Helical Pile Cost & Helical Pier Cost (2026): Price per Pile
Helical pile cost runs $300 to $700 per pile for decks and $1,750 to $4,000 per pier for foundation repair. See 2026 prices by project, region and depth.
Helical pile cost in 2026 runs about $300 to $700 per pile installed for decks and $500 to $1,200 for additions, while helical pier cost for foundation repair is about $1,750 to $4,000 per pier (HomeGuide, Helical Anchors, Inc., Forbes Home). That puts a 6-pile deck at roughly $1,800 to $4,200 and a typical 5 to 10 pier house repair at $15,000 to $30,000.
Free tool: plug your pile count, depth and project type into our helical pile cost calculator for an instant installed estimate, and use the helical pier spacing calculator if you do not yet know how many piles you need.
Key takeaways
- Per pile (new work): $300 to $700 for decks, $500 to $1,200 for additions and light commercial, and $400 to $2,000 for lightly loaded new homes.
- Per pier (repair): $1,750 to $4,000 installed. Forbes Home averages $2,375; HomeGuide and Today's Homeowner put the typical pier near $3,000.
- Depth: quotes cover a standard depth. Extra shaft adds about $20 to $35 per foot, and up to $90 per foot on heavy commercial shafts.
- Region: published repair prices range from $900 to $1,400+ per pier in Dallas-Fort Worth to $2,200 to $2,700 in New Hampshire.
- Same product, same price: helical pier, helical pile and screw pile are names for the same steel foundation, so the label does not change the cost.
- Read the fine print: mobilization, permits, engineering, extensions and sales tax are often billed on top of the per-pile price.
Helical pile cost by project type
The biggest price driver is whether the pile goes into open ground for new work or under an existing, settling building. Repair piers need digging at the footing, a heavy retrofit bracket and often a controlled lift, which is why they cost several times more than a deck pile.
| Project type | Installed cost per pile (USD) | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Deck, porch or accessory structure | $300 to $700 | HomeGuide ($300 to $500), Helical Anchors, Inc. ($350 to $700) |
| Addition, sunroom or light commercial | $500 to $1,200 | Helical Anchors, Inc. |
| New home foundation (lightly loaded) | $400 to $2,000 | US Helical Piers |
| Foundation repair (underpinning) | $1,750 to $4,000 | Forbes Home, HomeGuide, Ram Jack |
| Commercial, 7 to 30 ft deep | $800 to $2,870 | Techno Metal Post Alaska price list |
| Marine, dock or boardwalk | $2,500 to $3,500 | Helical Anchors, Inc., Pearce Marine |
Helical Anchors, Inc. now groups all new construction (decks, additions and light structures) at $350 to $900 per pile, and notes that the steel itself is the smallest line on the invoice. The commercial row comes from one dealer price list: a heavy commercial pile is $800 with a 7 ft lead section, and extensions add $90 per foot, so a 30 ft pile comes to $800 + (23 x $90) = $2,870. Techno Metal Post describes the same spread from the manufacturer side: a few hundred dollars for a deck or addition pile, and several thousand for a pile under a five-story building. For lightly loaded houses, our guide to helical piles for new home construction covers design, codes and cost in detail.
Cost by project: four worked examples
The table below multiplies cited unit prices by a realistic pile count. Pile counts are planning assumptions; the real number comes from the deck span tables or the engineer's layout, which you can rough out with the spacing calculator.
| Project | Assumed piles | Math (cited unit prices) | Estimated installed cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 x 16 ft freestanding deck | 6 (two beams, three posts each) | 6 x $300 to $700 | $1,800 to $4,200 |
| 400 sq ft (20 x 20 ft) addition | 10 (80 ft perimeter at about 8 ft spacing) | 10 x $500 to $1,200, plus 5 ft extra depth each at $20 to $35 per ft, plus engineer $300 to $600 | $6,300 to $14,350 |
| 40 ft of foundation repair | 7 (piers 7 ft apart, plus one at the end) | 7 x $1,750 to $4,000, plus engineer $300 to $600, plus permit $600 to $3,600 | $13,150 to $32,200 |
| Small commercial building | 20 heavy piles at 20 ft | 20 x ($800 + 13 ft x $90) | About $39,400 |
12 x 16 deck
A deck needs one helical pile under each post. Two beams with three posts each gives 6 piles; a deck attached to the house with a ledger may need only one beam and 3 piles, which halves the pile cost. Unit prices are from HomeGuide ($300 to $500) and Helical Anchors, Inc. ($350 to $700). Small jobs are where trip fees and minimums bite, so check those first. See helical piles for decks for post spacing.
400 sq ft addition
A 20 x 20 ft addition has an 80 ft perimeter. At about 8 ft between piles that is 10 piles at $500 to $1,200 each, or $5,000 to $12,000. If each pile needs 5 ft past the standard depth, extensions add $1,000 to $1,750 at $20 to $35 per ft (HomeGuide, Forbes Home). A structural engineer's inspection adds $300 to $600 (Today's Homeowner). Permit fees are set locally and are not included.
40 ft of foundation repair
Repair piers are usually set every 5 to 7 ft along a settling wall (Acculevel). For a straight 40 ft run at 7 ft spacing, 40 / 7 rounds up to 6, plus one pier at the end makes 7 piers; at 5 ft spacing it becomes 9. Seven piers at $1,750 to $4,000 is $12,250 to $28,000. HomeGuide puts foundation permit fees at $600 to $3,600, and Today's Homeowner adds $1,000 to $2,000 if a soil report is needed. As a real-world check, 7 piers at the published New Hampshire rate of $2,700 for the first three and $2,200 after comes to $16,900 (603 Basement Solutions). Read more on helical piers for foundation repair.
Small commercial building
Using the Techno Metal Post Alaska commercial pile ($800 with a 7 ft lead, $90 per extra foot), a 20 ft pile costs $800 + (13 x $90) = $1,970, and 20 piles cost about $39,400. Shallower bearing soil (7 ft) would drop that to $16,000; 30 ft piles would raise it to $57,400. Large pile counts usually earn a lower unit price, and commercial work adds design, load testing and inspection costs set by the project.
Cost per foot of depth
Installers price each pile up to a standard depth, then charge for extensions until the helix reaches the target torque. That makes depth to firm soil the main swing factor on any quote. Typical residential piers go 10 to 30 ft deep (HomeGuide); our guide on how deep helical piles go explains why.
| Item | Published rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Extra depth beyond standard (repair) | $20 to $25+ per ft | HomeGuide, Helical Anchors, Inc. |
| Extra depth beyond standard | About $25 per ft | Acculevel |
| Extra depth beyond standard | $25 to $35 per ft | Forbes Home |
| Steel shaft material only | $15 to $30 per ft | HomeGuide, Forbes Home |
| Extensions by shaft size (residential to commercial) | $35, $50, $60 and $90 per ft | Techno Metal Post Alaska |
As a rule of thumb, PierTech cites about $30 per linear foot, or roughly $600 for a 20 ft pier, before brackets, labor and engineering. Ask whether a contractor offers a "no depth clause"; HomeGuide describes it as a promise not to raise the per-pier price if piers go deeper than estimated.
Helical pier cost by region
Prices move with labor rates, frost depth and soil. Deep frost lines and soft soils push piles deeper, and remote sites add equipment transport (HomeGuide, Forbes Home). These are published installer prices, so they show real local numbers rather than national averages.
| Region | Published price | Work type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire, southern Maine, NE Massachusetts | $2,700 per pier for the first three, $2,200 after; typical job $12,000 to $18,000 | Foundation repair | 603 Basement Solutions |
| Long Island, New York | $300 to $500 per pile; $2,500 to $3,500 for marine | New construction and docks | Pearce Marine |
| Midwest (Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and nearby states) | $1,750 to $2,200 per pier machine-dug; $1,900 to $2,700 hand-dug | Foundation repair | Acculevel |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas | $900 to $1,400+ per pier | Foundation repair | Black Beard Foundation Repair |
| Houston, Texas | $1,500 to $4,000 per pier | Foundation repair | Two Brothers Foundation Repair, Ram Jack Houston ($2,000 to $4,000) |
| Interior Alaska | $450 to $800 per pile with a 7 ft lead, before extensions | New construction | Techno Metal Post Alaska |
Even within one state the spread is wide: published Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston repair prices differ by more than $2,000 per pier at the top end. A low unit price can come with more piers or a shallower standard depth, so compare pier count, depth and the per-foot extension rate, not only the price per pier. We found no current published per-pile price lists from West Coast or Mountain West installers, so get local quotes there.
Screw pile cost in Canada
In Canada the same product is usually called a screw pile, and most residential work is decks, sunrooms and additions. Published prices run from about CAD $200 to $350 per deck pile (HomeStars) up to $735 for a 4-1/2 in, 15 ft pile supplied and installed (DR Piles). In Toronto, GAMCON quotes $300 to $500 per deck pile plus $500 to $800 mobilization, and the City of Toronto deck permit is a flat $214.79 in 2026. For province-by-province prices, frost depths and sales tax, see our screw pile cost in Canada guide.
Helical vs push pier vs concrete pier cost
For foundation repair, helical piers usually cost a little more per pier than steel push piers and more than concrete piers, though the ranges overlap.
| Pier type | Forbes Home average | Today's Homeowner range | Titan Products range | Ram Jack average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helical pier | $2,375 | $2,500 to $3,500 | $1,200 to $3,000 | $2,000 to $4,000 |
| Steel push pier | $1,500 | $1,500 to $2,500 | $1,500 to $3,500 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
| Concrete pier | $1,000 | $2,000 to $3,000 | Not listed | Not listed |
Sources: Forbes Home, Today's Homeowner, Titan Products, Ram Jack (helical vs steel pressed pilings). In Dallas-Fort Worth the same order holds at lower prices: pressed concrete $375 to $700, steel $700 to $1,100 and helical $900 to $1,400+ per pier (Black Beard). Push piers rely on the building's weight to drive them, so they suit heavier structures; helical piers suit lighter homes and new work.
For decks, a poured footing is cheaper in materials (about $70 plus $30 to $230 to install, per Rise; CAD $150 to $300 per sonotube footing, per HomeStars), but it needs digging and cure time. Over water, Pearce Marine prices timber pilings at $1,500 to $2,500 against $2,500 to $3,500 for helical piles. Compare in more depth: helical vs push piers, helical piles vs concrete and helical piles vs drilled piers.
Mobilization fees and minimums
A track machine with a hydraulic drive head costs the same to bring to site whether it installs four piles or forty. Installers recover that cost in one of three ways:
- A flat mobilization charge: about CAD $500 to $800 on compact Toronto jobs (GAMCON).
- Trip or mileage fees: one Alaska dealer adds $200 or $350 per day for remote towns (Techno Metal Post Alaska), and DR Piles bills mileage on top of its list prices.
- A minimum pile count: the same Alaska dealer requires at least 10 piles per job.
The flip side is volume. Pearce Marine notes that projects with more than 30 piles often see a lower per-pile rate because the setup cost is spread further.
What a helical pile quote includes, and what it often leaves out
Published price lists show what a per-pile price normally covers. Use this checklist to line up bids so you compare the same scope.
Usually included in the per-pile price
- The pile itself to the standard depth (often a 7 ft lead section on new-construction price lists)
- A bracket or cap: an adjustable or fixed bracket (Techno Metal Post Alaska), or a galvanized pile with an adjustable bracket (DR Piles)
- Installation with a hydraulic drive head, and labor (HomeGuide puts labor at $500 to $2,000+ per repair pier)
- An installation report or torque log for every pile; one Alaska list also includes a frost protection sleeve
Often billed separately
- Extensions past the standard depth, priced per foot or per section
- Mobilization, mileage, trip fees and minimum pile counts
- Engineering: a structural engineer ($300 to $600) and a soil report ($1,000 to $2,000) per Today's Homeowner; HomeGuide puts geotechnical reports at $1,000 to $5,000
- Permits: $600 to $3,600 for foundation work (HomeGuide), or a flat local fee for decks
- Hand-dig or tight-access work: $200 to $500 more per pier (HomeGuide); one Alaska dealer adds $250 for indoor or low-clearance installs
- Yard restoration ($50 to $100 per hour, HomeGuide), crack repair and drainage
- Sales tax and card fees (the Alaska list adds 4% on credit card payments)
GAMCON also advises asking each bidder to state the bracket type, permit handling, warranty coverage, engineer certification and timeline in writing.
Financing and warranties
Financing. Large repair jobs are often financed. Ram Jack says it offers financing options, and Two Brothers Foundation Repair in Houston offers payment plans. Today's Homeowner lists in-house contractor financing, personal loans (it cites 6% to 36% interest, usually capped near $50,000), home equity loans and HELOCs (5% to 9%), cash-out refinancing and credit cards (15% to 30%). Rates change, so treat these as a snapshot and compare the annual percentage rate on every offer. Today's Homeowner also notes that homeowners insurance usually does not cover foundation repair unless the damage came from a sudden, covered event.
Warranties. Warranty length varies widely by installer, so it belongs in the price comparison:
- Ram Jack offers a limited lifetime transferable warranty backed by a dealer warranty trust.
- Acculevel describes a transferable life-of-structure warranty on helical piers.
- 603 Basement Solutions offers a 25-year engineered-performance warranty that can transfer to a new owner if the work is not altered.
- Postech installs carry a limited lifetime warranty against frost heave when done by a certified dealer.
Ask whether the warranty covers materials, workmanship or both, whether it transfers when you sell, and what happens if the installer closes. Get the full warranty document before you sign.
How to save money on helical piers
- Get three written bids with the same scope, as HomeGuide recommends, so per-foot and mobilization terms can be compared.
- Clear access before the crew arrives. Machine installs avoid hand-dig surcharges.
- Combine work such as a deck, steps and a shed pad into one visit, so one mobilization covers more piles.
- Book outside peak season. HomeStars notes deck contractors are busiest from late May through August.
- Use local soil knowledge. HomeGuide notes an experienced local installer may not need a geotechnical report where codes allow, though skipping it adds risk.
- Do not oversize. Ask the engineer to match shaft size to the load, since larger shafts and helices cost more (Techno Metal Post).
Find a helical pile installer near you
Prices are local, so the best number is a written quote. Start with an estimate from the cost calculator, then find a helical pile installer in your state or province. Before you sign, use our checklist on how to hire a helical pile contractor and review helical pile permits and building codes. More free tools are on the tools page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a helical pile cost?
About $300 to $700 per pile installed for decks, $500 to $1,200 for additions and $400 to $2,000 for lightly loaded new homes. Foundation repair piers cost more, about $1,750 to $4,000 each.
How much do helical piers cost per pier for foundation repair?
About $1,750 to $4,000 installed, with averages of $2,375 (Forbes Home) to about $3,000 (HomeGuide, Today's Homeowner). Most homes need 5 to 10 piers, or $15,000 to $30,000.
How much does it cost to put a deck on helical piles?
At $300 to $700 per pile, a 6-pile freestanding 12 x 16 deck costs about $1,800 to $4,200 for the piles. Small jobs may add a mobilization or mileage charge.
What is the cost per foot for helical piles?
Extra depth usually adds $20 to $35 per foot, and up to $90 per foot for large commercial shafts. Raw shaft material alone runs about $15 to $30 per foot.
Are helical piers cheaper than concrete or push piers?
Not on the per-pier price. Forbes Home averages $2,375 for helical, $1,500 for steel push piers and $1,000 for concrete piers, but helical piles skip excavation and cure time, which narrows the gap on new work.
Can I install helical piles myself to save money?
Small DIY helical posts cost about $45 to $50 each (HomeGuide), but structural piles need a hydraulic drive head and torque records. See our guide to DIY helical piles.
Last reviewed October 2026 by the Helical Pile USA editorial team. Found an error? Tell us.
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