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Dock cost = deck area × price per square foot for the type, plus any boat lift ($1,000–$15,000) or boathouse ($10,000–$50,000+). Floating docks run about $15–$35 per sq ft and fixed piling docks $20–$40 (HomeAdvisor, 2026). Worked example: a 40 × 6 ft walkway with a 10 × 12 ft platform is 360 sq ft, so about $5,400–$12,600 floating or $7,200–$14,400 fixed.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated dock cost | $5,400 – $12,600 |
| Dock surface | 360 sq ft |
| Floating dock only | $5,400 – $12,600 |
| Decking boards for the surface | 832 lin ft of 5.5 in boards (105 rows, 10% waste) |
| Dock | 360 sq ft × $15–$35 |
Most permanent docks need a permit, and work below the high-water line often needs state or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval. Water depth, bottom type and how far a barge or crew must travel move pile costs a lot; get two local quotes.
Docks are priced by the square foot of deck surface: about $15–$35 per sq ft for a floating dock and $20–$40 for a fixed piling dock, materials and labour included (HomeAdvisor, 2026). Enter the walkway and the platform at the end, choose the type and any boat lift or boathouse, and the calculator gives the cost range and the linear feet of decking boards for the surface.
HomeAdvisor's 2026 figures put the average at $15,048, with most docks between $4,074 and $26,021. By the square foot, floating docks run about $15–$35 and fixed piling docks $20–$40, materials and labour included.
Usually, per square foot: $15–$35 for floating against $20–$40 for fixed. Floating docks rise and fall with the water and need no pile driving, but they move underfoot and need anchoring; fixed docks suit shallow, stable water levels.
A 40 × 6 ft walkway alone is 240 sq ft: about $3,600–$8,400 floating or $4,800–$9,600 fixed. Add a 10 × 12 ft platform and it's about $5,400–$12,600 floating.
About $1,000 for a small manual lift for a personal watercraft up to $15,000 for a motorized lift for a large boat, installed. A covered boathouse adds $10,000–$50,000 or more.
Boards usually run across the walkway. Divide the length in inches by 5.75 (a 5.5 in board plus its gap) for the rows; each row is as long as the dock is wide. The 40 × 6 ft walkway with a 10 × 12 ft platform needs about 832 linear feet with 10% waste.
Almost always for a permanent dock. Expect local zoning or shoreline rules and, on navigable water, state environmental and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits. Ask before you order materials.
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