Retaining wall cost
| Wall type | Cost per linear foot |
|---|---|
| Landscaping wall (1.0’ to 1.5’ tall) | $15 – $45 |
| Driveway retaining wall (1’ to 2’ tall) | $30 – $120 |
| Seawall (3’ to 6’ tall) | $150 – $600 |
*Prices include materials and labor.
Landscaping wall cost
Installing a landscaping wall costs $15 to $45 per linear foot for 1.0’ to 1.5’ tall garden walls. Landscaping walls for decorative purposes typically don’t require a foundation.
Driveway retaining wall cost
A driveway retaining wall costs $30 to $120 per linear foot for 1’ to 2’ tall walls made of natural stone or interlocking concrete blocks. The materials chosen depend on the wall size and slope.
The average cost to build a retaining wall is $20 to $50 per square foot or $40 to $300 per linear foot. Installing a 50’ long retaining wall costs $4,000 to $10,000 on average. Retaining wall labor costs $10 to $30 per square foot, and material prices are $5 to $20 per square foot on average.
| Linear feet | 2’ tall | 4’ tall | 6’ tall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10’ | $400 – $1,000 | $800 – $2,000 | $1,200 – $3,000 |
| 15’ | $600 – $1,500 | $1,200 – $3,000 | $1,800 – $4,500 |
| 25’ | $1,000 – $2,500 | $2,000 – $5,000 | $3,000 – $7,500 |
| 50’ | $2,000 – $5,000 | $4,000 – $10,000 | $6,000 – $15,000 |
| 100’ | $4,000 – $10,000 | $8,000 – $20,000 | $12,000 – $30,000 |
| 150’ | $6,000 – $15,000 | $12,000 – $30,000 | $18,000 – $45,000 |
| 200’ | $8,000 – $20,000 | $16,000 – $40,000 | $24,000 – $60,000 |
| Wall material | Cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Wood | $10 – $40 |
| Stone | $10 – $85 |
| Block | $15 – $55 |
| Metal | $15 – $150 |
| Concrete | $20 – $45 |
| Brick | $30 – $60 |
Retaining wall labor cost
The labor cost for building a retaining wall is $40 to $80 per hour or $10 to $30 per square foot. Prices vary by location, wall type, construction method, and complexity.
| Labor type | Labor cost |
|---|---|
| Per hour | $40 – $80 |
| Per square foot | $10 – $30 |
*Labor cost only.
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Interlocking retaining wall blocks prices are $2 to $10 per block for materials or $45 to $210 per linear foot installed.
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Large retaining wall block prices are $25 to $100 per block for materials. Installing large concrete retaining wall blocks costs $60 to $270 per linear foot.
Retaining wall cost estimator by location
Retaining wall costs depend on the installation location, purpose, and reinforcements required.
Cost of building a retaining wall on a slope
Building a retaining wall on a slope costs $25 to $100 per square foot. Building a sloped-backyard retaining wall costs up to twice as much in labor due to:
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Extra excavation
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Leveling and compacting soil to create terraces
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Installing wall materials at an angle with tie-back reinforcements
Cost to build a retaining wall by height
A 6-foot to 8-foot-high retaining wall costs $120 to $400 per linear foot on average. Building a 10-foot to 20-foot-high retaining wall costs $200 to $1,000 per linear foot and typically includes multiple stacked terrace levels.
| Height (feet) | Cost per linear foot |
|---|---|
| 4’ | $80 – $200 |
| 6’ | $120 – $300 |
| 8’ | $160 – $400 |
| 10’ | $200 – $500 |
| 20’ | $400 – $1,000 |
Block, brick, or concrete retaining wall cost
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A concrete retaining wall costs $20 to $45 per square foot installed, depending on the material and construction method.
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Installing a stacked-block or brick wall costs $15 to $60 per square foot, depending on the block type, size, and complexity.
| Wall type | Cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Poured concrete | $20 – $45 |
| Concrete cinder blocks (CMU) | $20 – $35 |
| Interlocking concrete blocks | $15 – $35 |
| Bricks | $30 – $60 |
| Lock + Load brand blocks | $25 – $55 |
| Large concrete blocks (2’ to 6’ wide) | $20 – $45 |
| Rammed-earth mix | $20 – $30 |
| Precast panels | $25 – $40 |
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A poured concrete retaining wall costs $20 to $45 per square foot installed.
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Building a segmental retaining wall costs $15 to $35 per square foot. An interlocking concrete-block retaining wall costs $45 to $210 per linear foot. These prices are for 3’ to 6’ tall walls with a mortar-less design.
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Lock + Load brand retaining walls cost $25 to $55 per square foot installed. These modular-type block walls work well in earthquake-prone areas, commercial applications, and on slopes.
Retaining wall cost per square foot
A retaining wall costs $20 to $50 per square foot on average or up to $150 per square foot for complex layouts, specialty materials, and sloped or limited-access sites.
| Wall type | Total cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Cinder block (CMU) | $20 – $35 |
| Poured concrete | $20 – $45 |
| Rammed earth | $20 – $30 |
| Precast panels | $25 – $40 |
| Interlocking modular | $15 – $35 |
| Brick | $30 – $60 |
| Lock and load | $25 – $55 |
| Large concrete blocks | $20 – $45 |
| Dry stack stone | $20 – $85 |
| Boulder rock | $25 – $50 |
| Gabion | $10 – $40 |
| Wood and timber | $10 – $40 |
| Railroad tie | $20 – $30 |
| COR-TEN® steel | $35 – $135 |
| I-beam | $35 – $150 |
| Sheet piling | $15 – $30 |
| Stone veneer wall | $30 – $80 |
| Landscaping wall | $15 – $30 |
| Driveway retaining wall | $30 – $60 |
| Seawall | $50 – $100 |
Cost factors to install a retaining wall
The cost to install a retaining wall depends on site conditions and many other cost factors:
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Size – Taller, longer, and thicker walls need stronger foundations and additional reinforcements than basic garden walls.
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Design – Complex walls with curves, steps, openings, and other designs increase labor time.
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Site prep
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Land clearing costs $1,500 to $3,000 per acre for difficult terrain.
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Land grading costs $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot.
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Tree removal costs $300 to $700 per tree.
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Excavation – Removing old retaining walls and dirt costs $125 to $225 per cubic yard, including disposal.
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Foundation – Concrete footings cost $18 to $55 per linear foot, depending on the wall type, size, depth, and soil conditions.
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Reinforcements – Adding steel rebar costs $2.50 to $5.00+ per square foot extra. Building codes often require rebar to strengthen a wall against earthquakes.
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Location – Labor costs are typically higher in metropolitan areas.
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Site access – Working on slopes, hard-to-access sites, limited access for heavy machinery, and removing gates increases labor time.
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Backfill – Additional fill dirt costs $150 to $600 per truckload delivered or $15 to $50 per yard.
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Delivery – Stone, brick, or concrete block delivery costs $30 to $100 per truckload on average.
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Drainage – Installing a drainage system costs $10 to $30 per linear foot to prevent flooding and erosion.
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Permits – A permit costs $50 to $450 on average, depending on the wall type, size, and location.
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Planning – Retaining wall engineering design plans cost $100 to $220 per hour from a structural engineer or landscape architect.
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Landscaping – Landscaping costs $50 to $100 per hour for additional yard work or repairs.
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Landscaping fabric – Landscaping fabric costs $0.30 to $1.00 per square foot to lay behind the retaining wall.
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Land survey – A property line survey costs $200 to $1,200.
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Waterproofing – Sealing walls costs $2 to $10 per square foot.
Retaining wall FAQs
How long do retaining walls last?
A retaining wall lasts 50 to 100 years on average, depending on the material, installation quality, soil condition, and maintenance frequency.
| Wall material | Lifespan (years) |
|---|---|
| Concrete | 50 – 100 |
| Stone | 50 – 200 |
| Metal | 20 – 40 |
| Wood | 10 – 40 |
Additional retaining wall options costs
Additional retaining wall options to add on include:
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Fencing – The cost to fence a yard is $5 to $25 per linear foot.
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Deck – The cost to build a deck is $3,600 to $20,000 on average.
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Patio – A concrete patio costs $1,200 to $4,300 on average.
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Grass – Sod installation costs $0.90 to $1.80 per square foot.
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Mural art – Murals cost $10 to $40 per square foot for a custom wall finish.
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Outdoor kitchen – An outdoor kitchen costs $2,000 to $20,000 on average.
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Lighting – Outdoor lighting costs $2,000 to $5,000 on average or $200 to $500 per fixture.