scratch more easily
- Still benefits from a sealant every couple of years to keep that color from fading gray
Cedar hits a sweet spot for a lot of homeowners — better looks and durability than pine, without jumping into the premium hardwood price range.
4. Redwood (The West Coast Favorite)
Price range: $6 – $9 per square foot
Redwood is cedar’s cousin in a lot of ways — naturally rot-resistant, gorgeous color, and a favorite for decks especially if you’re on the West Coast where it’s more readily available.
What’s good about it:
- Excellent natural resistance to rot, decay, and insects
- Rich, deep reddish-brown color that a lot of people love left unstained
- Tends to be straighter and more stable than cedar, with fewer knots
What to watch for:
- Pricier and harder to find if you’re not near where it’s grown
- Like cedar, it’ll gray over time without regular sealing
If you love that classic warm-wood deck look and don’t mind spending a bit more, redwood is one of the best-looking options on this list.
5. Tigerwood (Your Entry Into Hardwood Territory)
Price range: $8 – $11 per square foot
Now we’re moving into exotic hardwood territory. Tigerwood gets its name from the streaky orange-and-black grain pattern, and it’s a great intro to tropical hardwoods if you’re not ready to spend ipe money yet.
What’s good about it:
- Naturally dense and durable, resists rot and insects well
- Striking, one-of-a-kind grain pattern — no two boards look exactly alike
- Holds up to weather better than pine, fir, cedar, or redwood
What to watch for:
- Harder wood means it’s tougher to cut and drill, so installation takes more effort
- Color will mellow from that bright orange to a deeper brown over time unless you maintain it with UV-protective oil
Tigerwood is a great middle step for people who want that dense, long-lasting hardwood deck without going all the way to top-shelf pricing.
6. Cumaru (The Ipe Alternative)
Price range: $9 – $13 per square foot
Cumaru, sometimes called Brazilian teak, is often talked about as the more affordable cousin of ipe. It’s dense, tough, and built for decades of outdoor use.
What’s good about it:
- Extremely hard and durable, similar performance to ipe at a slightly lower price
- Naturally resistant to rot, insects, and decay
- Warm golden-brown color that ages nicely
What to watch for:
- Still requires pre-drilling for screws because it’s so dense
- Pricier than the mid-range woods, even if it’s a step down from ipe
If you want a deck that’s basically going to outlast the house but ipe feels like too much of a splurge, cumaru is worth a serious look.
7. Ipe (The Splurge Pick)
Price range: $12 – $18+ per square foot
Ipe is the wood people talk about in almost reverent terms when it comes to decking. It’s about as close to “install it once and forget about it” as wood decking gets.
What’s good about it:
- Incredibly dense and durable — many ipe decks last 25 to 40+ years
- Naturally resistant to rot, insects, mold, and fire better than almost any other decking wood
- Rich, deep brown color that looks premium from day one
What to watch for:
- The highest price tag on this list by a good margin
- So dense it requires special tools, pre-drilling, and often a professional installer
- Heavy, which adds to shipping and handling costs
Ipe isn’t cheap, and it’s not a DIY-friendly wood for beginners. But if you want the deck that outlasts everything else on this list and you’ve got the budget for it, this is the one people are usually talking about.
Quick Comparison
| Wood | Price per sq ft | Lifespan | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-Treated Pine | $2 – $4 | 10–15 years | High |
| Douglas Fir | $3 – $5 | 12–18 years | High |
| Cedar | $5 – $8 | 15–20 years | Moderate |
| Redwood | $6 – $9 | 15–25 years | Moderate |
| Tigerwood | $8 – $11 | 25+ years | Moderate |
| Cumaru | $9 – $13 | 30+ years | Low |
| Ipe | $12 – $18+ | 25–40+ years | Low |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the cheapest wood for a deck that still holds up well?
Pressure-treated pine is the most affordable option that’s still genuinely durable, as long as you keep up with sealing every year or two. Douglas fir is a close second if you want a slight step up.
Is cedar or pressure-treated pine better for a deck?
Cedar naturally resists rot and insects without chemical treatment, and it looks better right out of the gate. Pressure-treated pine is cheaper upfront but generally needs more consistent maintenance to last as long.
What’s the most durable wood for a deck?
Ipe is widely considered the most durable decking wood, with many decks lasting 25 to 40+ years or more. Cumaru is a close second at a somewhat lower price point.
Do exotic hardwoods like ipe really need less maintenance?
Yes, generally. Their natural density makes them resistant to rot and insects without chemical treatment, so they need less frequent sealing than softer woods like pine or fir. You’ll still want to apply UV-protective oil occasionally if you want to keep the original color.
Should I go with wood or composite decking instead?
That depends on your priorities. Real wood tends to look more natural and can be less expensive upfront, especially with pine or cedar. Composite decking costs more initially but needs less ongoing maintenance. It really comes down to whether you value natural wood look and lower initial cost, or long-term low maintenance.
Bottom Line
There’s no single “best” wood for every deck — it really comes down to your budget, how much maintenance you’re willing to do, and how long you want the deck to last. Pressure-treated pine and Douglas fir get the job done affordably if you’re willing to stay on top of upkeep. Cedar and redwood strike a nice balance of looks and durability. And if you want a deck that’s basically maintenance-free for decades, tigerwood, cumaru, and ipe are where you’ll want to look — just be ready to pay for that peace of mind.