Retaining wall cost in Fort Collins, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,200 – $13,500
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $35.50 – $65
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #124
- 1 = most expensive
Fort Collins homeowners pay roughly $7,200 to $13,500 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $35.50 to $65 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Fort Collins is almost level. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $32.27 an hour in the Fort Collins area, 8% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Fort Collins, CO, standard level
$9,050 to $11,600
About $44.50 to $56 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $4,750 | $5,200 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $330 |
| Total | $9,050 | $11,600 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Fort Collins, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 49% |
| Labor | $4,450 | $5,000 | $5,500 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $460 | 2% |
| Total | $7,200 | $10,300 | $13,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Fort Collins number
The wage side of the estimate leans on brickmasons and blockmasons, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $32.27 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Fort Collins is 1.06 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 48% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fort Collins metro is 96.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,100, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (101.1) and land at $50 to $460.
Fort Collins against nearby metros and the rest of Colorado
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Fort Collins. Cheyenne is the lowest at about $9,850 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins, COthis page | $7,200 – $13,500 | $10,300 | |
| Boulder, CO40 miles | $7,250 – $13,500 | $10,400 | +1% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,100 | −3% |
| Cheyenne, WY60 miles | $6,800 – $12,900 | $9,850 | −4% |
| Denver, CO90 miles | $7,600 – $14,200 | $10,900 | +6% |
| Colorado Springs, CO135 miles | $7,050 – $13,300 | $10,200 | −1% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $7,200 – $13,600 | $10,400 | +1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Fort Collins comes in at #124 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $13,500; the cheapest is El Paso, TX at $8,850 (midpoints, 200 sq ft of wall face). Statewide, Fort Collins is 1% below the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $7,600 – $14,200 | $10,900 | +6% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $7,050 – $13,300 | $10,200 | −1% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $7,250 – $13,500 | $10,400 | +1% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,100 | −3% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | −3% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Fort Collins's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Collins against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 170,820 jobs | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,400 | −9% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 168,700 jobs | $8,000 – $14,600 | $11,300 | +9% |
| Visalia, CA | 171,140 jobs | $7,450 – $14,200 | $10,800 | +5% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $6,000 – $11,800 | $8,900 | −14% |
Fort Collins: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fort Collins wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$7,200 to $9,700
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$9,050 to $11,600
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,900 to $13,500
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,600 – $4,950 | $4,600 – $5,950 | $5,600 – $6,950 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,900 – $4,000 | $3,750 – $4,850 | $4,550 – $5,650 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,750 – $7,800 | $7,300 – $9,350 | $8,800 – $10,900 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,600 – $11,600 | $10,800 – $13,800 | $13,100 – $16,100 |
Planning more than one job in Fort Collins?
Because every project leans on different trades, Fort Collins's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs +3% and sprinkler system −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,550 | +2% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,650 – $9,250 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,800 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,200 – $113,000 | level |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Fort Collins
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.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Fort Collins is 1.06 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $32.27 an hour, 8% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $30.96 and $35.85 an hour. About 70 work in the metro. That is 4.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $22.86 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.83 and $27.15 an hour. About 930 work in the metro. That is 54.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $31.08 an hour, which is 8% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.33 and $35.64 an hour. BLS counts 600 of them working in the area, 35.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the brickmasons and blockmasons on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($35.85 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $280. At the 25th percentile ($30.96) it shrinks by about $100. The total moves by 2.7% or 1.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 169,430 jobs in the Fort Collins-Loveland area. That makes it the 138th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.11% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $30.96 | $32.27 | $35.85 | $29.87 | 1.08 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $20.83 | $22.86 | $27.15 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $29.33 | $31.08 | $35.64 | $28.78 | 1.08 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
When to schedule retaining wall in Fort Collins
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ft Collins (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Fort Collins (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 150 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Fort Collins gets about 16 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 51 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (2.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 1.4 and 1.3 inches. The station averages about 29 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45 | 18 | 0.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 21 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 56 | 29 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 63 | 35 | 2.1 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 44 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 53 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 59 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 57 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 48 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 36 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 26 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 44 | 18 | 0.5 | Cold |
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Retaining wall in Fort Collins: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Fort Collins?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $7,200 to $13,500 in the Fort Collins area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,050 to $11,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of wall face and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of wall face for retaining wall in Fort Collins?
About $35.50 to $65 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Fort Collins or Boulder?
Boulder is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,400, which is 1% more than Fort Collins ($10,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Collins?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $5,000 out of $10,300. Materials are 49% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Fort Collins?
$5,750 to $10,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Fort Collins?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $460 for fees in the Fort Collins area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Collins expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Colorado?
Fort Collins is 1% below the Colorado statewide estimate ($10,400 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Fort Collins?
The BLS median is $32.27 an hour in the Fort Collins area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.96 to $35.85.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Fort Collins?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $7,200 to $9,700 and premium work $10,900 to $13,500. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+When is the best time to build a retaining wall in Fort Collins?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Retaining wall near Fort Collins
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.