Retaining wall cost in Dover, DE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,900 – $13,100
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $34.50 – $63.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #158
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Dover area: $6,900 to $13,100 for 200 sq ft of wall face. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.4).
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Dover, DE, standard level
$8,750 to $11,200
About $43 to $54.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $4,450 | $4,850 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $320 |
| Total | $8,750 | $11,200 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Dover, DE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 51% |
| Labor | $4,150 | $4,650 | $5,150 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $240 | $440 | 2% |
| Total | $6,900 | $10,000 | $13,100 | 100% |
Why Dover prices look the way they do
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 $32.00 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Dover is 0.99 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Delaware statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Dover is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,100 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.5: $50 to $440.
Data note: 50% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Dover. The wage table below marks each row.
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Dover
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.
Height
Walls over 4 feet need engineering, deeper excavation and more skilled labor; many cities require permits over 3-4 feet (HomeGuide).
Is Dover cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Dover. Baltimore comes closest at about $10,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DEthis page | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | |
| Vineland, NJ25 miles | $8,750 – $15,500 | $12,200 | +21% |
| Atlantic City, NJ45 miles | $8,000 – $14,600 | $11,300 | +13% |
| Philadelphia, PA55 miles | $7,750 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +10% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $6,950 – $13,500 | $10,200 | +2% |
| Lancaster, PA75 miles | $7,150 – $13,600 | $10,400 | +4% |
| Delaware (statewide) | $7,000 – $13,300 | $10,100 | +1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Dover ranks #158 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Dover is 1% below the Delaware figure.
Dover is the only Delaware metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dover against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $7,550 – $13,800 | $10,600 | +6% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −7% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $7,500 – $14,000 | $10,800 | +8% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $6,450 – $12,500 | $9,500 | −5% |
Who does the work: Dover trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Dover the blend is 0.99.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dover metro, so we used the Delaware statewide median: $32.00 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $26.93 and $40.12 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $22.02 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.50 and $24.63 an hour. BLS counts 400 of them working in the area, 58.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.49 an hour, 18% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.38 and $28.71 an hour. About 190 work in the metro. That is 27.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (brickmasons and blockmasons) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $640 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $400. That is a swing of roughly 4.0% to 6.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Dover has 68,080 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 265th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $26.93 | $32.00 | $40.12 | $29.87 | 1.07 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.50 | $22.02 | $24.63 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $21.38 | $23.49 | $28.71 | $28.78 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Dover: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Dover. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face to 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face).
Basic
$6,900 to $9,400
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,750 to $11,200
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,600 to $13,100
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,500 – $4,800 | $4,450 – $5,800 | $5,450 – $6,750 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,800 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,700 | $4,400 – $5,500 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,550 – $7,550 | $7,050 – $9,050 | $8,550 – $10,600 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,300 – $11,200 | $10,500 – $13,400 | $12,700 – $15,600 |
Planning more than one job in Dover?
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Dover wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−2%) and concrete driveway lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $580 – $2,050 | −3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,950 – $5,350 | −2% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,600 | −7% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,400 | −6% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,300 – $107,500 | −5% |
The best months for retaining wall in Dover
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Dover (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Dover are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February 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 79 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Dover gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 13 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.9 inches in August). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 25 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 29 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 35 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 66 | 45 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 54 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 64 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 69 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 67 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 61 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 50 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 39 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 49 | 32 | 4.0 | Cold |
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Retaining wall in Dover: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Dover?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,900 to $13,100 in the Dover area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,750 to $11,200. 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 Dover?
About $34.50 to $63.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Dover or Vineland?
Vineland is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $12,200, which is 21% more than Dover ($10,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dover?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $4,650 out of $10,000. Materials are 51% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Dover?
$5,550 to $10,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Dover?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $440 for fees in the Dover area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dover expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Delaware?
Dover is 1% below the Delaware statewide estimate ($10,100 at the midpoint).
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Dover?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $32.00 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.93 to $40.12.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Dover?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,900 to $9,400 and premium work $10,600 to $13,100. 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 Dover?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. April and November 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 Dover
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.