How to Use This Calculator
- Select deck size. Choose from presets or enter custom length and width.
- Choose decking material. Composite is 40% heavier than cedar; IPE is nearly double the weight of pine.
- Set height and structure. Deck height determines post weight and stair count. Toggle framing off for re-decking projects.
- Specify railing and stairs. Select railing type and number of stair sets.
- Configure concrete footings. Select footing type and whether you plan to remove them. This is the most commonly underestimated component.
- Enter your zip code. Get regional pricing instead of national averages.
What Makes Deck Removal Heavy?
With the calculator configured, it helps to understand where all that weight actually comes from. Three components drive most of the weight in a deck demolition project.
Concrete Footings
414 lbs. That's what a single 12" tube footing weighs at 3.5 feet deep. Six of them add nearly 2,500 lbs before you've touched the deck itself. At 150 lbs per cubic foot, concrete footings are the heaviest individual components in most deck removals.
Structural Framing
The structure underneath (joists, beams, posts, and hardware) often weighs more than the decking surface. A 200 SF deck with 2×8 framing has roughly 800 lbs of structural lumber.
Decking Material Type
Composite decking is 40% heavier than cedar. IPE (tropical hardwood) is nearly double the weight of pressure-treated pine. Material choice alone can mean the difference between a standard load and an overweight fine.
Deck Material Weight Comparison
| Material | lbs/sq ft | 200 SF Deck |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar / Redwood | 2.1 | 420 lbs |
| T&G Porch Flooring | 2.3 | 460 lbs |
| PVC / AZEK | 3.4 | 680 lbs |
| Pressure-Treated Pine | 3.5 | 700 lbs |
| IPE / Hardwood | 4.5 | 900 lbs |
| Composite (Trex) | 5.0 | 1,000 lbs |
Weights are for decking surface only (5/4×6 boards). Total with framing adds 3.8–4.8 lbs/SF.
The Concrete Surprise: Footing Weight
Concrete footings are the most commonly underestimated component. At 150 lbs per cubic foot, even one footing can weigh hundreds of pounds. Most decks need 1 footing per 40-60 sq ft of deck area.
| Diameter | 2 ft deep | 3.5 ft deep | 5 ft deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8" tube | 104 lbs | 183 lbs | 262 lbs |
| 10" tube | 163 lbs | 286 lbs | 409 lbs |
| 12" tube | 236 lbs | 414 lbs | 591 lbs |
When to remove footings: Remove them if you're reclaiming yard space, footings are cracked or tilted, or the new deck has a different layout. Leave in place if you're rebuilding in the same location and the footings are sound. When in doubt, we recommend leaving footings buried; digging them out adds weight, cost, and back pain with little upside if you're rebuilding.
Save Time and Money on Demo Day
Knowing the weight is half the battle. Here's how to make demo day go smoothly and keep debris manageable.
- Work top-down: Remove decking boards first, then railings, then framing. This reduces weight before cutting structural members.
- The board-pull method: Pry decking boards up with a flat bar rather than cutting them. Whole boards stack better in the dumpster.
- Protect your lawn: Lay plywood sheets where debris will fall to prevent lawn damage.
- Salvage good wood: Cedar and IPE boards in decent condition have resale value. Post them on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace before demolishing.
- Separate concrete: Load concrete footings separately (bottom of dumpster, one area) to keep recycling options open.
- Protect your driveway: A loaded 20-yard dumpster can weigh 6+ tons. Place plywood sheets or 2x4 runners under the dumpster to distribute weight and prevent cracks in asphalt or concrete driveways.
CCA-Treated Lumber: What You Need to Know
Pressure-treated decks built before 2004 likely used CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate), which contains arsenic. Since 2004, residential lumber has switched to safer ACQ or CA-C copper-based treatments.
- Never burn CCA-treated wood; it releases toxic arsenic compounds
- CCA wood often has a greenish tint when freshly cut
- Standard C&D dumpster disposal is typically accepted, but check locally
- Wear gloves and a dust mask when handling old treated lumber
Source: EPA — Chromated Arsenicals (CCA)
Safety Considerations
- Call 811 before digging out footings. Utility lines (gas, electric, water) may run near your deck.
- Lead paint on older porches (pre-1978). Test for lead paint before scraping or sanding; a $10-15 swab test from the hardware store takes five minutes and can keep you out of a hazmat situation.
- Proper PPE: safety glasses, work gloves, steel-toe boots, dust mask.
- Structural awareness: remove decking weight before cutting support posts.
- Nail hazards: old deck boards are full of nails. Wear thick-soled boots.
- Electrical disconnect: remove deck lighting, outlets, and fans before demolition.
Saving Money on Disposal
Safety and technique covered, the next question is how to keep costs down. A few smart choices can shave hundreds off your total.
- Separate concrete for recycling. Many areas accept clean concrete free or at reduced rates.
- Salvage reusable materials. Cedar boards, composite in good shape, and metal railings all have secondhand value.
- Size up, not down. A second dumpster costs $300+; upgrading one size costs $50-100.
- DIY vs. hiring out. Small decks (<100 SF) are DIY-friendly; elevated decks may warrant professional help.
- Time your rental. Avoid peak season (spring/early summer) for better rates.
- Clean wood recycling. Untreated, unstained cedar or redwood can often go to a "clean wood" recycler at a fraction of normal disposal costs. Call ahead to confirm they'll accept your material.
Professional vs. DIY Demolition: Volume Differences
The same deck can produce very different dumpster loads depending on who tears it down.
Professional crews use reciprocating saws and demo bars to cut materials into uniform 4-foot sections. They stack debris tightly, minimizing air gaps. A professional tear-down of a 300 SF deck might fill 60-70% of a 20-yard dumpster.
DIY homeowners tend to pry boards off whole and toss them in. Full-length 12- and 16-foot boards create massive air pockets and don't nest well. That same 300 SF deck can fill 90-100% of the same 20-yard dumpster.
That's why our calculator applies a bulking factor that adjusts for air gaps in loosely loaded debris. Cutting boards into shorter sections before loading can help you fit more into a smaller dumpster. If you're tackling this yourself, size up one dumpster from the minimum; the upgrade costs $50-100, while a second rental runs $300+.
Where These Numbers Come From
This calculator uses a component-based weight model, not a flat per-square-foot estimate. Each component is weighed individually based on verified material densities.
Total Weight = Decking + Framing + Railing + Stairs + Skirting + Built-ins + Concrete
Volume = (Wood Weight ÷ Wood Density + Concrete Weight ÷ Concrete Density) × Bulking Factor
Wood debris density: 300 lbs/yd³ (composite: 400). Concrete: 2,025 lbs/yd³. Bulking factor: 1.20–1.35 depending on deck condition. Regional pricing based on the EREF 2024 Landfill Tipping Fee Report.
Framing weight uses a distributed rate per square foot (3.8–4.8 lbs/SF depending on joist size) that includes joists, beams, posts, rim joists, and hardware. You don't need to count every structural member; the rate handles it accurately.
Quick Dumpster Reference for Deck Projects
| Deck Size | Material | Footings? | Weight | Dumpster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (80 SF) | PT Pine | No | 600-800 lbs | 10-yd or bags |
| Small (80 SF) | PT Pine | Yes (3) | 1,400-1,600 | 10-yard |
| Medium (200 SF) | PT Pine | No | 1,500-2,000 | 10-15 yard |
| Medium (200 SF) | Composite | Yes (4) | 3,000-4,000 | 15-20 yard |
| Large (320 SF) | PT Pine | Yes (6) | 4,000-6,000 | 20-30 yard |
| XL (480+ SF) | Any | Yes | 6,000-10,000+ | 30-40 yard |
Frequently Asked Questions
What size dumpster for a 12×16 deck?
A 12×16 (192 SF) pressure-treated deck without footings generates about 2,000 lbs and fits in a 10-15 yard dumpster. With concrete footings, expect 3,000+ lbs and consider a 15-20 yard.
How much does a deck weigh per square foot?
Total “all-in” weight (decking + framing) ranges from 5-10 lbs per square foot depending on material and joist size. Pressure-treated pine with 2×8 framing is about 7.8 lbs/SF. Composite with 2×10 framing is about 9.8 lbs/SF.
Should I remove concrete footings?
Not always. If you're rebuilding in the same location, leave footings in place as long as they're sound. Remove them if you're reclaiming yard space, footings are cracked or tilted, or the new deck has a different layout.
Can I put pressure-treated wood in a dumpster?
Yes. Both CCA (pre-2004) and ACQ (post-2004) treated lumber are accepted in standard C&D dumpsters. Never burn pressure-treated wood. Some facilities may restrict CCA lumber, so check locally.
Is composite decking heavier than wood?
Yes. Composite weighs about 5 lbs/SF vs. 3.5 lbs/SF for pressure-treated pine. PVC/AZEK is lighter at 3.4 lbs/SF. IPE hardwood is heaviest at 4.5 lbs/SF.
Can I recycle old deck wood?
Untreated wood (cedar, redwood) can often be recycled or composted. Pressure-treated lumber can't be recycled due to chemical preservatives. Concrete footings are widely recyclable.
Reference Sources
This calculator draws on data from the following industry sources:
- Trex — Transcend decking cut sheet (PDF). Direct manufacturer spec sheet; Trex is the largest composite decking producer in the U.S., so their published weights are the industry benchmark.
- AZEK — PVC decking specifications
- Real Cedar — Western Red Cedar engineering data. Published by the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, the official trade group for cedar producers in North America.
- IPE Decking — Hardwood density specifications
- Roof Observations — Pressure-treated lumber weights
- Decks.com — Footing count guide
- Dumpsters.com — Concrete weight calculator
- EPA — Volume-to-weight conversion factors. Official EPA memorandum used by state agencies and waste haulers nationwide; the standard reference for debris density conversions.
- EPA — Chromated arsenicals (CCA) information
- Brackenbox — Dumpster size for deck removal
- EREF — 2024 Landfill Tipping Fee Report
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Disclaimer: Our estimates are based on verified material densities, but your deck's real weight depends on moisture, fastener density, and how it was built. We've baked in a 20-35% bulking factor for air gaps, and footing weights assume solid concrete. If your deck predates 2004, check local rules on CCA-treated lumber disposal before loading the dumpster.