Steel sheet pile walls are widely used in large and small waterfront structures, from small yacht launching facilities to large pier structures where ocean-going vessels can load or unload cargo. A pier projecting into a harbor, consisting of two rows of sheet piles forming a space between a soil-filled and paved area, is a common structure.

Steel sheet piles are also used for beach erosion protection; for stabilizing ground slopes, especially for roads; for supporting the walls of trenches and other excavations; and for cofferdams.

When the wall height is less than 3 meters, it is usually cantilevered; however, for larger wall heights, it is often anchored using one or more anchors. The resulting wall is called an anchored sheet pile wall or anchored bulkhead.