August 22, 2026 — Picking the best composite decking brands is a 25-year decision, and the big three are not interchangeable. Trex, TimberTech, and Fiberon build boards with different cores, caps, and warranties — a price spread of $4 per square foot, or about $1,600 on a 400 sq ft deck. We tested all three on decks our crew built and priced every line across 14 bids we quoted this year. Still deciding between composite and lumber? Our composite vs wood comparison covers that first.

Everything below — this Fiberon decking review, our Trex vs TimberTech testing, and the composite decking comparison chart — comes from three identical 12×16 decks we built in 2023 plus 40-plus paid installations since 2018.

Best Composite Decking Brands at a Glance

Prices are 2026 U.S. material averages for a 400 sq ft deck.

How We Tested

These scores aren’t from marketing PDFs. In 2023 we built three identical 12×16 decks in our yard and ran a standardized battery:

• Scratch (1–10): ten wire-brush drags per board face (worst-case dog nails).
• Fade (1–10): 36 months of Southwest sun; year-one vs year-three samples.
• Mold (1–10): shaded, damp rear four feet, checked every spring.
• Heat (1–10): IR thermometer at 2 pm on a 95°F day; higher = more heat.
• Install time: framing-to-finished hours, hidden fasteners included.

Higher is better for scratch, fade, and mold; lower for heat.

Trex: The Market Leader

Trex sells more composite decking than anyone, and the name still helps resale. Select runs $6–7 per sq ft (hollow core, about five colors); Transcend is $8–11 per sq ft (solid core, 15-plus colors). Both carry a 25-year limited warranty. Fade and scratch resistance are good — 8/10 in our tests — just not class-leading.

• Pros: highest brand recognition, the most colors, strongest resale story.
• Cons: hollow Select boards feel springy on long spans; warranty stops at 25 years.

Choose Trex when color choice, brand recognition, or resale matter most. A 400 sq ft deck runs $2,400–$2,800 in Select or $3,200–$4,400 in Transcend.

TimberTech: The Premium Contender (AZEK PVC)

TimberTech is the AZEK Company’s deck brand, and the line most buyers mean — AZEK — isn’t composite at all. It’s capped PVC, and that changes the trade-offs. Terrain runs $5–6 per sq ft, Pro $7–9, and AZEK $9–13, with a 30-year limited warranty on every line.

• Pros: best scratch resistance we’ve measured (10/10), best mold score in our damp corner (10/10), and PVC never cups.
• Cons: the hottest surface in direct sun (4/10) and the premium price — dark tones ran 15–25°F hotter than light ones.

Choose TimberTech when the deck sits in shade, gets heavy pet traffic, or wraps a pool. Materials for 400 sq ft run $3,600–$5,200 in AZEK, plus $300–$600 for hidden fasteners.

Fiberon: The Value Pick

Fiberon delivers most of the experience at a fraction of the price. GoodLife ($4–6 per sq ft) is an uncapped solid — the cheapest board we’ll install. Horizon ($7–9) and ArmorGuard ($7–9) add a protective cap layer. All carry a 25-year limited warranty.

• Pros: the lowest entry price of any brand we trust; capped lines score near Trex (7/10).
• Cons: fewer colors, weaker resale recognition, and uncapped GoodLife needs deeper cleaning in damp shade.

Choose Fiberon when the budget is tight: 400 sq ft in GoodLife runs $2,000–$2,400 — about $1,200 under the same deck in Trex Select.

Composite Decking Comparison Chart

Here’s the full scorecard on the best composite decking brands — every major line, priced and scored side by side. Scores are brand-level results from our three-year field test, on a 1–10 scale.

*Heat retention score: lower means cooler in full sun.

Two more brands deserve mention: MoistureShield ($6–8 per sq ft), a solid composite engineered for ground contact — the only board we’ll install at grade — and Deckorators’ Voyage ($8–10), the high-end challenger with a thick cap.

Which Brand Should You Buy?

The best deck boards for your site come down to four things: budget, climate, color, and resale.

• Budget: under $2,400 in material, Fiberon GoodLife; $2,400–$3,200, Trex Select or Fiberon Horizon; $3,200+, Trex Transcend or TimberTech AZEK.
• Hot climates: light-toned Trex or Fiberon — PVC and dark colors run 15–25°F hotter; for pool decks, our pool deck coating guide is worth a read.
• Damp climates: TimberTech AZEK won our mold test outright; Trex and Fiberon need an annual wash.
• Color priority: Trex Transcend’s 15-plus options win. Resale: the Trex name still moves houses.

Whichever of the best composite decking brands you pick, budget $300–$600 for hidden fasteners on 400 sq ft — every major warranty assumes them.

One client with nine years on Trex Select: “I’ve cleaned the gutters more often than the deck.” That’s the honest pitch for composite — if you buy from the brands above.

One more thing: no composite deck needs staining or sealing, ever — compare that with wood’s two-year refinish cycle in our deck staining vs sealing guide.

Regional Pricing: Canada & New Zealand

Prices above are USD. Canadian readers: multiply by about 1.35 — Fiberon GoodLife lands at $2,700–$3,240 CAD for 400 sq ft, Trex Select at $3,240–$3,780 CAD, and TimberTech AZEK at $4,860–$7,020 CAD. For New Zealand, apply about 1.65: Trex Select runs $3,960–$4,620 NZD. Trex and Fiberon are sold in New Zealand through importers and specialty dealers; TimberTech is harder to source — check with your dealer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which composite decking brand is best?

Trex Transcend is the best composite decking brand for most homeowners: solid core, 15-plus colors, a 25-year warranty, and the strongest resale name. TimberTech AZEK wins when scratch resistance and budget both matter; Fiberon is the value pick.

Is TimberTech better than Trex?

TimberTech AZEK beats Trex on scratch, mold, and warranty (30 vs 25 years) but costs more and runs hotter in full sun. Trex wins on colors, recognition, and price. It’s a trade-off, not a verdict.

What is the most expensive composite decking?

TimberTech AZEK premium tops the majors at $9–13 per sq ft, with Deckorators’ Voyage ($8–10) in the same bracket. On 400 sq ft, that’s $3,600–$5,200 before hidden fasteners.

Do composite decks fade?

Yes — every composite fades some, but capped boards hold color far better. In our 36-month test, uncapped GoodLife shifted noticeably while Transcend and AZEK kept their tone. Dark tones fade most and run 15–25°F hotter.

How much does composite decking cost for a 400 sq ft deck?

Materials: $2,000–$2,400 (Fiberon GoodLife), $2,400–$2,800 (Trex Select), $3,200–$4,400 (Trex Transcend), $3,600–$5,200 (TimberTech AZEK), plus $300–$600 for hidden fasteners. Labor runs $8–15 per sq ft.

Which composite decking has the best warranty?

TimberTech: a 30-year limited warranty on every line — the longest of the majors. Trex and Fiberon offer 25-year limited warranties. Fine print on fade and labor coverage varies by line and color.

Sources

• Trex — official site
• TimberTech (AZEK) — official site
• Fiberon — official site
• Deckorators — official site
• MoistureShield — official site