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Early on a July morning the lake is flat, the coffee is hot, and someone is already carrying a paddle board down to the water. Out past the swimmers a jet ski bobs in a soft U-shaped float, a neighbor’s pontoon nudges a long sectional walkway, and a little square deck anchored offshore is waiting for the first cannonball of the day. Every one of those is a floating dock, yet each was bought for a different job. This page compares all seven types side by side so you can find yours fast.
In short: start with what will tie up or step off the dock: swimmers, a jet ski, a boat, a yacht’s toys, a kayak, a whole shoreline layout, or a rescue crew. An inflatable dock is light (about 31 to 83 lb in the consumer range), packs into a bag and suits seasonal or travelling use; rigid polyethylene and foam-filled docks stay in longer, weigh hundreds of pounds per section and take daily boat traffic. Go by the capacity the maker states, and anchor the dock the way its manual says.
Floating dock types compared
| Type | What and for whom | Typical sizes | Construction | Stated capacity | Prices seen (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake and pond docks | Swimming, lounging and launching at cabins and lake houses | 6 x 5 ft to about 15 ft long | 6 to 8 in drop-stitch PVC, EVA top; or rigid kits | 455 to 2,100 lb; Aquaglide states 600 lb (3 adults + 3 kids) | About $170 (AWSUM) to $2,640 (Aquaglide) |
| Jet ski and PWC docks | Parking a personal watercraft beside you or out of the water | 2 ft wide L to 15 x 8 ft; drive-on ports 59 in x 11 ft (Wave Armor Sport) to about 58.5 x 168 in (EZ Port 2i) | 6 in drop-stitch (20 cm on yacht docks); rigid PE ports | Often not published on inflatables; ports 700 to 2,000 lb | $179 to $665 inflatable; $1,725 to $2,699 ports |
| Boat docks | Tying up and boarding pontoons, fishing boats, RIBs and tenders | 10 x 3 ft to 10 x 10 ft inflatable; rigid sections to any length | Heat-welded drop-stitch; rigid PE sections and foam floats | 1,000 to 2,000 lb inflatable; 690 to 3,000 lb per rigid section | $749 (Island Hopper 10 x 6); $4,878 (20 ft rigid kit) |
| Yacht docks | Stern docks, tender and toy islands at anchor | 2.05 to 8.20 m; custom | 20 cm drop-stitch, EVA or teak-look deck; Hypalon on some | 300 kg (Jobe Infinity Dock) to 800 kg (Infinity Island) | About $2,295 (Jobe); EUR 1,889 to 4,199 (Yachtbeach); custom by quote |
| Kayak launch docks | Getting into and out of kayaks, canoes and SUPs | 48 x 60 in (YAKport) to 58.5 x 168 in (EZ Launch) | Rigid polyethylene or aluminum; low inflatable decks | Golden launch: kayaks to 250 or 350 lb; others not published | About $2,050 to $2,144 rigid; inflatable pads from $170 |
| Modular docks | Straight, L, T and U layouts from linked sections | 3.75 x 5 ft sections; 60 x 60 in to 80 x 120 in | Rigid PE air chambers or foam-filled; linked inflatable modules | 690 lb (Connect-A-Dock) to 3,000 lb (EZ Dock 60 in x 10 ft) per section | $950 to $2,950 per Wave Armor section |
| Rescue walkways | Fire and rescue access over water, ice and mud (professional only) | 1.3 m wide, 2 to 10 m lengths that link | Inflatable chambers filled from breathing-air cylinders | Not published | Quote only |
Every figure above is the maker’s or a retailer’s own, with the source and date on the type page. A people count and a pound rating are different things, and neither is a jet ski rating: compare like with like.
How to choose a floating dock
- Name the job. Swim and lounge: a lake dock. Park a ski: a jet ski dock, never a flat swim dock. Board a boat: a boat dock. Paddle craft: a kayak launch.
- Decide where it lives. On the boat or in the car for the day: inflatable. At your shoreline all season: rigid sections or a drive-on port.
- Check depth and anchoring. RAVE asks for at least 4 ft of water under its Aqua Dock; Aquaglide asks for 4 ft, 10 ft from shore and at least 1,100 lb of anchor weight for its Docking Station. Anchors are usually extra.
- Read the capacity line. BOTE lists 2,100 lb for its 10 ft dock while some retailers list 1,500 lb, so ask the maker which applies.
- Ask about weather. None of the consumer dock makers we checked publish a wind or wave limit. Bring the dock in when weather builds.
Want a shortcut? Answer a few questions in the dock finder.
Inflatable floating dock or rigid floating dock?
An inflatable dock is usually a drop-stitch panel: two fabric layers held flat by thousands of threads, coated airtight and pumped to about 5 to 12 psi so it feels firm underfoot. Consumer docks are 6 to 8 in thick; Jobe and Yachtbeach yacht docks are 20 cm. A rigid floating dock floats on air chambers in molded polyethylene or on foam: EZ Dock’s 60 x 60 in section is rated 1,500 lb, and a Wave Armor 60 x 120 in section weighs 380 lb. EZ Dock, Candock, Wave Armor, Connect-A-Dock and Jet Dock are rigid, not inflatable, even when stores list them next to inflatables. Full comparison: inflatable vs rigid floating docks, and how they are made: drop-stitch docks explained.
Docks in our catalog
These records list each maker’s own figures with the source and the date we checked them: lake docks, jet ski docks, then boat and yacht docks.
Aquaglide Docking Station
by Aquaglide
- Size (as stated): 14 ft 9 in x 10 ft 5 in x 6 in
- Stated capacity: 600 lb (3 adults + 3 children)
- Thickness: 6 in (15 cm) welded drop-stitch
BOTE Inflatable Dock 10 Classic
by BOTE
- Size (as stated): 10 x 10 ft x 8 in
- Stated capacity: 2,100 lb on BOTE's site (1,500 lb at some retailers)
- Thickness: 8 in
BOTE Inflatable Dock 7 Classic
by BOTE
- Size (as stated): 7 x 7 ft x 8 in
- Stated capacity: 1,050 lb
- Thickness: 8 in
Island Hopper Mega Yacht Dock 10 x 10
by Island Hopper
- Size (as stated): 10 x 10 ft
- Stated capacity: 2,000 lb load rating
- Thickness: 6 in
RAVE Aqua Dock 10
by RAVE Sports
- Size (as stated): 10 x 10 ft x 6 in
- Stated capacity: 1,800 lb / 10 adults
- Thickness: 6 in drop-stitch
Solstice Inflatable Dock 10 x 10
by Solstice Watersports
- Size (as stated): 10 x 10 ft x 6 in
- Stated capacity: 1,650 lb
- Thickness: 6 in drop-stitch
FunAir Toy Island
by FunAir
- Stated capacity: Up to 4 jet skis or dinghies, or 2 Seabobs plus guests (maker)
Henshaw Jet Ski Dock (single and twin)
by Henshaw Inflatables
- Thickness: About 100 mm double-wall drop-stitch top
FunAir Toy Island
by FunAir
- Stated capacity: Up to 4 jet skis or dinghies, or 2 Seabobs plus guests (maker)
Henshaw Jet Ski Dock (single and twin)
by Henshaw Inflatables
- Thickness: About 100 mm double-wall drop-stitch top
Island Hopper Mega Yacht Dock 10 x 10
by Island Hopper
- Size (as stated): 10 x 10 ft
- Stated capacity: 2,000 lb load rating
- Thickness: 6 in
Three docks you can order on Amazon today: one for swimming, one for a boat and one for a jet ski. Prices change often; these are the prices we saw in October 2026.
RAVE Sports Aqua Dock 10
- 10 x 10 ft, 6 in thick
- 1,800 lb or 10 adults (maker)
- About $800, seen October 2026
Island Hopper Yacht Dock 10 x 6
- 10 x 6 ft, 6 in, 53 lb
- 1,500 lb load rating (maker)
- About $749, seen October 2026
LOSKIA U-Shaped Inflatable Jet Ski Dock
- 8.5 x 8 ft, 6 in thick
- No pound rating published
- About $339, seen October 2026
Browse every record in products and every brand in makers. Custom yacht docks and rescue walkways are information only: request more information.
Safety on any floating dock
Three rules cover most of it. Wear life jackets and know the Coast Guard basics for the boats you tie up: a USCG-approved wearable life jacket for each person aboard, and children under 13 must wear one while underway (Coast Guard requirements). Keep swimmers away from docks and marinas with electrical power; the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office advises never swimming within 100 yards of one (electric shock drowning). And keep engines off near people: the CDC advises staying at least 20 ft from a running engine or generator. Everything else is in dock safety.
Buying guides and setup help
- Picks with prices: best floating docks, best jet ski docks, best kayak launch docks, best inflatable docks.
- Comparisons: Solstice vs BOTE vs VEVOR, EZ Dock vs inflatable, Wave Armor vs inflatable, dock kits vs inflatable, drive-on vs inflatable jet ski docks.
- Money: what a floating dock costs, building vs buying, ladders and accessories.
- Setup and care: anchoring, installation, capacity explained, repair, storage, all gathered in Setup & care.
- Design: floating dock designs and layouts, portable docks; terms in the glossary, short answers in the FAQ.
Latest guides
Floating dock questions
What is the difference between an inflatable dock and a floating dock?
Floating dock is the wide term for any dock that rides on the water. An inflatable dock is one kind: it floats on pressurized air in a drop-stitch panel. Other floating docks float on molded plastic chambers or foam-filled floats.
How big is a typical inflatable floating dock?
Consumer docks run from about 6 x 5 ft to 10 x 10 ft, with a few around 15 ft long, and 6 to 8 in thick. Yacht docks run up to 8.20 m in Yachtbeach’s range.
Can an inflatable floating dock stay out all summer?
Many owners leave them out for the season when anchored well and kept at full pressure. RAVE’s manual also says to deflate and store its dock when not in use, so follow your maker’s instructions and your lake’s rules.
Which dock type do I need for a jet ski?
A dock sold for jet skis: an inflatable U, L or T shape, or a rigid drive-on port. A flat swim dock is not rated for a jet ski. See jet ski docks.
How much does a floating dock cost?
In October 2026 we saw inflatable docks from about $170 to $2,640 and a 20 ft rigid kit at $4,878. HomeAdvisor puts built floating docks at $15 to $35 per square foot with materials and labor.
Are inflatable docks used commercially?
Yes, at resorts, charter yachts and rental businesses, but warranties often change for commercial use and public passenger boarding is regulated. See industries.