Two-Level Entertainer
Main deck stepping down to a lower lounge with wide platform stairs.
Two levels solve the tall-deck problem: instead of one high platform with a long stair run, the deck steps down through a wide landing into a lower lounge that owns the yard. Cooking happens up top; the fire pit conversation happens below.
The spec
| Footprint | 16×12 ft (192 sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft |
| Decking | Classic composite, both levels |
| Railing | Yes |
| Stairs | Yes |
| Cost basis | Composite benchmark: $45 – $70 / sq ft installed (USD). |
| Second level | 12×10 ft (120 sq ft) at 2.5 ft |
| Base platform allowance (USD) | $14,000 – $21,800 |
These are base platform allowances, not complete quotes for the pictured designs. Railing, stairs, lighting, skirting, benches, pergolas, special board patterns and extra framing for height or multiple levels need separate quotes.
Cost assumptions and sources
U.S. planning allowances in USD for a simple, single-level deck, including ordinary materials and contractor labor. These are PaperPlan editorial assumptions, not surveyed averages or a local quote.
- Pressure-treated: $25 – $40 / sq ft installed (USD)
- Composite: $45 – $70 / sq ft installed (USD)
- PVC: $60 – $90 / sq ft installed (USD)
Multiply deck area (width × length in feet) by the selected installed rate, then round each end of the range to the nearest $100.
Demolition, permits and engineering, taxes, stairs, railing, roofs, unusual foundations and difficult site access need separate quotes. Location, product selection and labor can put a real bid outside these ranges. Canadian projects need local CAD pricing.
The manufacturer sources below explain scope and cost drivers; they do not validate PaperPlan’s exact installed-rate bands. Supplier material estimates should not be compared directly with an installed project budget.
- Trex: deck material cost calculator: Estimates materials and explicitly excludes labor; prices vary with location, season and design.
- TimberTech: understanding deck costs: Separates decking, railing, labor and substructure, and explains the impact of site and project features.
Sources and assumptions reviewed . Confirm the scope and current price with local contractors before budgeting a build.
Best for
- Walk-outs 5 ft and up, where a single level feels like a balcony
- Entertaining: separate zones without separate structures
- Sloped yards: the lower level absorbs the grade change
Similar templates
- Classic raised deck: The bread-and-butter build: 16×12 composite, aluminum balusters, boxed stairs.
- L-shaped wraparound: Picture-frame border on an L footprint with cable railing and open stairs.
- Herringbone showpiece: Premium herringbone field, glass panels, and lit picture-frame stairs at dusk.
Deck planning guides
- Deck Cost Calculator
- Cost to Build a Deck in 2026
- Composite Deck Cost in 2026
- Deck Material Calculator
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- 10×12 Deck Cost
- 12×12 Deck Cost
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- 16×16 Deck Cost
- 16×20 Deck Cost
- 20×20 Deck Cost
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