Deck Footing Size Chart
In order to determine the proper size for your footings, you will need to establish how much total weight they are going to have to support and what kind of soil they are covering. To calculate the load, you should use 40lbs per square foot for live loads (these are variable loads that are dynamic such as the weight of people and furniture) and 15 lbs per square foot for dead loads (this is the weight of the materials used for the construction of the deck) for a total load weight of 55 lbs per square foot.
For example, if you are building a 10x10 deck attached to a house with two footings on the corners, you could calculate the loads for the footings in the following way. First, draw a line dividing the deck into two halves between the house and the footings. The load for the section nearest the house will be transferred back to the ledger board and carried down to the house foundation. The remaining half of the deck will again be split into two parts to be supported by the two corner footings. This is called the tributary load. If you multiply the area of this section 5’ x 5’, you will get 25 square feet. You can multiply this area by 55 lbs per square foot loading to come up with 1,375 lbs total load. Once you know the total load, you can use the chart below to determine the footing size for your soil conditions. Always be sure to check your calculations with your local building inspections department before digging.

Circular Footings
Maximum Allowable Load Per Footing, in Lbs
Soil Type | Gravel | Sand | Clay | |
Allowable Pressure (Lbs /Sq Ft) | 3000 | 2000 | 1500 | |
Footing Size (inches) | 12 | 2300 | 1500 | 1100 |
13 | 2700 | 1800 | 1300 | |
14 | 3200 | 2100 | 1600 | |
15 | 3600 | 2400 | 1800 | |
16 | 4100 | 2700 | 2000 | |
17 | 4700 | 3100 | 2300 | |
18 | 5300 | 3500 | 2600 | |
19 | 5900 | 3900 | 2900 | |
20 | 6500 | 4300 | 3200 | |
21 | 7200 | 4800 | 3600 | |
22 | 7900 | 5200 | 3900 | |
23 | 8600 | 5700 | 4300 | |
24 | 9400 | 6200 | 4700 |
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Find out what to do if your deck footing holes fill up with water.
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Learn how to build a deck to properly support a hot tub or spa. Hot tubs are very heavy. Never place a hot tub on a deck that wasn't designed for the additional load.
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Use treated engineered deck beams for long spans with fewer posts and footings. Engineered beams can be designed and specially ordered from your lumberyard.
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Deck Footing Size Chart
In order to determine the proper size for your footings, you will need to establish how much total weight they are going to have to support and what kind of soil they are covering. To calculate the load, you should use 40lbs per square foot for live loads (these are variable loads that are dynamic such as the weight of people and furniture) and 15 lbs per square foot for dead loads (this is the weight of the materials used for the construction of the deck) for a total load weight of 55 lbs per square foot.
For example, if you are building a 10x10 deck attached to a house with two footings on the corners, you could calculate the loads for the footings in the following way. First, draw a line dividing the deck into two halves between the house and the footings. The load for the section nearest the house will be transferred back to the ledger board and carried down to the house foundation. The remaining half of the deck will again be split into two parts to be supported by the two corner footings. This is called the tributary load. If you multiply the area of this section 5’ x 5’, you will get 25 square feet. You can multiply this area by 55 lbs per square foot loading to come up with 1,375 lbs total load. Once you know the total load, you can use the chart below to determine the footing size for your soil conditions. Always be sure to check your calculations with your local building inspections department before digging.

Circular Footings
Maximum Allowable Load Per Footing, in Lbs
Soil Type | Gravel | Sand | Clay | |
Allowable Pressure (Lbs /Sq Ft) | 3000 | 2000 | 1500 | |
Footing Size (inches) | 12 | 2300 | 1500 | 1100 |
13 | 2700 | 1800 | 1300 | |
14 | 3200 | 2100 | 1600 | |
15 | 3600 | 2400 | 1800 | |
16 | 4100 | 2700 | 2000 | |
17 | 4700 | 3100 | 2300 | |
18 | 5300 | 3500 | 2600 | |
19 | 5900 | 3900 | 2900 | |
20 | 6500 | 4300 | 3200 | |
21 | 7200 | 4800 | 3600 | |
22 | 7900 | 5200 | 3900 | |
23 | 8600 | 5700 | 4300 | |
24 | 9400 | 6200 | 4700 |
Cutting a Concrete Pad
Learn how to use a concrete saw to cut a hole in a patio slab to install a deck footing.
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Learn how to hand dig or mechanically dig your deck footings with step-by-step instructions. Learn what to do if you hit a rock.
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Learn how to use cardboard sonotubes and hole covers to protect your deck footing holes from caving in and flooding before pouring concrete.
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Browse some examples of decorative deck support posts for tall decks.
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Explore Articles by Topic

Footings
Information related to installing frost footings for decks

Framing
Learn structural framing methods

Decking
Learn about wood and composite decking materials

Stairs
An in-depth look at the complex issue of how to build stairs

Railings
How to install guardrails and handrails to meet IRC code

Features
An overview on water drainage, benches, planters and lights

Design
The basics of deck design

Planning
Learn about permits and working with contractors

Porches & Patios
Build a covered deck to enjoy all seasons

Ledger
Proper attachment techniques

Care
Maintain your deck to maintain your investment

Materials
An overview on water drainage, benches, planters and lights