How Much Does a Sea Wall Cost to Build in 2025?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

Owning waterfront property means planning for a sea wall. Most homeowners spend between $15,000 and $60,000 or an average of $25,000 to build a sea wall, depending on location, wall height, and materials. Setting a realistic budget—and hiring a licensed marine contractor—helps you build a tough, long-lasting barrier that keeps erosion and storm damage at bay.

Sea Wall Cost Factors

Sea wall construction fees vary from place to place and state to state. Some of the main cost factors include:

• Materials

• Saltwater costing up to twice as much

• Easily accessible areas costing less

• Taller walls requiring more materials

• Rocky shorelines costing more

Here’s a closer look at the cost factors that determine how much you’ll spend on building a sea wall. 

Cost Per Foot

Sea walls cost $100 to $800 per linear foot for the average residential project. Some complex or commercial projects may demand rates of $2,000 per linear foot or more. Dock installation costs push the per linear foot price to the higher end of the range.

Material

The material your sea wall is constructed from is a significant cost factor. Here are common sea wall materials and their costs. 

Vinyl

Vinyl sea walls cost $200 to $600 per linear foot for a five-foot-tall wall. Some coastal areas call for eight- to 10-foot walls, nearly doubling the cost. Vinyl doesn’t corrode and can last 50 to 80 years with little maintenance. Builders often use concrete across the top for both aesthetic and structural reasons.

Steel

Steel sea walls cost $250 to $700 per linear foot. Because of the competitive price and durability of vinyl, most contractors recommend vinyl capped with concrete versus a steel wall. Plus, steel lasts half as long because it corrodes and eventually fails.

Wood

Wooden sea walls cost $150 to $500 per linear foot. Cost differences often come from the height. They’re recommended more for freshwater areas, but treated lumber can withstand the saltwater waves of coastal areas.

Concrete

Concrete sea walls cost $200 to $800 per linear foot. Like other sea walls, height plays the largest cost factor. They’re created one of two ways: on-site with wet concrete poured into forms or in precast panels or blocks. They’re almost always reinforced with steel rebar.

Riprap

Riprap sea walls cost $70 to $400 per linear foot. Riprap is a pile of small boulders and large rocks laid against the shore at a grade of 30 to 45 degrees, and used in front of other sea walls. You’ll often find it used with a living sea wall, where marine grasses and other growth are planted near the shoreline to curb erosion.

Local Permits

Permit fees and regulatory processes for sea walls cost between $150 and $2,500. Coastal prices vary by state due to locally regulated building requirements. You will almost always need a permit for construction on a waterway.

Fresh vs. Saltwater

On average, you’ll pay twice as much for saltwater sea walls as you would for freshwater bulkheads. But size and material determine cost more than the type of water. Not only will saltwater corrode many types of sea walls, but you also need to build high enough to account for the tidal variations in sea level, two issues not present at inland lakes.

Lake bulkheads are cheaper and simpler to install than their saltwater counterparts. They aren’t as tall and don’t need to contend with tidal fluctuations. They also fare better with steel and aluminum since metal doesn’t corrode as quickly in freshwater. Lake sea walls also have fewer permit requirements.

Accessibility

Heavy machinery drives sea walls into the ground in sheets. Without easy access to the shoreline, crews have to create access first, which can increase the price.

Height

Taller sea walls require more materials, larger sheets, and higher delivery fees. Actual costs will vary depending on many factors, but expect to pay more for taller walls.

Soil Type

Prices vary between sandy and rocky coastlines and inland lakeshores. Coastal areas tend to cost more when rocky soil is involved. Variations in the earthwork needed from location to location, along with regional building codes, might mean your project costs twice as much as your neighbor's half a mile away.

DIY vs. Hiring a Sea Wall Building Pro

Not every city allows DIY sea walls, and for good reason. Marine contractors tackle sea walls, docks, and other structures built to survive relentless wave action. Even if local codes permit a homeowner to build, you’ll still need to hire a local structural engineer to design the wall.

Between buying materials, renting heavy equipment, and pulling permits, a DIY sea wall often costs nearly as much as hiring a pro, and one misstep can double your bill in repairs.

Hire a licensed marine contractor to ensure a durable, code-compliant installation.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.