Guide
Modular work pontoon: how much does it carry?
A work pontoon made of HDPE floats carries 350 kg per square metre. A 3 × 4 m platform therefore carries around 4.2 t, a 4 × 6 m one around 8.4 t. You build it in any size from 50 × 50 cm cubes, for around €240 net per square metre, and can later rebuild, enlarge or reduce it.
How much does a modular work pontoon carry?
Each 50 × 50 cm float carries around 87 kg, one square metre of four floats 350 kg. That is the manufacturer's figure. Load capacity grows with area: twice the area carries twice as much.
At full load a 40 cm float sinks in by around 35 cm, leaving the surface only a few centimetres above the water. So for working, plan with a margin. Put heavy point loads such as machines, pallets or plate compactors on boards or plates so the weight spreads over several floats. The table shows six typical sizes with their calculated load capacity.
Work pontoon: size, load capacity and price
| Size | Area | Floats | Load capacity | Price net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 × 3 m | 6 m² | 24 | 2.1 t | €1,476.50 |
| 3 × 4 m | 12 m² | 48 | 4.2 t | €2,919.50 |
| 3 × 6 m | 18 m² | 72 | 6.3 t | €4,369.50 |
| 4 × 6 m | 24 m² | 96 | 8.4 t | €5,789.50 |
| 5 × 8 m | 40 m² | 160 | 14 t | €9,595.50 |
| 6 × 10 m | 60 m² | 240 | 21 t | €14,337.50 |
H40 floats including coupling pins, bolt sets and spacer rings, excluding VAT, without tools, accessories and freight (calculated individually). Load capacity calculated at 350 kg per m²; at full load the surface sits only a few centimetres above the water.
What is a work pontoon used for?
Wherever you need to stand and work on the water but do not need a boat. Typical uses:
- Building on the shore: bank protection, jetty and pile construction, repairs to sheet piling and quay walls.
- Waterway maintenance: mowing, planting, setting buoys and barriers, collecting litter and flotsam.
- Inspection and measurement: inspecting bridges, culverts and weirs, water sampling, surveying.
- Ferrying materials: taking tools, building materials or equipment to islands, jetties or boathouses.
- Permanent working surface: as a permanent platform at fish ponds, sewage works, harbours or boatyards.
How big should the work pontoon be?
First add up the load: people, tools, materials and equipment on the platform at the same time. Divide that by 350 kg and you have the calculated minimum area in square metres. Plan for considerably more, so the platform does not sink to its limit.
An example: two people at 200 kg and a tonne of materials make 1.2 t. On paper, 3.5 m² is enough. A 2 × 3 m platform (2.1 t load capacity) leaves a good third in reserve; with 3 × 4 m (4.2 t) you work comfortably and have room to set down materials.
As for width: the wider the platform, the steadier it lies when someone works at the edge. For pure working platforms we recommend a width of at least 2 m. Length depends on the job, on the 50 cm grid.
What does a work pontoon cost?
Depending on size, €239 to €246 net per square metre, fully connected with coupling pins, bolt sets and spacer rings. The larger the area, the cheaper the square metre, because proportionally fewer edge connectors are needed.
An example calculation for a 3 × 4 m platform:
- 48 floats with connecting hardware: €2,919.50
- Tools (rubber mallet and pin spanner, one-off): €53.25
- 4 HDPE cross bollards for mooring: €150.00
- Total net: €3,122.75
Anchoring and accessories depending on the job are added, plus freight, which we calculate individually for your location. We prepare the quote with a full parts list.
What accessories does a work pontoon need?
That depends on the job. These parts are most often added to working platforms, all prices net:
- Railing: posts from €46.50, railing set with rope from €75.50. Worthwhile as soon as people work at the edge or materials could go overboard.
- Mooring: side cleat €24.75, HDPE cross bollard €37.50.
- Anchoring: 40 kg ground anchor for €265 plus anchor bracket €76.50, or a pile guide from €175 if the platform is to lie against a pile.
- Fendering: fenders from €49.50, if boats or work vessels come alongside.
- Stiffening: T-beams from 2.50 m to 4.00 m for €150 to €225 stiffen long, narrow platforms.
- Second layer: With long coupling pins at €19.50, floats can be joined in two layers, one on top of the other. Whether that makes sense for your load, we work out in the quote.
You will find all accessories under Accessories and Railing and bollards.
How does the work pontoon get to the water?
Without a crane. A float weighs 6.8 kg and one person can carry it. You assemble the platform on the bank first, then push it into the water and finish it there. For a 3 × 4 m platform you move around 330 kg of floats, spread over 48 individual pieces.
You take it apart the same way. That makes the work pontoon a mobile worksite: on a lake today, on a river next month, reassembled in a different size. In between, you store the floats on land.
Are work pontoons available in signal colours?
Yes. The floats come in grey, orange, blue and black, all at the same price of €49.50. Orange suits working platforms that must be clearly visible on the water, for example on waterways or during operations. You can also mix colours, for instance a grey surface with an orange edge.
From 100 m², any RAL colour is possible. The surcharge is €500 per colour change in production, and the lead time is six to eight weeks.
Can you hire a work pontoon?
Not from us; we only sell. If you need a work pontoon for just a few days, a hire company is the right place. As soon as you use it several times a year, buying often pays off quickly: the HDPE floats are maintenance-free, UV-stable, saltwater-resistant and frost-resistant, and we give a five-year warranty on the material.
On top of that, a pontoon you own grows with you. You build it in the right size for each job, add floats, or use it in between as a jetty or swim platform.
Do you also supply companies, local authorities and clubs?
Yes, anyone, across Europe. We handle the order and invoice, and the goods come straight to you. For procurement you get a written quote with a full parts list, item numbers and unit prices. You can use it for comparison quotes or internal approval.
Prices as per our price list of 01/10/2026. Prices may change. Before you buy, get a current, binding quote via the configurator or an enquiry.
Plan your work pontoon
Enter length and width in the configurator and tell us in your enquiry what you need the platform for, what loads it will carry and where it will be used. We will then put size, anchoring and accessories together in one quote.