How Much Does a New Dock Cost on Old Hickory Lake?

“What does a dock cost?” is the first question every lakefront homeowner asks — and the most honest answer is: it depends on the dock. Here’s how the numbers actually break down on Old Hickory Lake.

Asking what a dock costs is a little like asking what a car costs. A simple floating platform and a covered, multi-slip dock with a boat lift and electrical service occupy very different ends of the price scale. But there are real ranges and real drivers, and a lakefront homeowner deserves a straight answer.

What Drives Dock Cost

The five biggest factors that move the number on a new dock build are:

• Size and slip count. A single-slip platform vs. a double-slip covered dock is a major variable.
• Floating vs. fixed. Floating systems require different framing, anchoring, and float volume than fixed docks on pilings.
• Covered or uncovered. Adding a roof, posts, and gables can add a substantial portion to the total.
• Decking material. Cedar, composite, and aluminum decking have meaningfully different costs and lifespans.
• Boat lift or no boat lift. A cradle or cantilever lift adds to the build, but is often best installed during the dock build rather than later.

Typical Ranges on Old Hickory

Without quoting specific dollar figures (those move with steel and lumber prices), here’s how the tiers tend to stack up on Old Hickory Lake:

• Entry tier: A small, uncovered floating platform with basic cedar decking and no lift. Lowest price point, but limited slip and storage capability.
• Mid tier: A single-slip covered dock with composite decking, light electrical, and a properly sized boat lift. The most common build on Old Hickory.
• Upper tier: A double-slip covered dock with premium decking, full electrical, lighting, lift, PWC ports, swim platform, and storage. Common on the higher-end Hendersonville and Old Hickory waterfronts.
• Custom/luxury: Multi-slip covered docks with party decks, aluminum gangways, custom finishes, and full lakefront integration. Often paired with seawall and lighting design.

What Else Belongs in the Budget

The build is not the only line item. Plan for:

• Corps of Engineers permit work. Drawings, submittal, and review — almost always included in a full-service builder’s scope.
• Site access. Steep lots, narrow easements, or limited construction staging can increase install time.
• Electrical service to the dock. Trenching, panel work, and GFCI-protected outlets.
• Shoreline prep. If your bank needs riprap or stabilization before the dock goes in, that’s its own cost.

Where Homeowners Overspend

The biggest cost mistake on Old Hickory isn’t buying too much dock — it’s buying the wrong materials for the conditions. Soft decking that splinters, undersized floats that ride low, or hardware that corrodes after two seasons will all force a rebuild long before they should.

The cheapest dock is rarely the cheapest dock over ten years.

How to Get an Accurate Number

A real estimate requires a site visit. The cove, the depth at low pool, the access path, and the configuration you actually want all change the math. Submit the form on our home page and we’ll come look, scope the project, and give you an itemized estimate — not a guess.