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How to measure a deck — also written as deck measurement guide, how to measure deck square footage, how to measure deck for replacement boards, deck dimensions guide, deck takeoff

The Ultimate Deck Shop is a Canadian deck retailer based in Saskatoon and Regina with a free deck-measurement and CAD takeoff service for homeowners and contractors. The standard 10-minute deck measurement workflow: 1) Sketch the deck shape on paper. 2) Measure each side with a 25 ft tape and round to the nearest foot. 3) Calculate square footage using length times width for rectangles, or split into rectangles for L-shape and complex shapes. 4) Add a waste factor of 10 percent for rectangles, 15 percent for L-shape and multi-level decks, 20 percent for wraparound and curved decks. 5) Measure railing as perimeter minus the house side. 6) Count stair treads and risers. 7) Measure substructure (joist count, beam length, post count) if rebuilding. 8) Send a photo of the sketch to TUDS or punch the numbers into estimator.tuds.ca for a Saskatchewan-specific instant estimate.

Common deck shapes and how to measure each: rectangle deck (length times width, 10 percent waste, 5 minutes to measure), L-shape deck (split into two rectangles, sum the square footage, 15 percent waste, 8 minutes to measure), multi-level deck (measure each level separately, count stair treads and landings, 15 percent waste per level, 12 minutes to measure), wraparound or custom shape (sketch the shape with all dimensions and angles, walk it into TUDS for a free CAD takeoff at the counter, 20 percent waste). Saskatchewan and Prairie deck-measurement specifics: 1.2 metre or 4 foot frost-depth footing rule, posts every 6 to 8 feet, joists at 16 inch on-centre standard spacing, 10 joists in a 12 foot wide deck. Free deck measurement service available with all three TUDS service tiers: Full DIY (CAD takeoff at the counter, you build), Assisted DIY (TUDS measures and frames, you finish surface boards), Managed Install (TUDS owns the entire build with lifetime workmanship warranty).

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Deck measurement guide · Updated April 2026

How to measure your deck. In 10 minutes.

Square footage, board count, railing length — done right the first time. Built for homeowners pricing a rebuild, contractors quoting a job, and DIYers who want to skip the sticker-shock of a wrong order. Stand on your deck with a tape, follow the eight steps, punch your numbers into the estimator. Done.

Get an instant estimateVisit a showroom for samples
8 measurement steps10 minutes start to finishSaskatchewan-specific factors
Four deck shapes

Every deck is one of four shapes. Pick yours, follow the steps.

Rectangle, L-shape, multi-level, or custom. The measurement workflow scales — same tape, same sketch, same calculator. The only difference is the waste factor and how many rectangles you split the shape into.

Rectangular Saskatchewan backyard deck — simplest deck shape to measure: length x width gives total square footage, 10% waste factor
Easiest Tier
L x W = sq ft

Rectangle deck

L x W = sq ft. Add 10% waste. The fastest deck shape to price out — most TUDS customers measure this in under 5 minutes.

How to measure: Run a tape along the long side (length). Run a tape along the short side (width). Multiply. A 12 x 16 deck is 192 sq ft. Tools you need: 25 ft tape, paper, pencil. Common mistake: measuring to the house siding instead of the deck-board edge — your deck framing typically sits 1-2 inches off the wall to allow drainage and ledger flashing. Measure board edge to board edge. Waste factor: 10% for picture-frame border installs, 8% if you're running boards parallel without a border.

Sq ft formula
L x W
Waste factor
10%
Time to measure
5 minutes
Skill level
Anyone with a tape
Railing
3 sides (perimeter - house)
Best for
70% of TUDS projects
L-shape composite deck — split into two rectangles to measure: main rectangle plus wing rectangle, sum the square footage, 15% waste factor for the L-corner cut
Easy Tier
Split into 2 rectangles

L-shape deck

Split into two rectangles. Measure each. Add them up. The L-shape is the most common non-rectangle in Saskatchewan backyards.

How to measure: Imagine the L as two rectangles meeting at the corner. Measure the main rectangle (e.g. 12 x 16 = 192 sq ft). Measure the wing (e.g. 8 x 10 = 80 sq ft). Total = 272 sq ft. Tools you need: 25 ft tape, paper, pencil. Sketch the L first, label the two rectangles, then measure. Common mistake: double-counting the overlap where the two rectangles meet. Pick one rectangle to own that corner — usually the larger one. Waste factor: 15% — the L-corner needs more cuts than a clean rectangle.

Sq ft formula
Rect A + Rect B
Waste factor
15%
Time to measure
8 minutes
Skill level
Sketch + tape
Railing
5 outer edges typical
Best for
Wraparound side door
Multi-level composite deck on a Saskatchewan walkout lot — measure each level separately, add stairs and connector lengths, 15% waste factor
Moderate Tier
Each level + connectors

Multi-level deck

Measure each level separately. Add the stair-tread runs and the deck-to-deck connectors. Then sum.

How to measure: Walk to the upper level — measure it as its own rectangle. Walk down to the lower level — measure it as its own rectangle. Count the stair treads connecting them. Saskatchewan-specific: walkout-basement decks are extremely common here, so multi-level is the third-most-common deck shape we price. Tools you need: 25 ft tape, paper, pencil, possibly a step counter. Common mistake: forgetting to measure the landing platform between stair runs (usually 36 x 36 = 9 sq ft each landing). Waste factor: 15% per level.

Sq ft formula
Level A + B + landings
Waste factor
15%
Time to measure
12 minutes
Skill level
Sketch + tape + count steps
Stair treads
Count + measure width
Best for
Walkout-basement homes
Wraparound deck with curved edge and angled corners — bring a sketch to TUDS for a free measurement check, 20% waste factor for non-rectangular cuts
Bring a sketch Tier
TUDS will help

Wraparound / custom shape

Wraparound, octagon, curved-edge, angled-corner. Bring a sketch and we'll do the takeoff for you — free, walk-in, no obligation.

How to measure: Honest answer — for shapes with curves or angles other than 90 degrees, hand-measuring is unreliable. Sketch the shape with every dimension you can capture (treat angled cuts as triangles, curved sections as half-circles). Bring the sketch into either showroom — Wade or Shane will run it through our CAD takeoff tool and give you exact board count, fastener count, and waste factor on the spot. Free service. Saskatchewan-specific: covered wraparound decks are common on character homes in Regina's Cathedral neighbourhood and Saskatoon's City Park — we measure 5-10 of these every spring. Waste factor: 20% on custom cuts.

Sq ft formula
TUDS CAD takeoff
Waste factor
20%
Time to measure
30 minutes (with sketch)
Skill level
Bring the sketch in
Railing
Includes curve/angle math
Best for
Character homes, octagons
60-second shape-finder

What's your deck shape?

Four questions. Honest measurement-method recommendation. No email required.

Question 1 of 4
0% complete

What shape is the deck you're measuring?

If you walked into TUDS and asked about measuring

Three measurement questions we get every week — and what we'd actually answer.

"How do I measure a deck for replacement boards if I'm keeping the framing?"
Shane · Co-owner
Shane · Co-owner

If you're keeping the substructure: measure the existing surface area in square feet (length x width), and only buy decking boards + fasteners + end-cut paint. Skip joists, beams, posts, footings — they're already there. Saskatchewan note: if your existing deck is more than 15 years old, pull a couple of deck boards and inspect the joists for rot before you commit to keeping the framing. Composite boards last 25-50 years; you don't want to lay them on framing that's got 5 years left. Walk a sample into either showroom and we'll tell you straight whether your framing's worth keeping.

Open the calculator
"What's the right waste factor for a Prairie deck?"
Wade · Co-owner
Wade · Co-owner

Three rules: Rectangle — 10%. L-shape, multi-level — 15%. Wraparound, curved, or anything past 90-degree angles — 20%. Add another 5% if you're a first-time DIYer (you will mess up at least one cut). The waste factor covers cut-offs, end-trimming on the picture-frame border, and the boards you'll bend or splinter. Order short — pay for a second delivery. Composite boards are LTL freight; the second delivery costs $200-$400 in our service area, plus you've stalled the project for a week. Order long — give a buddy the leftovers.

Composite vs. wood install guide
"Does TUDS measure for me?"
Shane · Co-owner
Shane · Co-owner

Yes — and it's free for any TUDS service tier. Full DIY: bring a sketch with rough dimensions, we run a CAD takeoff and hand back board count + fastener count + framing + railing on the spot. Assisted DIY: TUDS comes onsite, measures the deck for you, and pulls the structural framing build (piles + frame); you finish the surface boards and railing. Managed Install: TUDS owns the entire project end-to-end — measurement is part of the build, with lifetime workmanship warranty. More on Full DIY · Assisted DIY · Managed Install.

Compare service tiers
Measure it yourself · or have TUDS do it

Four ways to get your deck measured. All of them free.

Scope: Compare DIY measurement (this guide) against TUDS's three service tiers. Measurement itself is always free — what changes is who handles substructure, build labour, and warranty. Full DIY, Assisted DIY, and Managed Install are all options for any project where the DIY measurement turns up surprises (rotted joists, frost-heaved posts, code issues).

What's involved DIY measure (this guide)Full DIY (TUDS takeoff)Assisted DIYManaged Install
Who measures the deck You + tapeYou sketch, TUDS CADTUDS onsiteTUDS owns it
Sketch required YesYesNoNo
Time on your end 10 min10 min sketch30 min walkthroughSite walk only
Board count + fastener count CalculatorTUDS does itTUDS does itTUDS does it
Permit handling YouYou (TUDS guides)TUDS (small fee)TUDS
Build labour YouYouMixed (frame=TUDS)TUDS
Cost of measurement FreeFreeFreeFree
Workmanship warranty ——Frame onlyLifetime
Best for Pricing scoutDIY-curiousFrame intimidatesHands-off owner
Read: Full DIY positioning at TUDS
Deck measurement calculator

Plug in your dimensions, see your board count + waste factor.

Length x width for rectangles, or split-and-sum for complex shapes. Calculator outputs square footage, board count (assuming 5.5" board x 12 ft length), waste-factor adjusted, plus railing linear feet. Numbers carry over to the estimator at the click of a button.

100 ft² 1,000 ft² 2,000 ft²
Area priced
320sq ft

Calculator estimates board count and waste only — fastener count, framing, and labour are quoted separately in the estimator. For a real Saskatchewan-specific number on your project, use the instant estimator.

Rectangle deck
Rectangle
—approximate · boards only
Get an instant estimate
L-shape deck
L-shape
—approximate · boards only
Get an instant estimate
Multi-level deck
Multi-level
—approximate · boards only
Get an instant estimate
What measurement misses — count these too

Hidden fasteners, end-cut paint, cleaner.

Square footage gets you the board count. These three line items are easy to forget and account for 5-8% of total project cost. Budget $0.50-$0.90 per board for fasteners, $50-$100 per gallon for end-cut paint, $40 for cleaner.

Camo Edge ClipsHidden fastener

Camo Edge Clips

Universal hidden-clip system for grooved composite + PVC. Once you've measured square footage, multiply by ~2.4 clips per sq ft for fastener count.

$54.19 starting
Axxent End Cut PaintBoard-end finish

Axxent End-Cut Paint

Seals the cut ends of composite boards so the lighter core doesn't show. Eight colour shades — match to your tier colour.

$24.99
TUDS SUDS Deck CleanerCleaner

TUDS SUDS Deck Cleaner

Our house-brand cleaner, formulated for composite + wood decks. Non-caustic, non-butyl, eco-friendly.

$29.99
Official resources

Straight from the manufacturer. Everything technical.

Video ▶

How to measure a deck — the 10-minute walkthrough

Measurement
Video ▶

Composite decking installation — what comes after measurement

Install
Video ▶

Eva-Last Apex PLUS — full-board walkthrough

Product context
FAQ — deck measurement, answered

The 8 questions Canadian homeowners ask before they price.

Don't see yours? Call either showroom or send a photo of your sketch. One of our Escape Artists will walk you through it.

Rectangle deck: 10% waste factor. L-shape or multi-level: 15% waste factor. Wraparound, curved, octagon, or anything past 90-degree corners: 20% waste factor. Add another 5% if you're a first-time DIYer. The waste covers cut-offs, end-trimming on picture-frame borders, and the boards you'll inevitably mess up. Order short, pay for a second LTL delivery ($200-$400 in our service area). Order long, give a buddy the leftovers — much cheaper.

Measure the full deck perimeter, then subtract the house side (no railing along the wall). Subtract any deck-to-deck transition where two levels meet (no railing there either). For a rectangle 12 x 16 deck attached to the house on the long side, railing runs along 3 edges = 12 + 16 + 12 = 40 lin ft. For an L-shape, count the outer perimeter only — typically 5 of 7 outer edges need rail. Don't forget stair railing — usually 1 to 2 rails per stair side, sloped.

Stairs aren't measured in square footage — they're measured per step. Each step needs a tread (the part you walk on, typically 11 to 12 inches deep) and a riser (the vertical face, 7 to 8 inches tall). For a 36-inch-wide stair run with 4 steps: tread material = 36 in x 12 in x 4 = 12 sq ft of tread board. Riser material = 36 in x 8 in x 4 = 8 sq ft of riser board. Most homeowners simply order 25-30 lin ft of decking board per 4-step run and have the contractor cut to length onsite. Composite stair-tread boards (with manufactured nosing) cost about 30% more per lin ft than regular decking.

Measure each level separately, then sum the square footage for total board order. But keep the per-level numbers — you'll need them for joist count, beam length, and post count (each level has its own substructure). For a typical Saskatchewan walkout-basement multi-level: upper deck 12 x 16 = 192 sq ft, lower patio 12 x 12 = 144 sq ft, landings between stair runs (36 x 36 = 9 sq ft each). Total: 345+ sq ft of decking. Don't forget to add stair-tread length separately. The TUDS calculator and the estimator both handle multi-level math automatically once you input each level's dimensions.

Two options. Option 1 — DIY split-and-sum: break the shape into rectangles, measure each rectangle, add them up. Works for L-shapes, T-shapes, and most multi-level configurations. Add a 15-20% waste factor because the corner cuts add scrap. Option 2 — bring a sketch to TUDS: for wraparound decks, octagons, curved edges, or angled corners, hand-measuring is unreliable. Sketch what you can on paper, label every dimension and angle, then walk it into either Saskatoon or Regina. Wade or Shane will run it through CAD and hand back exact board count, fastener count, and waste factor in 20-30 minutes. Free service. Email a photo of the sketch to saskatoon@tuds.ca or regina@tuds.ca if you can't visit in person.

If you're rebuilding the framing too: joist count = deck width / 16 inch on-centre + 1. A 12 ft (144 in) wide deck needs (144 / 16) + 1 = 10 joists. Beam length = deck length (typically one beam at the house, one at the outer edge for a freestanding deck, or one at the outer edge only for a ledger-attached deck). Post count (Saskatchewan-specific): posts every 6-8 ft along the beam, with footings extending below frost line — 1.2 metres / 4 ft below grade in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and most of Alberta. A 16 ft beam typically needs 3 posts. Honest take: if you're unsure on the substructure, this is exactly where Assisted DIY makes sense — TUDS does the framing for code-compliance, you finish the surface. More on Assisted DIY.

Order samples first. Measurement is binary (sq ft is sq ft) but board choice is irreversible — once you've ordered 350 sq ft of Eva-Last Apex PLUS in Brazilian Teak, you're locked in. Free samples ship in 2-5 business days in Saskatchewan and most of Alberta + Manitoba. Touch them. Stand them in your backyard for a weekend. Watch them in midday vs. golden-hour light. Then measure and order. Better yet — walk into either showroom, see every brand and tier on full-board displays, take the samples that resonate. Eva-Last samples · Trex samples · Fiberon samples · Deckorators samples.

Yes — measurement is free with every TUDS service tier. Full DIY (you do the build): sketch your deck, bring it in, we run a CAD takeoff at the counter — board count, fastener count, framing, railing, all on the spot. Free. Assisted DIY (TUDS does framing, you finish): we come onsite, measure, pull structural drawings, build the frame to code, hand it off. Free measurement included. Managed Install (TUDS owns end-to-end): site visit, measurement, design, build — all included with lifetime workmanship warranty. More on Full DIY · Assisted DIY · Managed Install. Or call either yard: Saskatoon 306-249-3325, Regina 306-522-3325.

From TUDS

Measurement, install, design. Honest content, weekly.

We post DIY-friendly install walkthroughs and measurement deep-dives every week — same workflow this guide is built around.

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Unboxings, install walkthroughs, brand comparisons. New video most weeks — the player above always shows our latest.

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Why TUDS

The deck shop Saskatchewan homeowners bring sketches to.

Real Google reviews from real Saskatoon and Regina customers — many of them DIYers who walked in with a sketch.

2016
Canadian-owned since
2
Stores — Regina & Saskatoon
90+
Authorized brands
10,000+
Customers helped
4.9★
TUDS Google rating
★★★★★
GGoogle

“We recently gave our 20 year old wood deck a makeover with the help of The Ultimate Deck Shop. Justin at the Regina location was incredibly helpful with each of my visits, answering my questions and explaining/showing me things clearly. To refinish the top of the deck, we used Cutek Wood Reviver followed by Cutek Ex...”

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Regina · Jul 2025
★★★★★
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“We had a great experience with The Ultimate Deck Shop. The fence we purchased is great quality. The service was amazing. The price was the best around. We would highly recommend to anyone and will definitely refer family and friends.”

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Regina · Nov 2025
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Regina · Jul 2025
Bring your sketch in person

Saskatoon, Regina, and across the prairies.

Two full yards. CAD takeoff at the counter, free, no obligation. Walk in with measurements, walk out with a real board count.

Store

Regina

141 4th Avenue East, Regina SK

Bring your deck sketch — Wade or whoever's on the floor will run a CAD takeoff at the counter. Free, walk-in, no obligation. 20-30 minutes.

Mon–Fri 7am–5pm · Sat 9am–3pm

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Store

Saskatoon

320 68th Street East, Saskatoon SK

Sketch in hand, dimensions on paper, walk in. We'll measure-check everything and hand back board count, fastener count, framing in 30 minutes flat.

Mon–Fri 7am–5pm · Sat 9am–3pm

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Service area · Free deck-measurement help
SaskatoonReginaMoose JawPrince AlbertYorktonLumsdenWarmanMartensvilleSwift CurrentNorth BattlefordWeyburnEstevanHumboldtMelvilleRosthernTisdaleCalgaryEdmontonWinnipeg+ Most of SK, AB, MB
We measure decks for homeowners across Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. Email a photo of your sketch to either yard for a free CAD takeoff.
You've measured. Now price it.

Punch your numbers in. Get your real number.

The estimator pre-fills with measurements you've just calculated. Sq ft, waste factor, board count, railing lin ft — all carried over. You'll have a Saskatchewan-specific quote in 60 seconds. Or come walk the boards in Saskatoon or Regina with the sketch in hand and one of our Escape Artists will price every material tier on the spot.

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