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. 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...