Deck Way Visual Planner planner
DECK WAY VISUAL PLANNER

Build the deck by moving it.

Build your deck layout visually, then continue through the material selections to create a detailed planning takeoff. Drag stairs around the perimeter, add landings, shape 45° corners, add connected deck sections, and click deck edges to control railing.

Interactive Deck FootprintDrag + Click
Click a corner or edge, or add stairs / a multi-level transition.
Deck Area320 sq. ft.
StairsNone
Landings0
45° Corners0
Multi-LevelOff
Try this:

Turn on Multi-level deck to add a wide transition stair between deck levels. Drag its center handle to move it along the selected side, or drag either end handle to resize it. The transition stair and regular stair system cannot share the same deck side. Add standard stairs too if you want, then drag the first stair landing around any exposed deck edge, including a 45° clipped corner edge. Stairs cannot be placed on the house / ledger side. Added landings can be dragged around the landing before them and will pivot in 90° increments while keeping the stair flight connected. Drag the small navy circular direction handle around a landing to change the next stair run direction, or click the rotate icon to move that stair flight to the next available side of the landing. Click the + button at the end of the current stair run to add another landing, then drag that new landing’s direction handle too. Click exposed deck perimeter edges to toggle railing. Railing automatically opens where a stair landing or multi-level stair meets the deck.

1 · Layout
2 · Details
3 · Protection
4 · Decking
2

Project details

The layout above controls deck geometry, stair placement, transition openings, and where railing exists. Choose the material assumptions for those systems here.

Railing locations are controlled directly in the visual planner. Deck Way also applies the appropriate internal framing and hardware profile for the framing material you select, while stair openings, transition openings, and connected deck sections are accounted for automatically.
Project Height Details i These are the only structural dimensions Deck Way needs from the homeowner. Other framing, footing, stair, connector, and hardware assumptions are applied automatically in the background so the material takeoff stays consistent and easy to use.
Deck Way automatically applies standard planning assumptions for joist spans, beam/post spacing, railing-post spacing, footing size, ledger fastening, stair geometry, stringer spacing, and connector hardware. Those assumptions are still included in every material calculation.
3

Protection & drainage

Add the optional systems that should be included in the material plan.

These are manufacturer-neutral planning categories. Final system quantities and installation details should be verified against the selected manufacturer's requirements.
4

Choose your decking

Select the deck-board material and stock assumptions used for the purchase plan.

Available Composite / PVC Board Lengths

Your Deck Way Material Plan

Planning quantities based on the deck layout above.

Total Deck Area
Decking
Railing
Support Posts

Decking Purchase Plan

MaterialQuantityPlanning Note

Framing Lumber

MaterialQuantityPlanning Note

Railing, Fascia & Stairs

MaterialQuantityPlanning Note

Protection, Drainage & Hardware

MaterialQuantityPlanning Note
Deck Way provides a geometry-driven material takeoff, not a stamped structural design. The calculator now derives joists, beams, posts, footings, stair rise/run, stringers, decking fasteners, framing connectors, concrete, railing components, and related hardware from the visual layout and the assumptions entered above. Exact structural member sizes, span limits, ledger schedules, connector models, footing design, and manufacturer-specific fastener schedules must still be verified against the project engineer, local code, site conditions, and selected product installation instructions before construction or purchase. Where an exact connector model is not selected, Deck Way uses fixed internal connector-fastener assumptions rather than omitting the hardware. Those assumptions are included consistently in the takeoff but should still be verified against the actual hardware selected for the project.