Guides / Decks and patios · Updated

Free deck plans, drawn to scale

Sized from the IRC 2021 deck tables: southern pine No. 2, 40 psf live load, 16 in joist spacing, the deck surface 4 ft off the ground. A deck on a ledger at the house with one beam along the outer edge. Your town can amend the code and will want a permit, so show it these plans first.

Estimate for planning only, not professional advice. Check the manufacturer’s instructions, your local code and a licensed professional before you buy, build or install. Use at your own risk. Terms.

Short answer

10 × 12: 2x8 joists, 3 posts; 12 × 12: 2x10 joists, 3 posts; 12 × 16: 2x10 joists, 3 posts; 16 × 20: 2x12 joists, 4 posts. The joist size follows how far the deck sticks out from the house; the posts follow how long it runs along it.

10 × 12 deck: 10 ft out, 12 ft along the house

House: ledger, 2x82x8 joists, 16 in on centerBeam 2-ply 2x8, posts every 6 ft12 ft along the house10 ft out
Joists10 × 2x8 at 16 in on center, spanning 10 ft (the table allows 11 ft 10 in)
Beam2-ply 2x8, along the outer edge
Posts3 × 4x4, 6 ft apart (the beam allows 6 ft 9 in), about 32½ in tall
Decking1 1/4 in wood (5/4) boards run across the joists at 16 in on center
Cut list
PieceHow manyBuy at
Joists, 2x8810 ft
End joists, 2x8210 ft
Rim joist, 2x8112 ft
Ledger, 2x8112 ft
Beam, 2 plies of 2x8212 ft
Posts, 4x434 ft

Check these joists in the deck calculator

12 × 12 deck: 12 ft out, 12 ft along the house

House: ledger, 2x102x10 joists, 16 in on centerBeam 2-ply 2x8, posts every 6 ft12 ft along the house12 ft out
Joists10 × 2x10 at 16 in on center, spanning 12 ft (the table allows 14 ft)
Beam2-ply 2x8, along the outer edge
Posts3 × 4x4, 6 ft apart (the beam allows 6 ft 2 in), about 30½ in tall
Decking1 1/4 in wood (5/4) boards run across the joists at 16 in on center
Cut list
PieceHow manyBuy at
Joists, 2x10812 ft
End joists, 2x10212 ft
Rim joist, 2x10112 ft
Ledger, 2x10112 ft
Beam, 2 plies of 2x8212 ft
Posts, 4x434 ft

Check these joists in the deck calculator

12 × 16 deck: 12 ft out, 16 ft along the house

House: ledger, 2x102x10 joists, 16 in on centerBeam 2-ply 2x12, posts every 8 ft16 ft along the house12 ft out
Joists13 × 2x10 at 16 in on center, spanning 12 ft (the table allows 14 ft)
Beam2-ply 2x12, along the outer edge
Posts3 × 4x4, 8 ft apart (the beam allows 8 ft 7 in), about 26½ in tall
Decking1 1/4 in wood (5/4) boards run across the joists at 16 in on center
Cut list
PieceHow manyBuy at
Joists, 2x101112 ft
End joists, 2x10212 ft
Rim joist, 2x10116 ft
Ledger, 2x10116 ft
Beam, 2 plies of 2x12216 ft
Posts, 4x434 ft

Check these joists in the deck calculator

16 × 20 deck: 16 ft out, 20 ft along the house

House: ledger, 2x122x12 joists, 16 in on centerBeam 2-ply 2x12, posts every 6.7 ft20 ft along the house16 ft out
Joists16 × 2x12 at 16 in on center, spanning 16 ft (the table allows 16 ft 6 in)
Beam2-ply 2x12, along the outer edge
Posts4 × 4x4, 6 ft 8 in apart (the beam allows 7 ft 5 in), about 24½ in tall
Decking1 1/4 in wood (5/4) boards run across the joists at 16 in on center
Cut list
PieceHow manyBuy at
Joists, 2x121416 ft
End joists, 2x12216 ft
Rim joist, 2x12120 ft
Ledger, 2x12120 ft
Beam, 2 plies of 2x12220 ft
Posts, 4x444 ft

Check these joists in the deck calculator

What these plans leave to you

Footings, the ledger's fastening to the house, lateral load connectors, guards and stairs depend on your house, soil and height, so the code covers them separately (IRC R507.3 for footings, R507.9 for the ledger and lateral connections). The American Wood Council's free deck guide, DCA 6, shows those details. Guards are needed once the deck is more than 30 in off the ground: see deck railing height and stair code.

Another species, spacing or a cantilever? Run your numbers in the deck joist calculator, the beam span chart and post spacing guide.

Where the numbers come from

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