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Blocks, caps, base gravel and drainage priced by wall length, height and block type.
Common US garden walls with standard block.
Tap a preset in the calculator above to load a typical job, then adjust the numbers to match your site.
Starting points: 20 ft × 2 ft · 40 ft × 3 ft · 40 ft × 3 ft curved · 60 ft × 4 ft · 40 ft × 3 ft segmental
See installed prices and permit rules for retaining wall block calculator.
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Measure the wall, choose the block and allow for caps, base and drainage.
Multiply wall length by height for face area, then use 1.1 to 2.2 blocks per sq ft depending on block size. A 40 ft × 3 ft wall with standard block needs about 180 blocks plus caps.
Materials run about $5 to $15 per sq ft, and installed costs are $25 to $60 per sq ft. A 40 ft × 3 ft wall typically lands between $3,000 and $7,000 installed.
Many cities require a permit for walls over 3 to 4 ft, and anything tall enough to retain a driveway or slope usually needs an engineer's design.
Six inches of compacted gravel below the first course, and the first course buried about a quarter of its height for stability.
Yes. Gravel backfill and a perforated drain pipe behind the wall are essential; hydrostatic pressure is the main cause of wall failure.
Forty to sixty years with correct base and drainage. Without drainage, failures often appear within five to ten years.
Using the calculator defaults, 20 ft × 2 ft gives Blocks needed: 60 and Material cost: $331, with a typical range $194 to $522. Change the waste allowance, material or thickness to match your site.
Using the calculator defaults, 40 ft × 3 ft segmental gives Blocks needed: 264 and Material cost: $3,070, with a typical range $1,834 to $4,637. Change the waste allowance, material or thickness to match your site.