How many deck boards for a 10x10 deck?
You need 22 deck boards at 10 ft long.
That is 22 rows across the 10 ft span, or 220 linear feet. Buy 243 linear feet to cover the usual 10% for cuts and defects.
A 10x10 deck by the numbers
| Deck area | 100 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Rows of decking | 22 |
| Board length | 10 ft |
| Boards to buy | 22 |
| Decking | 220 linear ft |
| With 10% waste | 243 linear ft |
| Joists at 16 in on centre | 8 |
| Footings | 9 |
| Deck screws | 492 |
Where that number comes from
- 10 ft across × 12 = 120 in to cover
- 120 ÷ 5.625 = 21.3 rows, rounded up to 22
- 22 rows × 10 ft long = 220 linear feet
- Add 10% for cuts and culls = 243 linear feet
Boards run the length of the deck here, so the 10 ft dimension sets board length and the 10 ft dimension sets how many rows you need. Running them the other way swaps the two numbers.
Working to a different size? The calculator takes any dimensions and returns the same figures.
Cutting a 10x10 out of stock lengths
The 10 ft run lands exactly on a 10 ft board: 22 boards, 22 rows, nothing cut and nothing left over. Why running them the other way changes the order.
Worth pricing the alternative: a 20 ft board cuts into exactly two 10 ft rows, so 11 of them covers the same deck. Half the pieces to carry and handle, and long stock is often slightly cheaper by the foot. Against that, 20 ft boards need a truck and one bad cut wastes two rows instead of one.
Order 243 linear feet, not the bare 220 — about 2 spare rows on a 10x10. What the cull rate covers.
Before you order: getting a decking order right.
Other deck sizes
Deck calculator for any size, or all calculators.