Materials for a 18×24 deck

65 deck boards (16 ft)

for 432 sq ft: 39 rows of 5½ in boards with a ⅛ in gap, on 19 joists, with 10% extra.

For a 18×24 foot deck, the boards run along the 24 ft side and the joists span the 18 ft side. At 24 ft you will need to join boards over a joist; stagger the joins from row to row.

Materials for a 18×24 deck

Deck area432 sq ft
Deck boards (5½ in × 16 ft)65
Linear feet of decking936 ft (+10% = 1,030 ft)
Joists at 16 in on center19 × 18 ft
Joists at 12 in on center25 × 18 ft
Rim joists2 × 24 ft
Deck screwsabout 1,482

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

65 boards

16 ft long, 5½ in wide (5/4 × 6 or 2 × 6), 39 rows across a 18 ft deck.

Deck area432 sq ft
Rows of boards39
Linear feet936 (about $1,647)
Joists19 at 18 ft
Deck screws1,482 (2 per board at each joist)

Other deck sizes

Questions

How many deck boards do I need for a 18×24 deck?
65 boards 16 ft long (5½ in wide), laid in 39 rows, including 10% extra.
How many joists for a 18×24 deck?
19 joists 18 ft long at 16 in on center, or 25 at 12 in on center.
How many screws for a 18×24 deck?
About 1,482 deck screws: two per board at each joist. A 5 lb box holds roughly 350 to 450 screws.
How much does a 18×24 deck cost?
Decking boards alone run about $1,647 in pressure-treated pine or $4,118 in composite. A finished 432 sq ft deck built by a contractor typically costs $12,960 to $25,920.

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