What does a carpenter cost in 2026?
A carpenter charges $45–120 an hour in 2026, with finish carpenters and custom cabinetmakers at the top of that range and rough framing at the bottom. Most defined projects are quoted flat: $40–80 per square foot for a deck, $1,500–6,000 for built-in shelving, $300–800 to hang an interior door. Materials are usually billed separately at cost plus a 10–20% markup.
Updated September 15, 2026
Rough, finish and custom — three different price levels
Rough carpentry is framing, sheathing and structure. It moves fast, it's measured in dollars per square foot, and the work gets covered up. Finish carpentry is trim, doors, stairs, paneling and built-ins, where the value sits in tight joints that stay tight through a heating season. Custom cabinetmaking is furniture-grade work with shop time and hardware costs behind it.
Hiring a finish carpenter for framing wastes money, and hiring a framer for built-in bookcases produces work you'll look at every day and dislike. Ask which the person actually does most weeks, and ask for photographs of that exact type of job.
Typical carpentry prices
Labor plus standard materials unless noted. Permits and design extra.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $45–120 |
| Pressure-treated deck, installed | $40–60 per sq ft |
| Composite deck, installed | $60–95 per sq ft |
| Built-in bookcases or media wall | $1,500–6,000 |
| Hang an interior door | $300–800 |
| Install baseboard and casing, per linear foot | $6–14 |
| Crown molding, per linear foot | $8–20 |
| Frame an interior wall, 10 ft | $800–2,000 |
| Custom kitchen cabinets, per linear foot | $500–1,200 |
Permits and contractor licensing
Decks above a height threshold, structural changes, removing a load-bearing wall and anything that alters egress need a permit, typically $150–1,000 plus inspections. Many jurisdictions also require a stamped drawing for a deck over a certain size. Skipping it is how a finished project becomes a problem at closing.
Contractor licensing is state by state, and the thresholds are what trip people up: several states require a license for any job over a low dollar amount, others only for structural work. Check your state board's lookup, confirm general liability and workers' compensation, and for larger projects ask whether the contractor is bonded.
Getting comparable quotes
Write the scope down before you send it out — species and grade of lumber, whether fasteners are hidden, paint-grade or stain-grade trim, who patches and paints afterward. Three quotes against an identical written scope are comparable; three quotes against a conversation are not.
A deposit of 10–30% is normal, with progress payments tied to milestones and a final payment after a walkthrough. Several states cap residential down payments, so a demand for half up front is worth questioning.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter charge per hour?
$45–120 an hour. Rough framing sits at the low end, finish carpentry and custom cabinetry at the high end, with metro rates well above rural ones.
What does a new deck cost?
$40–60 per square foot installed in pressure-treated lumber and $60–95 in composite, so a 300 square foot deck typically runs $12,000–28,000 including railings, footings and permit.
Do I need a permit to build a deck?
Usually, once it's attached to the house or above a height threshold set by local code. Your building department can confirm in a phone call, and the carpenter should be pulling it.
Should materials be included in the quote?
Either way works as long as it's explicit. Cost-plus with a 10–20% markup is common and transparent; a single lump sum is fine if the materials are specified by name and grade.
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