Materials for a 16×16 deck

39 deck boards (16 ft)

for 256 sq ft: 35 rows of 5½ in boards with a ⅛ in gap, on 13 joists, with 10% extra.

For a 16×16 foot deck, the boards run along the 16 ft side and the joists span the 16 ft side.

Materials for a 16×16 deck

Deck area256 sq ft
Deck boards (5½ in × 16 ft)39
Linear feet of decking560 ft (+10% = 616 ft)
Joists at 16 in on center13 × 16 ft
Joists at 12 in on center17 × 16 ft
Rim joists2 × 16 ft
Deck screwsabout 910

Framing sizes (joist depth, beams, posts and footings) depend on spans and local code; check your building department’s deck guide before you build.

Change the numbers

Deck boards needed

39 boards

16 ft long, 5½ in wide (5/4 × 6 or 2 × 6), 35 rows across a 16 ft deck.

Deck area256 sq ft
Rows of boards35
Linear feet560 (about $986)
Joists13 at 16 ft
Deck screws910 (2 per board at each joist)

Other deck sizes

Questions

How many deck boards do I need for a 16×16 deck?
39 boards 16 ft long (5½ in wide), laid in 35 rows, including 10% extra.
How many joists for a 16×16 deck?
13 joists 16 ft long at 16 in on center, or 17 at 12 in on center.
How many screws for a 16×16 deck?
About 910 deck screws: two per board at each joist. A 5 lb box holds roughly 350 to 450 screws.
How much does a 16×16 deck cost?
Decking boards alone run about $986 in pressure-treated pine or $2,464 in composite. A finished 256 sq ft deck built by a contractor typically costs $7,680 to $15,360.

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