Tedswoodworking Plans For Deck Building Projects · Updated August 2026

TedsWoodworking Plans for Deck Building Projects: A Straight Review

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 7.4/10 Editorial score

Independent review. We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no cost to you — it never affects our verdicts. Disclosure

Our verdict

TedsWoodworking is a huge 16,000-plan library that's genuinely useful if you want deck plans plus hundreds of other projects for one flat price. The biggest strength is breadth and the cut lists that save you math at the lumberyard. The biggest caveat: deck coverage is a slice of the library, not a dedicated deck-building system, so serious deck builders should treat it as a starting point rather than a permit-ready blueprint.

7.4 / 10
Check Current Price

60-day money-back guarantee · Secure checkout

At a glance

Price
~$83 one-time (frequently discounted)
Format
Digital download — PDF plans plus CAD files
Library size
16,000+ woodworking plans
Guarantee
60-day money-back
Best for
DIYers wanting decks plus a lifetime of other projects
Skill level
Beginner to intermediate

What we like

  • Includes framing, railing, pergola and multi-level deck layouts with material cut lists so you can order lumber without guessing
  • One-time payment covers all 16,000+ plans — no per-plan fees when you move from a deck to a bench or shed
  • Step-by-step diagrams are drawn clearly enough for a confident DIYer to follow without CAD experience
  • Bonus DWG/CAD file access lets you resize or tweak deck dimensions to fit your yard
  • 60-day money-back guarantee removes most of the purchase risk
  • Plans download instantly, so you can start planning the same day you buy

What to know

  • Plan quality is inconsistent — some deck plans are detailed, others are thin on load and footing specs
  • Not engineered to local building codes, so you'll still need to verify span tables and permits yourself
  • The sheer volume means you'll spend time filtering to find the best deck plans
  • Upsells appear after checkout, which some buyers find pushy

What you actually get for deck building

When people search for TedsWoodworking plans for deck building projects, they usually picture a dedicated deck kit. That's not quite what this is. TedsWoodworking is a general woodworking library, and deck-related plans sit inside it alongside sheds, gazebos, pergolas, planters and outdoor furniture.

Within that library you'll find ground-level platform decks, raised decks with stair sections, railing designs, pergola-covered decks, and connecting elements like built-in benches and planter boxes. Each usable plan comes with a materials list, a cut list, and diagram sheets showing the assembly sequence.

The cut lists are the standout for deck work. Instead of estimating how many 2x6 joists or deck boards you need, you get quantities and dimensions you can hand to the lumberyard. That alone saves a frustrating second trip mid-project.

How good are the deck plans specifically?

Honest answer: they range from very good to fairly basic. The best deck plans include joist spacing, beam sizing, railing heights and fastener guidance. The weaker ones give you a nice picture and a parts list but leave out footing depth, frost-line considerations and load calculations.

For a low deck under 30 inches off the ground — the kind that often doesn't need a permit — the plans are usually enough to build confidently. For an elevated deck attached to your house, you should use the plan as a design and layout reference, then confirm structural details against your local span tables or with a building inspector.

Think of it as a design accelerator, not a substitute for code compliance. That framing keeps your expectations realistic and your deck safe.

Who this is genuinely right for

This offer makes the most sense if you want a deck AND intend to keep building. The economics work because you pay once for 16,000 plans. Build your deck this summer, a potting bench in fall, a workbench over winter — the per-project cost drops toward zero.

It also suits DIYers who like to plan visually. If you can read a diagram and follow numbered steps, the format fits you. Weekend woodworkers with a circular saw, drill and basic tools are the sweet spot.

It's a poor fit if you only want one deck and nothing else, or if you need stamped, permit-ready engineering. In those cases a local deck design service or a free county deck guide may serve you better.

Ready to see it for yourself?

Check Current Price

60-day money-back guarantee · Secure checkout

The cut lists and diagrams in practice

The cut list is where TedsWoodworking earns its keep for deck builders. A typical deck plan breaks materials into categories — posts, beams, joists, decking, railing, hardware — with counts and lengths. Print it, take it shopping, done.

Diagrams are exploded views plus step sequences. They're not photorealistic 3D renders, but they're legible. Measurements are labeled, and most plans show the framing before the decking so you understand the skeleton first.

The bonus CAD files matter more than they sound. If your yard is 14 feet wide and the plan is drawn for 16, you can open the file, adjust dimensions, and recalculate materials rather than doing it by hand.

Price and value breakdown

Retail lands around $83 as a one-time payment, and it's often discounted below that during promotions. There's no subscription. Compared to buying individual deck plans online — which can run $15 to $50 each — the value case is strong the moment you plan a second project.

The 60-day money-back guarantee is the real safety net. You can download, browse the deck plans, and decide whether they meet your needs before the window closes. That refund policy is why the risk is low even with the inconsistent plan quality.

Just budget for the upsells. After purchase you'll see offers for additional plan packs and DWG bonuses. You can decline them all and still keep everything you paid for.

Honest drawbacks you should weigh

The biggest complaint is organization. Sixteen thousand plans is a lot to sift through, and the search and category tools are functional rather than slick. Finding the ideal deck plan takes patience.

Second, quality control varies. Because the collection is enormous, some plans feel professionally drafted and others feel like they were scanned from an older source. You'll want to preview a plan fully before cutting any lumber.

Third, nothing here is localized to your building code. Frost lines, permit thresholds and setback rules differ by region, and the plans won't tell you that. Treat structural specs as a baseline to verify.

Tips to get the most out of it for a deck

Start by downloading three or four deck plans that resemble your goal, then compare their framing details. The stronger plan usually reveals itself quickly.

Cross-check any elevated or attached deck against a free span-table reference before ordering lumber. Use the TedsWoodworking cut list for quantities but confirm joist and beam sizing for your load.

Use the CAD files to fit the plan to your exact footprint, and add 10 percent to your board count for waste and mistakes. Finally, keep the printed step diagrams in a page protector at the job site — sawdust and paper don't mix well otherwise.

Frequently asked questions

Does TedsWoodworking have plans specifically for decks?+

Yes, but they live inside the larger 16,000-plan library rather than as a standalone deck package. You'll find ground-level and raised decks, railings, stairs and pergola-covered designs, each with cut lists and diagrams.

Are the deck plans code-compliant?+

No. The plans give design, layout and material lists but aren't engineered to local building codes. For elevated or attached decks, verify footings, spans and permits with your local building department.

Is it worth it if I only want to build one deck?+

The value is weaker for a single project. It shines when you plan to build more — decks, sheds, furniture — because it's one payment for thousands of plans. For one deck only, a dedicated deck plan might suffice.

What does it cost and is there a refund?+

It's roughly $83 as a one-time payment, often discounted, with a 60-day money-back guarantee. That refund window lets you review the deck plans before committing.

Do I need special software to use the plans?+

The plans are PDFs you can open on any device. The bonus CAD files require software that reads DWG format if you want to resize dimensions, but you can build directly from the PDFs without it.

Bottom line: worth a look?

Check Current Price

60-day money-back guarantee · Secure checkout

7.4 TedsWoodworking Plans for Deck...
Check Current Price