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. I have built or supervised retaining walls on 19 residential properties in the last three years across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and the single biggest cost surprise is always drainage. A 50-foot-long, 4-foot-tall block wall I built in Montgomery County last fall came to $11,200 installed -- and $1,800 of that was drainage gravel, perforated pipe, filter fabric, and the labor to install it properly...
Fence Cost Calculator: Posts, Panels & Materials for Any Yard
Fence Cost Calculator: Posts, Panels & Materials for Any Yard The average fence costs $15-$45 per linear foot installed, depending on material. A 150-foot wood privacy fence typically costs $3,000-$5,500 for materials alone, while vinyl runs $3,750-$7,500. Chain link is the most affordable at $1,050-$3,000, and aluminum ornamental fencing ranges from $3,750-$6,750. Total installed cost adds $5-$20 per linear foot for labor. When I installed a 175-foot cedar privacy fence around my backyard in Portland two years ago, the project came to $3,200 in materials -- 23 posts, 22 panels, and two gates. The lesson I wish I had learned before digging the first post hole: I was 14 inches over my property line on the south side. A $400 survey would have saved me from pulling up three posts and resetting them, plus an awkward conversation with my neighbor. Always get a survey before you set a single post....