Best Decking of 2025 – Consumer Reports

For wood alternatives, we test individual product lines from brands such as Azek, Fiberon, and Trex. With wood, we simply test by species (like yellow pine, cedar, and ipe). Wood of a particular species should perform similarly, regardless of where it’s milled or sold.

In our Yonkers, N.Y., test facility, we use specialized instruments to test each decking sample for resistance to flexing to ensure that boards won’t bow or bend if you’re entertaining a crowd or if you park a heavy grill in one spot all summer long. Next, we size up which materials resist common stains, such as ketchup and mustard, and which offer some slip resistance—particularly important if you’re installing a deck near a pool.

We also drop weights of various sizes on the surface of each board to see which samples dent on impact. And we send more than a dozen samples of each material to two areas with extreme climates: hot and dry Arizona; and Florida, where the humidity presents a different challenge to certain materials. We assess those samples annually for three years, evaluating their appearance and retesting for all the attributes above to see how age and exposure to the elements affect overall performance. Wood products are tested without a stain or sealer.

For a look at all the considerations, start with our decking buying guide. CR members can also jump right to our decking ratings or read on for the best decking from our tests. Unless otherwise noted, the prices listed are per linear foot.