Estimating tools
Retaining & block wall builder
Length × height → block count, footing, rebar, waterproofing, drain, cap and finish.
Ballpark
Starting around $23,750
Ballpark only — starting around, final price after a free site walk. Not a binding quote.
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Opens the free estimate form with your numbers filled in.
How it's priced
- Retaining wall rough structure — up to 3' tall$16,20040 LF × $405 / LF
- Wall waterproofing$36040 LF × $9 / LF
- French drain behind walls / RBB$2,12040 LF × $53 / LF
- Smooth stucco finish$4,080120 SF × $34 / SF
- Pre-cast wall cap — install$1,00040 LF × $25 / LF
What goes into it
- 8x8x16 block (with waste)142 ea
- Footing concrete2.13 cu yd
- #4 rebar, 20' sticks20 ea
- Mortar (80 lb)12 bags
- Grout0.5 cu yd
- French drain40 LF
- Wall cap40 LF
Published cost guides, same scope
For comparison only — not our price. What's included differs:
- $14,400 – $26,400 · San Diego, CMU wall with stucco or stone veneer (engineering + permit extra) · Install It Direct — retaining wall cost (checked 2026-10-23)
The math
- 40 ft × 3 ft = 120 SF of wall face
- 120 SF × 1.125 blocks/SF + 5% = 142 blocks
- Footing 16" wide × 12" deep × 40 ft ≈ 2.13 cu yd
- #4 verticals every 16" + horizontals ≈ 381 LF → 20 sticks
- Priced at the 3 ft height step (your wall: 3 ft).
- Retaining walls include waterproofing and a french drain behind the wall so water has somewhere to go.
- Ballpark only — final price after a free site walk.