About Deckulator
Deckulator is a free deck designer for people planning their own deck. Draw the shape, choose the boards, and it works out the frame and the shopping list, sized to Australian and US building rules.
Why it exists
Planning a deck usually means a spreadsheet, a span table you’re not sure you’re reading right, and a trip to the timber yard with a rough guess. Deckulator puts those steps in one place: you see the deck in 3D on your house, and you get a list of every board, joist, bearer, post and footing, a cut list and a ballpark price before you talk to a builder or a supplier.
How it works things out
- Australia: framing comes from supplier and industry span tables built on AS 1684 for treated pine, at a 2.0 kPa deck load. Stairs and balustrades follow the NCC 2022 Housing Provisions. Where sources disagree, Deckulator uses the more cautious figure.
- United States: joists, beams, posts and footings follow IRC Section R507 for No. 2 Southern pine at 40 psf live load plus 10 psf dead load. Stairs and guards follow the IRC.
- Boards: real ranges from hardwood, treated pine and composite makers, with their board sizes, stock lengths and fixing systems. Deckulator compares breaker-board layouts and picks the one that buys the least decking.
- Prices: typical retail prices gathered online, shown as reference prices. You can type in your own quotes.
What it isn’t
Deckulator is a planning guide, not engineering certification. It doesn’t know your soil, wind, slope or local rules. Have a builder, certifier or building department check your design before you build, and get a permit where you need one. Our terms say more.
Get in touch
Found a mistake, or missing a product or rule? Use the Feedback button at the top of any page, or email privacy@deckulator.com. Builders and suppliers who’d like to work with Deckulator can email us too.