Boat lift cost calculator: size and installed price
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Boat lift cost calculator
Free · no sign-up| Item | Typical | Low–high |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical (4-post), electric lift, 5,000 lb Where the type range ($5,000–$18,000) and the size range ($4,000–$9,000) overlap | $7,000 | $5,000–$9,000 |
| Installation, standard job $1,500–$3,500+, pilings and electrical extra | $2,500 | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Electrical run, 50 ft $6–$8/ft, $200 minimum | $350 | $300–$400 |
| Permit $50–$300 for a lift permit | $180 | $50–$300 |
| Total | $10,000 | $6,900–$13,200 |
The old rule of about $1,500 per ton lifted (published in 2021) puts a 5,000-lb lift’s hardware at $3,750, below the $5,000–$9,000 range used here. The rule predates today’s published prices.
Lift types for your site
- CantileverGood fit
The simplest, lowest-cost option for a light boat in shallow water.
- Vertical (4-post)Good fit
Handles a wide range of boats and depths.
- Floating / drive-onPossible
Attaches to a dock, ideally a floating one.
- HydraulicPoor fit
Mounts to pilings or a seawall, not the bottom.
- ElevatorPoor fit
Rails mount to a seawall or pilings.
- PWC / jet skiPoor fit
Rated for personal watercraft (about 1,200–2,000 lb).
Rules of thumb from how each type works. A lift dealer who sees your site has the final say.
Add this lift to your dock plan
Place the lift beside your dock in the free designer, then take one drawing to lift dealers and builders.
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Planning ranges from the published US sources below, checked October 2026. Lift prices are hardware only; installation, pilings, wiring, canopy and permits are separate lines. Not a quote.
How this estimate works
1. Lift size
× 1.2 safety margin → next lift size up
ShoreMaster adds 500 lb for “everything else” (people, coolers, gear) and a 20% safety margin, sizing up between lift sizes[1]. For a PWC the allowance starts at 0; enter what you keep aboard. Size steps differ by maker, so buy a lift whose own rating covers the number. Take dry weight from the boat’s spec sheet, not a guess from its length.
2. Hardware price
Two published ranges apply, by type and by capacity; we use where they overlap. A 5,000-lb powered vertical lift sits where $5,000–$18,000 (type) meets $4,000–$9,000 (size): $5,000–$9,000. With no overlap, we show the type range and say so.
| Lift type | Price used | Typical use and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Cantilever | $1,500–$6,000 | Shallow, calm freshwater. BoatSupply’s 2021 range is $1,600–$3,500.[2,4] |
| Vertical (4-post), manual | $2,500–$8,000 | Manual: small boats and PWCs. Powered: canals and coastal docks. [2,3] |
| Vertical (4-post), powered | $5,000–$18,000+ | Canals and coastal docks.[2,3] |
| Hydraulic | $10,000–$25,000+ | Heavy boats, frequent use. [2,3] |
| Elevator | $8,000–$20,000 | The only published range we found is from 2021.[4] |
| Floating / drive-on | $6,000–$25,000 | Lakes with seasonal swings. Front-mount lifts (HydroHoist) are a drive-on type sold through dealers with no published price.[2] |
| PWC / jet ski | $1,500–$4,000 | Jet skis and PWCs. RGC Marine’s 2026 range is higher, $2,500–$8,000+.[2,5] |
| Capacity | Typical boats | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1,200–2,000 lb | Jet skis, PWCs | $1,500–$4,000[2] |
| 4,000–6,000 lb | Bass boats, small bowriders | $4,000–$9,000[2] |
| 7,000–10,000 lb | Pontoons, wake boats | $7,000–$15,000[2] |
| 12,000–16,000 lb | Center consoles, cruisers | $12,000–$25,000[2] |
| 20,000+ lb | Offshore boats, yachts | $20,000–$35,000+[2] |
Between bands (for example 3,000 lb or 11,000 lb) we interpolate each end of the price range in a straight line between the neighboring bands.
3. Installation
| Job | When we pick it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | A manual lift freestanding on the bottom, or set on an existing dock or pilings. | $500–$2,000[5] |
| Standard | A powered or floating lift, or any lift on a seawall. | $1,500–$3,500+[5] |
| Complex | Hydraulic and elevator lifts, lifts over 16,000 lb, or new pilings. | $3,000–$5,000+[5] |
Others agree on the low end: Boatzon $500–$3,000[2], Hewitt $500–$3,000+[6], DockPermitGuide $800–$1,500 basic or $1,500–$3,500 with electrical[7]. Which tier applies is our rule, shown in the calculator; override it if your installer says otherwise.
4. Extras
5. The cross-check
An older rule of thumb puts lifts at about $1,500 per ton lifted[4]. It dates from 2021, so we show it beside your estimate, not in it; today’s ranges usually come out higher.
Worked examples
| Boat and set-up | Lift size | All-in range | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,200 lb dry, 40 gal · powered vertical, freestanding, 50 ft power run, permit, contractor | 5,000 lb | $6,900–$13,200 | $10,000 |
| PWC: 800 lb dry, 18 gal (no gear allowance) · PWC lift on an existing dock, DIY, no permit | 1,200 lb | $1,500–$4,000 | $2,800 |
| Center console: 5,500 lb dry, 100 gal · hydraulic on 4 new pilings, salt water, canopy, 80 ft power run, permit | 8,000 lb | $18,100–$36,300 | $27,200 |
Rounded to the nearest $100. For the center console, the pilings ($3,400–$7,400) and canopy ($1,200–$8,000) add $4,600–$15,400 on their own.
Which lift suits your water
The calculator rates each type for your site from how the types work and the uses Boatzon lists: cantilevers for shallow, calm freshwater; floating lifts for seasonal swings; hydraulic for heavy boats used often[2]. Elevator lifts ride rails on a seawall or pilings; front-mount lifts are HydroHoist’s dealer-priced drive-on lifts for boats of about 5,000–6,500 lb[11]. A dealer who sees the site has the final say.
More on prices in the boat lift cost guide and the installation cost guide. Building the dock too? Price it with the dock cost calculator and draw both in the free dock designer.
Boat lift cost questions
What size boat lift do I need?
How much does it cost to install a boat lift?
How much is a jet ski (PWC) lift?
What does a front-mount boat lift cost?
Is “$1,500 per ton” still a good rule?
Can I install a boat lift myself?
Put the lift on the plan.
Draw your dock and lift in the free designer, then take one drawing to lift dealers and builders.
Sources
- 1.ShoreMaster — Determining boat lift capacity. Dry weight + gallons of fuel × 6 + 500 lb for everything else; a 20% safety margin, sizing up between lift sizes (accessed Oct 2026)
- 2.Boatzon — Boat lift cost 2026: prices, install fees & savings. Hardware-only prices by lift type and by capacity; install typically $500–$3,000 (September 30, 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- 3.RGC Marine — How much does a boat lift cost? A comprehensive guide. Manual vertical $2,500–$8,000, powered $5,000–$18,000+, hydraulic $10,000–$25,000+, canopy $3,000–$8,000+ (accessed Oct 2026)
- 4.BoatSupply — How much do boat lifts cost?. About $1,500 per ton lifted; cantilever $1,600–$3,500; elevator $8,000–$20,000 (June 2, 2021) (accessed Oct 2026)
- 5.RGC Marine (press release via Yahoo Finance) — Boat lift and dock costs in 2026. Installation: simple $500–$2,000, standard $1,500–$3,500+, complex $3,000–$5,000+; new pilings and electrical extra (March 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- 6.Hewitt — How much does a boat lift cost?. Installation $500–$3,000+ (accessed Oct 2026)
- 7.DockPermitGuide — Boat lift cost. Install $800–$1,500 basic, $1,500–$3,500 with electrical; canopy $1,200–$3,500; lift permits $50–$300 (accessed Oct 2026)
- 8.Fixr — How much does it cost to build a dock?. Per-sq-ft cost by dock type and decking material, and add-on prices (page updated January 31, 2025) (accessed Oct 2026)
- 9.ThePricer — Boat lift cost. New pilings $850–$1,850 each (coastal North Carolina figures) (accessed Oct 2026)
- 10.Honc Marine — Cost of installing a boat lift. Installed all-in $4,000–$20,000+; a 10,000-lb boat $10,000–$18,000 (Southwest Florida) (accessed Oct 2026)
- 11.Boat Lift Warehouse — Front mount boat lifts. HydroHoist Front Mount drive-on lifts for boats of about 5,000–6,500 lb; price from dealers (accessed Oct 2026)
Prices checked October 2026. They are planning ranges, not quotes.