Constructionretaining-wall, construction
How Much Does a Retaining Wall Cost in 2026? (By Material & Height)
How Much Does a Retaining Wall Cost in 2026? A retaining wall costs $35 to $65 per square foot of wall face installed in 2026, with total project costs ranging from $2,600 for a small garden wall to $32,500 or more for a large structural wall. Concrete block runs $20-$55/sq ft, natural stone $15-$95/sq ft, poured concrete $20-$50/sq ft, and wood timber $15-$30/sq ft. Materials account for $5-$20 per square foot, with labor adding $10-$30 per square foot depending on wall height and site conditions. Retaining walls built or supervised on 19 residential properties across Pennsylvania and New Jersey over three years show the single biggest cost surprise is always drainage. A 50-foot-long, 4-foot-tall block wall in Montgomery County came to $11,200 installed -- and $1,800 of that was drainage gravel, perforated pipe, filter fabric, and the labor to install it properly behind the wall. The homeowner's original budget assumed...