How Much Does It Cost to Install a Boat Dock per Square Foot?
It will cost between $15 and $40 per square foot to build a boat dock. Since many docks are about the same width, you may pay based on linear foot, or how far out the dock extends. In that case, the average pier would cost $100 per linear foot.
What Kind of Boat Dock Can I Get on My Budget?
If you have a budget for your dock and just want to know what you’ll get for it, this quick breakdown might help.
$1,000
This is the super low end of what you're likely to pay for a boat dock. For this amount, you could build a small floating dock, or buy a prefabricated aluminum pipe dock.
$4,000
This is closer to the more typical range of boat docks, although still on the low end. For this, you should be able to get a relatively small permanent piling dock.
$15,000
This is the average price of building a dock. This most likely applies to a permanent dock, as it's higher than you'd likely pay even for the most expensive pipe dock. This would pay for about 500 square feet of a piling dock, so you would get a pretty substantial dock for this price.
$30,000
This is the higher end of the typical price range. In this case, you could afford a very large piling dock with premium wood, or even a mid-range crib dock.
$75,000
This is the most you'll probably pay for a dock, and that's if you get a large crib dock with high-end materials. However, suspension docks are a wild card because they require extensive engineering, which may exceed even this price tag.
Building a Boat Dock Cost Breakdown
Building a boat dock is not as simple as buying some nails and wood. There are also pilings (in the case of permanent docks), stone in many cases, and extras such as ladders and ramps.
This cost breakdown, according to HomeAdvisor, will give you a sense of what materials may be needed and what you’ll pay:
Piling: $10–$15 per foot
Drums or floats: $75–$400 each
Ladder: $100–$600 each
Bumper: $50–$100 each
Ramp: $500–$1,000 plus
Mooring whips: $300–$500 each
Decking: $4–$40 per sq. ft.
Boat lift: $1,000–$15,000 each
Boathouse: $10,000–$50,000 plus
Labor Cost
Generally, you should expect that half of your costs will go toward labor. So if you received a quote for $10,000 from a dock construction company, about $5,000 of that will be labor costs, and the rest will go toward materials.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Boat Dock by Type?
There are five main types of boat docks: floating docks, piling docks, pipe docks, crib docks, and suspended docks. Each dock type has its own price tag and benefits.
Floating
A floating dock isn't supported by pier pilings; it simply floats on the surface of the water. Therefore, installation costs will be much lower. This type of dock costs between $15 and $35 per square foot, which doesn't seem much lower than other docks, but keep in mind floating docks tend to be much smaller overall.
Piling
A dock that is built on pilings, or large wooden pillars driven into the ground, is sturdy and long-lasting. It’ll cost you between $20 to $40 per square foot to build.
Crib
These docks are similar to piling docks in that they are permanent, but a contractor builds them in a different way: They pour rock into a “crib” made of wood to create small islands to support the dock. These will cost you between $10,000 and $50,000.
Pipe
Pipe docks are generally prefabricated and constructed with aluminum pipes. These docks are easy to assemble and move to a different location (although they aren't as durable) and will cost you between $1,000 and $10,000.
Suspended
A suspension dock is essentially a dock that can be raised and lowered like a drawbridge. This makes them pretty expensive to produce as you'll need to hire an engineer to get one installed. In terms of cost, it's on a case-to-case basis and there isn't really a range.
What Factors Influence the Cost to Build a Boat Dock?
A lot of factors impact the final price tag of a boat dock. Generally, they fall into four main categories: materials, size, type, and location.
Materials
There are many different types of wood to choose from for a boat dock. Some types of wood, like cedar, will cost you as little as $4 per square foot, while exotic hardwoods will run you up to $25 per square foot. Composite and aluminum can go even higher at $30 to $40 per square foot.
Size
Docks can range widely in terms of size. If you just want a simple platform in some shallow water, it will be much less expensive than a large, sturdy dock that extends dozens of feet out from shore. The cost of docks is often expressed in square feet, so the bigger it is, the exponentially more expensive it gets.
Type
You may pay just $15 per square foot for a floating dock, meaning a 10-by-10-foot dock would cost just $1,500. Meanwhile, a large crib dock could run you up to $50,000.
Location
If you're building a permanent dock, the location matters. Are you building into relatively shallow water, and is the ground easy to dig? That's one thing. But if you're building into deep, rocky terrain, it gets a lot more challenging (and expensive).
Groundwork
You’ll pay more for your boat dock if you have to do any groundwork prior to starting this project. This includes leveling, foundation digging, and landscaping.
Permits
Check with your local city and state to find out what permits are required in order to build a boat dock. The price you’ll pay for these varies by location.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Boat Dock Yourself?
Considering the fact that labor takes up about half the cost of any boat dock project, you can determine the cost to build one yourself by taking the price tags quoted above and halving it. That means all you'd be on the hook for is materials.
However, before you start watching YouTube videos on how to build a dock, consider the risks. For one thing, a poorly constructed dock can be dangerous. Also, if you don't do the job right, the dock may collapse under its own weight, or just give in to wear and tear years earlier than a professionally built dock. This could cost you big money.
Instead, contact a dock builder in your area for a consultation. They can take a look at the area where you want to put the dock and identify any potential complications. Then, they can provide you with a quote, which may be less than you were expecting. At the very least, it will give you peace of mind that you considered all options.
