A new deck can complete the look of your entire yard. But, first, you’ll have to design and build it.
If you don’t want to pay a contractor to do it for you, you can easily do it yourself. In fact, with dozens of free and paid online deck design software options, it can even be easy.
The following 12 deck design tools offer online builders to drag and drop or draw your new deck. While many of them are free, some offer premium features or require you to invest to use them.
In every case, they offer plenty of options to draw and plan your deck, your landscape, and the space and materials you’ll need.
| Software | Free or Paid? | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decks.com Designer | Free | NA | Beginner |
| TimberTech Azek Deck Designer Tool | Free | NA | Beginner |
| Trex Deck Design Tool | Free/Paid | NA | Beginner |
| SmartDraw | Free/Paid | Free-$9.95/month | Intermediate |
| Planner 5D | Free | NA | Beginner |
| Lowes Deck Designer | Free | NA | Beginner |
| Idea Spectrum Realtime Landscaping Plus | Paid | $99.95 | Beginner/Intermediate |
| BigHammer Home Depot Do-It-Yourself Deck Designer | Free | NA | Beginner |
| MiTek Deck Designer | Free | NA | Beginner |
| Fiberon | Free | NA | Beginner |
| Punch! Landscaping Design Essentials | Paid | $49.99 | Intermediate |
| Simpson Strong Deck Planner | Free | NA | Beginner |
*This list was correct when last updated in September 2022. Software, features, and pricing are subject to change. In addition, this list is in random order.
1. Decks.com Designer
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Decks.com offers a free online deck design program. The cloud designer requires you to log in to get started. From there, you can drag and drop tiles to create your dream deck.
These include flooring, deck shapes, stairs, and even multi-levels. That makes it extremely easy to try out different shapes and layouts. Plus, with 80+ deck templates, you can get started with a template and modify it from there.
In addition, the Decks.com Designer offers a free calculator tool. That will help you work out dimensions, materials needed, and support needed.
Decks.com also sells materials to make decks, pergolas, etc. This means that if you do build something with their designer, you can likely purchase it through the website.
However, there is no obligation and you can choose your own local contractor or hardware store.
- Free
- Best suited for beginners/amateur DIYers
- Drag and drop interface
- Browser-based
Website: https://www.decks.com/deck-designer
2. TimberTech
The TimberTech Deck Designer, formerly Azek Deck Designer, is one of the web’s most popular online deck design software options.
When TimberTech Dech Designer was still Azek, it was consistently ranked as the best free deck designer you could use.
Today, you can still access the same software to drag and drop and design your deck. TimberTech offers multiple 2D and 3D templates to get you started.
In addition, you can start from scratch with dozens of material, deck, fencing, and paint options. TimberTech also offers pool decks, two-level deck, and freestanding deck options.
That gives you plenty of easy ways to design your new deck, without any expertise in doing so. Like Decks.com, TimberTech also offers deck building materials and even planning help.
However, the tool is free and has no obligation.
- Free
- Best suited for beginners/amateur DIYers
- Drag and drop interface
- Browser-based
Website: https://deckdesigner.timbertech.com/
3. Trex Deck Design Tool
The Trex Deck Design Tool is an online deck design software offering a rich palette of textures, materials, and colors to try out for your deck.
Trex also offers a large library of templates, with full decks, railings, stairs, lighting, and even furniture to try out. In addition, you can automatically set up rectangle-shaped, L-shaped, and even custom-shaped decks by simply drawing them out.
This simple drag-and-drop builder also includes dimension calculators with layers for decking, substructure, and railings. That makes it easier to calculate what you need for the deck.
- Free
- Best suited for beginners/amateur DIYers
- Drag and drop interface
- Browser-based
Website: https://deckdesigner.trex.com/#_ga=2.8742397.958770524.1662535510-1466792986.1662535510
4. SmartDraw
SmartDraw is a professional tool enabling you to build layouts and 2D designs for personal or professional use. The online drafting program is intended for general architectural drafting.
However, with multiple deck templates and pre-built designs, you can get started without a great deal of design experience.
At the same time, SmartDraw gives more drafting options if you have a bit more experience and want to create something yourself instead of using a drag-and-drop tool.
Plus, with thousands of trees, design elements, and textures, SmartDraw can be versatile and simple to use.
In addition, with measurement and mechanical instruction support, SmartDraw is a great choice if you need planning approval or want to bring your design to an architect.
- Free to $9.95 per month
- Best suited for intermediate users to professionals
- CAD-like design interface
- Browser-based
Website: https://www.smartdraw.com/
5. Planner 5D
Planner 5D is a 2D and 3D home designer tool with a deck function. The online deck builder is also available for iOS, Android, and for Mac.
In addition, Planner 5D makes it easy to create HD visualizations and 3D walkthroughs of your deck. Here, you can add shadows, lighting, plants, and other objects.
Planner 5D is a great choice if you’d like an online deck designer but prefer to use your tablet to do the drawing and planning.
However, Planner 5D is fully drag-and-drop. You can use existing elements, add from templates, modify existing templates, and even draw on top of existing photos.
Planner 5D is also one of the few planning tools that allow you to customize individual items, so you can re-color parts of your deck or see how different furniture looks.
Plus, with 5,000+ textures and materials to use, you can easily see what most options will look like.
- Free
- Best suited for beginners/amateur DIYers
- Drag and drop interface
- Browser/app/desktop
Website: https://planner5d.com/
6. Lowe’s Deck Designer
The Lowe’s Deck Designer is a browser-based deck design application. In addition, the tool has options for contractors, DIYers, and homeowners looking for a contractor. That makes it easy for you to see what the total costs should be.
In addition, while Lowe’s Deck Designer is intended for people who want to buy materials from Lowe’s store, there is no obligation. However, you will have to choose a setup and select a store in order to use the tool.
This also means that if you live in an area without a Lowe’s, you won’t be able to use the deck designer. Otherwise, this is a straightforward drag-and-drop tool with 3D and 3D views, measurements, and plenty of drag-and-drop options.
- Free
- Best suited for beginners/amateur DIYers/Contractors
- Drag and drop interface
- Browser-based
Website: https://www.lowes.com/l/about/deck-designer-planner/
7. Idea Spectrum Realtime Landscaping Plus
Idea Spectrum Realtime Landscaping Plus is a landscape and design tool with thousands of design options built in. This modeling software is made for amateur designers who want to redesign their full yard.
Here, the software costs $99 to purchase upfront. You can also purchase a premium package with additional plants and textures.
In addition, you can import photos of your actual space to add your deck, swimming pool, pergolas, and other landscaping directly to that image.
This makes Idea Spectrum a great way to figure out the look and feel you want for your deck, rather than just the physical design specs.
- Costs $99
- Best suited for beginners/intermediate
- Drag and drop interface
- Desktop-based
Website: https://ideaspectrum.com/home-landscaping-software/
8. BigHammer Home Depot Do-It-Yourself Deck Designer
The BigHammer DIY Deck Designer is a simple drag-and-drop tool. The deck design software is a collaboration between Home Depot and EdgeNet. It’s also one of the most popular DIY options out there.
However, you will have to download this to your computer for most browsers. Once you do, you can take a photo of your home, and then add your deck design directly to it.
The deck designer itself offers over 70 deck templates. You can also build your own with a drag-and-drop design.
And, with full integration into Home Depot, you can immediately price out your design. Plus, the DIY Deck Designer will create a shopping list for you, down to screws.
That makes it especially easy to do the project yourself. With materials listed and costed, you’ll have a much easier time deciding what to buy and why.
- Free
- Best suited for beginners/DIY amateurs
- Drag and drop interface
- Desktop-based
Website: https://www.bighammer.com/cqdesignstartneo/
9. MiTek Deck Designer
The MiTek Deck Designer is a browser-based deck design software solution. The tool offers layouts and templates to get you started. You can also drag and drop modular items in 2D or 3D.
MiTek also offers dimensioning and mechanic functions. This means you can set preferences for post depth, load weight, etc., and the deck will adjust accordingly.
Finally, this tool offers exports suitable for taking to city planners and contractors for approval. That makes it a good choice if you’re building in city limits or still need building approval for your deck.
- Free
- Best suited for beginners/DIY amateurs
- Drag and drop interface
- Browser-based
Website: https://deck.mii.com/
10. Fiberon Discovery Deck Designer
Fiberon’s online deck design software is for anyone who wants a Fiberon deck. However, you aren’t obliged to buy from Fiberon.
At the same time, any deck you build with the tool will be priced, spaced, and made for Fiberon materials. Therefore, if you want to get wood and make your own, you probably want a different deck design tool.
However, Fiberon does tell you exactly what you need for the deck you make with their tool. That gives you a good way to compare Fiberon to your other options.
Plus, with design tools, drag-and-drop modules, and a full palette of colors, you can get a good idea of how a Fiberon deck will look against your house.
- Free
- Best suited for beginners/DIY amateurs
- Drag and drop interface
- Browser-based
Website: https://www.fiberondecking.com/design-tools/deck-design-tool
11. Punch! Landscaping Design Essentials
Punch! is a deck and landscape design tool. The “Essentials” is a $49.99 basic pack. Here, you get deck building, an extensive plant library, and water features.
Punch! is also unique in that it’s focused around helping you build your full landscape. That means you get thousands of plants, pathways, fences, and pool options pre-made. You can also use pre-built deck options and rescale them to size.
Plus, Punch! allows you to upload your own photos and add to them with modular drag-and-drop items. While you won’t be able to draw completely new designs, you can always rescale and resize everything you have to fit.
This is a good choice if you want to redesign or remodel things you already have. It’s also great if you’re looking into modifying more than just the deck.
- Costs $49.99
- Best suited for beginners/DIY amateurs
- Drag and drop interface
- Windows-based
Website: https://www.punchsoftware.com/punch-home-landscape-design-essentials
12. Simpson Strong Deck Planner
Simpson Strong is a company that sells wood connectors. Their deck builder software is a free tool for planning decks using those connectors. Here, the idea is that you use wood with fasteners and supports.
While Simpson Strong’s Deck Planner is only available for iPad, it offers easy deck design. You drag and drop the deck you want.
Then, the app tells you what you need for support, strength, and construction. You get a full materials list.
In addition, you can generate a report complete with lumber, decking, railing, and hardware you have to buy for the deck. That makes everything as simple as possible when you go to build it yourself.
- Free
- Best suited for beginners/DIY amateurs
- Drag and drop interface
- iOS-based
Website: https://www.strongtie.com/products/go/software/deckplanner-app
To End
If you’re not happy with any of these deck design tools, you can look into more professional solutions like AutoCAD. However, professional drafting tools have a much higher learning curve.
Most of these deck design software solutions are made by shops that sell decking. However, none of them obligate you to purchase your deck from that company. Many will also price out your deck for you. That means you can try more than one tool and check prices at different stores.
Good luck building your deck.