Retaining wall cost in Alabama
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,100 – $12,000
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $30 – $58
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $10,300
- Metros covered
- 9
What does it cost to build a retaining wall in Alabama? Plan on $6,100 to $12,000 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Wages (0.79x the US blend), materials (price index 96.4) and permit costs (88.8) put the state below the national midpoint by 12%.
Inside Alabama, the metros we cover range from $8,900 (Dothan) to $9,250 (Birmingham) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Alabama (statewide), standard level
$7,850 to $10,300
About $38.50 to $50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $3,550 | $3,900 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $7,850 | $10,300 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Alabama
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 56% |
| Labor | $3,350 | $3,750 | $4,150 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $400 | 2% |
| Total | $6,100 | $9,050 | $12,000 | 100% |
Other Alabama jobs that often go with retaining wall
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Alabama wages and prices. Against national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−8%) and concrete driveway lowest (−16%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −12% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,750 | −13% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,700 | −16% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $9,000 | −10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,800 – $99,300 | −12% |
Which Alabama city is cheapest for retaining wall?
3 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $9,050, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (200 sq ft of wall face) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,250 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +1% |
| Decatur, AL | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +1% |
| Daphne, AL | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Mobile, AL | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Auburn, AL | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Montgomery, AL | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −1% |
| Dothan, AL | $5,950 – $11,900 | $8,900 | −2% |
Quality levels and sizes in Alabama
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Alabama wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$6,100 to $8,450
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$7,850 to $10,300
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,650 to $12,000
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,050 – $4,350 | $4,000 – $5,250 | $4,950 – $6,200 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,450 – $3,500 | $3,250 – $4,300 | $4,000 – $5,050 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $4,850 – $6,800 | $6,300 – $8,250 | $7,800 – $9,700 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,300 – $10,100 | $9,400 – $12,200 | $11,500 – $14,400 |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Alabama
Height
Walls over 4 feet need engineering, deeper excavation and more skilled labor; many cities require permits over 3-4 feet (HomeGuide).
Material
Block, poured concrete and natural stone are priced differently; concrete and stone walls run higher than the segmental block default.
Drainage
Every wall needs drainage behind it. A French drain adds $10-$85+ per linear foot.
Rebuilding
Replacing an old wall adds $15-$30 per linear foot for demolition plus disposal.
Permit
Permits cost $50-$450 depending on location and wall size.
Alabama against its neighbors
Alabama ranks 48 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for retaining wall, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $13,300 and the cheapest New Mexico at $9,000, both for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint. Alabama sits at $9,050. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 170 miles away | $6,250 – $12,400 | $9,300 | +3% |
| Mississippi | 180 miles away | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Tennessee | 190 miles away | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +9% |
| Louisiana | 310 miles away | $6,350 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +3% |
| South Carolina | 350 miles away | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,250 | +2% |
When Alabama weather lets you build
Season matters for retaining wall. For each Alabama metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Daphne has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Alabama at 12 months; Dothan has the shortest at 9 (September through May). Rainfall runs from 49 inches a year in Decatur to 66 inches in Daphne.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 35 | 91 | 57 | 10: September through June |
| Huntsville | 33 | 92 | 54 | 10: September through June |
| Mobile | 43 | 92 | 61 | 9: September through May |
| Montgomery | 37 | 94 | 51 | 9: September through May |
| Tuscaloosa | 35 | 92 | 57 | 9: September through May |
| Daphne | 39 | 89 | 66 | 12: all year |
| Auburn | 35 | 89 | 56 | 12: all year |
| Decatur | 32 | 90 | 49 | 9: February through June and September through December |
| Dothan | 40 | 93 | 54 | 9: September through May |
Wages behind the Alabama number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.79 for Alabama.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.90 an hour, 20% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $18.98 and $27.55 an hour. About 370 work in the state. That is 1.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $17.74 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.41 and $21.75 an hour. About 18,400 work in the state. That is 87.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.84 an hour, which is 21% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $19.12 and $27.66 an hour. BLS counts 9,640 of them working in the state, 45.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for brickmasons and blockmasons ($27.55 an hour) would add about $290 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.98) would take off about $390. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,113,660 jobs across Alabama (May 2025), which is 1.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $18.98 | $23.90 | $27.55 | $29.87 | 0.80 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $14.41 | $17.74 | $21.75 | $22.66 | 0.78 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $19.12 | $22.84 | $27.66 | $28.78 | 0.79 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
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Retaining wall in Alabama: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Alabama?
$6,100 to $12,000 for 200 sq ft of wall face, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Alabama can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Alabama is cheapest for retaining wall?
Dothan at about $8,900 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). The priciest is Birmingham at $9,250.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Alabama than the US average?
It is 12% cheaper: $9,050 against $10,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Alabama?
About 41% ($3,750). Materials are 56%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.79x the national wage level.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Alabama?
The BLS statewide median is $23.90 an hour, against $29.87 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.98 to $27.55.
+Where does Alabama rank for retaining wall costs?
48th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $9,050 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Alabama?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,100 to $8,450 and premium work $9,650 to $12,000. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+Does the season matter for retaining wall in Alabama?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Alabama metros we cover, Daphne has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Retaining wall by city in Alabama
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Retaining Wall Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 40% of the low installed price and 60% of the high one, since HomeGuide says labor is 40-60% of the total project cost.