If you’re facing foundation problems, helical piers might be the answer — but they’ll cost you. Expect to pay around $9,000 for a small home, while larger properties can run over $36,000. Most homeowners end up spending between $15,000 and $30,000, with your home’s size being the main factor in price.
Think of helical piers as heavy-duty screws that anchor your sinking foundation to stable soil. They’re pricey, but they’re also one of the most reliable fixes out there, especially if you live somewhere with unstable soil or where bedrock is way down deep.
I’m going to walk you through what these piers actually are, what they really cost, and how to figure out if they’re right for your situation. You’ll learn what drives the price up and how helical piers compare to other foundation fixes so you can make the best choice for your home.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
What Are Helical Piers?
When contractors talk about helical piers (also called helical piles or screw piles), they’re talking about foundation supports that go under your damaged foundation. Unlike band-aid solutions that just mask problems, helical piers fix what’s actually causing your foundation to fail.
Each pier is basically a steel shaft — usually about 20 feet long — with large, spiral plates welded onto it. These spiral plates, called helices, spread your home’s weight across deeper, more stable soil. The design gives them excellent grip, making them much more resistant to settling than other repair methods.
To put them in, contractors either dig around your foundation or drill through a concrete slab. They use hydraulic equipment to screw the pier into the ground until it hits stable soil, then attach it to your foundation with heavy-duty brackets. Once in place, these piers stop further movement and may even lift your foundation back to where it should be.
And let me tell you why this matters. When foundation problems go unfixed, you start seeing cracked walls, uneven floors, and doors that stick. Trust me, I’ve seen homes where you could roll a marble from one side of the room to the other without touching it. In the worst cases, your home becomes unsafe and loses a ton of value. That’s why fixing foundation issues quickly isn’t just a repair — it’s protecting your investment and family.
So, What Is the Cost of Helical Piers?
Each helical pier runs about $3,000 including installation. Most homes need between five and 10 piers, depending on size and damage. Do the math, and you’re looking at $15,000 to $30,000 for most projects.
For perspective, a typical two-story house with moderate foundation problems might need around seven piers, putting you at roughly $21,000. Smaller homes need fewer piers, while larger homes or those with major damage will need more — and each extra pier adds another $3,000 to your bill.
The table below provides a quick look at the cost of helical piers based on the square footage of your home.
| Home Size (Square Feet) | Expected Piers | Typical Cost |
| 500–1,000 | 3 | $9,000 |
| 1,000–1,500 | 5 | $15,000 |
| 1,500–2,000 | 7 | $21,000 |
| 2,000–2,500 | 9 | $27,000 |
| 2,500–3,000 | 10-12 | $30,000–$36,000 |
| 3,000+ | 12+ | $36,000+ |
Helical Pier Parts Cost
Breaking down that $3,000 per-pier cost, about half ($1,500–$2,000) goes to materials. The piers themselves are usually around 20 feet long — they need to reach below where seasonal moisture affects the soil. With materials running $75 to $100 per foot, you can see how costs add up fast.
Helical Pier Installation Cost
The other $1,000 to $1,500 per pier pays for labor and installation. This isn’t simple work — it takes specialized knowledge and heavy machinery. Your contractor will use hydraulic jacks to hold up your house while driving the piers into the ground. They’ll then attach the piers to your foundation using heavy-duty brackets and bolts.
I can’t stress this enough: Installing helical piers is NOT a DIY project. Not even close. Botched installation can lead to worse foundation damage or even collapse. The labor costs reflect the expertise needed, the equipment required, and the serious risks involved. This is one home repair where cutting corners could literally bring your house down.
Cost Factors To Consider
Your final bill depends on several key factors. Understanding these will help you get a better handle on what you might pay in your situation.
| Cost Factor | Low Range | Mid Range | High Range |
| Number of Piers | 5 piers: $15,000 | 10 piers: $30,000 | 15+ piers: $45,000+ |
| Damage Extent | Minor (corner only): $6,000–$12,000 | Moderate (one side): $15,000–$24,000 | Severe (multiple sides): $30,000+ |
| Soil Type | Sandy (easier): $24,000–$28,000 | Loamy: $28,000–$32,000 | Clay (hardest): $32,000–$40,000 |
| Accessibility | Open access: $27,000–$30,000 | Landscaping features: $30,000–$36,000 | Decks/patios: $35,000–$45,000 |
Number of Piers Needed
The biggest thing affecting your total cost? How many piers does your home need? With each pier costing about $3,000, every additional support drives up your bill. A small corner repair might need only two to three piers, but fixing an entire foundation for a large home could take 15 or more.
Extent of the Damage
How bad your foundation problems are directly affects how many piers you’ll need. Damage in just one corner? You might get away with just a few piers. Is an entire side of your house affected? You’ll need more support. Multiple sides compromised? You’ll need the most piers, plus likely other repairs, pushing costs way up.
Here’s some advice that could save you thousands: Don’t wait to fix foundation problems. They never improve on their own. What starts as a small crack or slightly sloping floor will turn into major structural issues requiring much more extensive (and expensive) repairs. The longer you wait, the more it’ll cost you. I’ve seen small $10,000 fixes turn into $40,000 nightmares because homeowners waited too long.
Soil Conditions
The dirt under your house plays a huge role in both why you need helical piers and how hard they’ll be to install. Sandy soil causes fewer foundation problems but might need deeper piers since it’s less stable. Loamy soil falls in the middle. Clay soil? That’s the worst — it swells when wet and shrinks when dry, sending your foundation on a seasonal roller coaster.
Clay soil also makes installation harder and slower, requiring stronger equipment and more time to drive the piers deep enough. Your contractor will probably test your soil to figure out the best approach.
Landscaping Features
Access problems can really bump up your costs. If your repair crew needs to work around or remove things like decks, patios, walkways, or extensive gardens, you’ll pay more. Taking these features out and putting them back later takes extra labor and time — and time is money.
Sometimes your landscaping might actually be causing your foundation problems. Poor drainage, improper grading, or big trees too close to the house can all mess with soil stability. Fixing these underlying issues during repair is smart to prevent future problems, but it adds to your total bill.
Helical Piers Vs. Other Foundation Supports
Helical piers aren’t your only option. Each solution has specific uses and costs. Understanding the differences helps you figure out which is best for your particular situation.
| Feature | Helical Piers | Steel Push Piers | Concrete Piers | Straight-Shaft Piers |
| Cost per Pier | $3,000 | $1,500 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Project Cost | $15,000–$30,000 | $9,000–$15,000 | $4,000–$8,000 | $12,000–$24,000 |
| Best for | Homes with deep bedrock or sandy soil | Homes with bedrock within 200 feet | Light structures (patios, sheds) | Areas with unstable topsoil |
| Installation Difficulty | High | Medium | Low | Medium-High |
| Weight Capacity | Very High | High | Low-Medium | High |
| Permanence | Permanent | Permanent | Semi-permanent | Permanent |
Helical Piers Vs. Steel Piers
The main difference between helical piers and steel push piers is how they support your home. Helical piers use their screw-like helices to grip the soil at different depths, while steel push piers are driven straight down until they hit bedrock (which can be up to 200 feet deep). This makes helical piers better for areas where bedrock is super deep or just isn’t there.
Helical piers also work better in sandy soil where steel push piers can’t get enough friction. Though they cost more upfront, helical piers can actually save you money in these tricky soil conditions since they don’t need to reach bedrock to work right.
Helical Piers Vs. Concrete Piers
Helical piers and concrete piers are made for completely different purposes and weight loads. Concrete piers are fine for patios, garage floors, sheds, or small additions. They’re cheaper, sure, but they simply can’t handle the weight of an entire house.
If you’ve got serious foundation issues affecting your home’s main structure, concrete piers just won’t cut it. Period. The higher cost of helical piers directly reflects their much greater strength and longevity.
Read our article to learn about the overall cost to raise a house for more foundation cost information.
Helical Piers Vs. Straight-Shaft End-Bearing Piers
Straight-shaft end-bearing piers look like helical piers but don’t have the spiral plates. They’re usually used when the soil right under your foundation is unstable, but there’s good load-bearing soil at a known depth below. These piers rely on their tip bearing on stable soil rather than the grip that helical piers provide along their length.
One big advantage helical piers have? They provide immediate support as soon as they’re installed. Straight-shaft piers sometimes need time to fully settle. For most typical homes in normal soil conditions, helical piers offer a more versatile and reliable solution.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
FAQs About Helical Piers Cost
Yes. They’re usually the most expensive foundation support option because they’re complex to make and install. But here’s the thing — they’re often the most effective solution and sometimes the only real option for certain soil types and foundation problems.
While the upfront cost hurts, helical piers provide a permanent fix that prevents far more expensive structural damage down the road. They’re especially valuable in areas with expansive clay soil, where foundation problems keep coming back.
Besides the piers themselves, you might need to budget for a structural engineer’s inspection ($300–$600) and possibly a soil report ($1,000–$2,000) to confirm helical piers are right for your situation. These extra expenses help ensure you’re getting the right solution for your specific issues.
No. Helical piers cost considerably more than concrete piers, but they’re designed for totally different purposes. Helical piers support the full weight of a house, while concrete piers work for lighter stuff like patios, walkways, or small outbuildings.
For serious foundation issues affecting your home’s main structure, concrete piers just won’t provide enough support, no matter how much cheaper they are. Comparing them isn’t really fair since only helical piers will actually solve your problem.
Completely replacing your foundation (lifting your home to pour a new foundation) usually costs even more than helical piers and makes a much bigger mess of your life. Helical piers can typically be installed with minimal disruption and offer a more targeted solution.
A typical 20-foot helical pier weighs around 130 pounds. Not much, right? But each one can support about 500 tons. The amazing strength comes from the design of the helical plates and how they interact with the soil, not from the weight of the pier itself.
The relatively lightweight is actually a plus during installation. Crews can move them into tight spaces around your foundation where bulkier equipment can’t go. Makes them perfect for all sorts of repair situations, including homes with limited access or unusual layouts.
Bottom line: If you’ve got foundation problems, helical piers might seem expensive, but they’re often the best long-term solution. And when it comes to something as important as your home’s foundation, doing it right the first time saves money in the long run.
