How much do helical piers cost?
How much do helical piers cost?
$2,000 – $4,000 average cost per pier (foundation repairs / structural damage)
$300 – $500 average cost per pier (new deck installation)
Average helical piers cost
Helical piers or helical piles cost $2,000 to $4,000 per pier installed on average, with most people spending about $3,000 per pier to fix a settling or sinking foundation. The total project cost and number of piers needed depend on the location, soil type, accessibility, damage extent, and the structure size and weight.
The cost of helical piers for structural damage repair is often significantly more than installations in new constructions, which are less common. The helical pier cost for a new deck is $300 to $500 per pier installed.
| Number of piers | Average cost installed* |
|---|---|
| 3 | $6,000 – $12,000 |
| 4 | $8,000 – $16,000 |
| 5 | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| 6 | $12,000 – $24,000 |
| 8 | $16,000 – $32,000 |
| 10 | $20,000 – $40,000 |
| 15 | $30,000 – $60,000 |
*Average installed cost for foundation repair projects.
Helical piers are also called screw piles, helical piles, screw piers, ground anchors, screw anchors, and torque anchors.
Contractors typically charge per pier rather than per linear foot for helical piers unless the job requires piers deeper than the area's typical requirements.
The typical spacing of helical piers is every 5 to 8 feet, depending on the project and purpose.
What are helical piers, and how do they work?
Helical piers are galvanized steel shafts with one or more helix-shaped plates welded to the base. Hydraulic machinery screws the piers into load-bearing soil below the frost line. A bracket anchors these helical piles to a structure's foundation footing, providing support and lift if needed.
Helical piers have the following characteristics and benefits:
They provide a permanent solution to a settling or sinking foundation.
They can support small or heavy loads and require minimal excavation to install.
They come in many sizes and load-bearing capacities. Lengths range from 3' to 20' and diameters range from 8" to 14" in most cases.
Extensions allow for installations up to 100+ feet deep if necessary to reach load-bearing soil.
Helical pier installation cost factors
The biggest contributors to the cost of helical pier installation are the number, size, and depth of piers required. Several factors determine exactly how many piers you need and how much time and labor the job will require:
Foundation repair vs. new construction: Installing helical piers for new construction projects costs much less than using them for existing foundation underpinning and repair, which requires additional excavation and usually involves other repair costs.
Depth: Contractors typically charge a flat price per pier up to a standard depth and add $20 to $25+ per foot for depths beyond that. Standard depths vary depending on the typical soil conditions of the area.
Location & accessibility:
Projects in remote areas incur extra costs for the transportation of equipment and materials. Helical pier pricing in the U.S. also varies by region.
Hard-to-access locations or tight spaces make pier installation more difficult and time-consuming, raising labor costs. Installers charge $200 to $500 more per pier for piers they have to dig by hand instead of machine.
Damage severity: When repairing an existing settled or failed foundation, the degree of damage impacts the number of helical piers needed.
Structure size and weight: Bigger, more complex structures need more helical piers to provide adequate underpinning support. The structure's weight also plays a role in determining the pier size and torque requirements.
Soil type & quality: Poor soil conditions like expansive clay or rock require longer, deeper piers and specialty drilling equipment, driving up material and labor costs.
Climate: The area's frost line, or frost depth, affects how deep the helical piers need to be for proper structural support.
Hire a company that offers a "no depth clause" option whenever possible. This option means they agree not to increase your quoted price per pier if the project ends up requiring deeper piers than they initially estimated.
Materials
Material costs for helical pile installation total $1,500 to $2,000 per pier on average, including the helical piles themselves, attachment brackets, hydraulic installation equipment, and any additional concrete or grout required. Helical piers come in different gauges, which also impacts the cost.
Helical piers alone cost $15 to $30 per liner foot on average.
Most residential project depth requirements range from 10 to 30 feet.
Labor
Hiring an experienced helical pier installation crew costs $500 to $2000+ per pier, making up a significant portion of the total job cost. More complex or hard-to-access projects take longer and increase labor expenses.
Additional labor costs often include:
A geotechnical engineer charges $30 to $100 per hour, or $1,000 to $5,000 total on average, for a geotechnical report to confirm the ground's safety and stability and determine the depth and torque requirements.
Landscaping costs $50 to $100 per hour to return the area to its original appearance if the contractors need to remove any plants or shrubs to complete the repair.
Building permit fees range from $600 to $3,600 for foundation work.
A local foundation contractor with knowledge of the soil type and depth requirements in your area may not need a geotechnical survey. Skipping the survey—if local regulations allow it—reduces your upfront costs, but it also increases the risk of surprise costs during the installation, so budget accordingly.
Additional project costs
If your helical pier installation is part of a foundation repair, potential additional costs to consider include:
Foundation crack repairs cost $200 to $800 each.
Basement waterproofing costs $6 to $15 per square foot.
Crawl space encapsulation costs $3 to $7 per square foot.
Concrete sealing costs $1 to $3 per square foot.
Helical piers for decks
Helical piers for decks cost $300 to $500 each, including installation. Though typically pricier than concrete, helical piers offer a sound, level deck foundation, even on steep grades or hills where poured concrete footings would be impractical. Their deep anchoring also provides better resistance to wind uplift and lateral movement compared to shallower footings.
DIY helical piers
Smaller, DIY-friendly helical piers, or helical posts, cost $45 to $50+ each and are available online or in local home improvement stores. These posts are suitable only for smaller projects and claim to support 3,500 to 5,000 pounds, depending on the soil conditions.
IMPORTANT: Check local building requirements to make sure these helical posts are acceptable for your project.
Push piers vs. helical piers
Both push piers and helical piers are made of steel and considered permanent foundational support. However, certain characteristics make one more suitable than the other for different situations. Push piers use the weight of the structure to keep them in place, while helical piers rely on high-density soil, or stratum.
| Factor | Helical piers | Push piers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $$$ | $$ |
| Installation | Screwed into the ground, can be straight or angled | Pushed into the ground like a nail, cannot be installed at an angle |
| Common soil type | Unstable soil, sandy soil, deep bedrock | Clay soil, rocky soil, shallow bedrock |
| Ideal for | Lighter structures (residential homes up to 2 stories), homes without concrete footings or walls | Large or heavy buildings with poured concrete footings and walls (commercial buildings, residential homes with more than 2 stories) |
| Foundation impact | Does not stress the foundation | May put stress on the foundation |
Helical piers cost vs. concrete footings
Though sometimes more expensive initially, helical piers often provide stronger, longer-lasting support with minimal site disruption. Standard concrete footings cost less up front but are more invasive to install, require more time and material for excavation, and may not provide adequate support in certain soil conditions.
Helical piers work better for some situations, while concrete footings work better in others. Talk to an experienced local foundation contractor to determine which may be the best choice for your project or repair.
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FAQs about helical piers
How many helical piers do I need?
The number of required helical piers depends on the size and weight of the supported structure. A small deck may only need 3 helical piers, while a typical residential home foundation often needs 5 to 10 piers. Most contractors follow the manufacturer's specifications and guidelines based on load calculations.
How deep do helical piers go?
Typical helical pier depths range from 10 to 30 feet below the soil. However, installations can go as shallow as 3 feet or as deep as 100+ feet, depending on the soil conditions and the depth required to reach load-bearing soil.
How long does helical pier installation take?
Most residential helical pier installations can be completed by an experienced crew in 1 to 4 days once equipment and materials are on-site. Larger commercial projects or more complex residential repairs may take a week or more.
Can you install helical piers yourself?
Aside from the small helical posts that you can buy at local home improvement stores, installing helical piers is not a DIY-friendly project. Proper installation requires specialized training and equipment, as well as a structural engineer's expertise, to confirm the correct depth and torque.
Getting estimates for helical pier installation
Here are some guidelines to follow when getting quotes from foundation contractors near you for helical pier installation:
Get at least 3 bids from reputable contractors with proof they are licensed, bonded, and insured.
Look for companies focused on helical piers specifically.
Confirm they are certified by the manufacturer for installation.
Check out their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Ask for local references you can contact for feedback.
Ask for a detailed estimate breaking down all the costs so you can compare quotes with similar details.
Ask for a written contract that includes all costs, warranty information, and a project timeline.
Work out a payment schedule and only make the final payment once the job is complete.
Questions to ask a contractor
Ask these questions to help you budget accurately and hire the best contractor for your project requirements:
Are you licensed and insured to install helical piers in this area?
Are all the installers manufacturer-trained and certified?
How many helical pier projects has your company completed?
What type of warranty do you provide on materials and labor?
Will you provide structural load calculations and stamped drawings?
How will you protect my property during the installation process?
Does the estimate include all labor, materials, permit fees, cleanup, and replacing landscaping if you need to remove it during the repair?
Does the contract include a no-depth clause?
How do you handle unexpected damage if any occurs during the installation?
Do I need to vacate the house during the installation?
How long do you expect the project to take?
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.