Retaining wall cost in Hawaii
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $9,550 – $17,100
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $47.50 – $83
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +30%
- US $10,300
- Metros covered
- 2
Across Hawaii, a retaining wall costs about $9,550 to $17,100 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Statewide, that midpoint is 30% above the US figure of $10,300. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median $38.10 an hour in Hawaii (US: $29.87).
Inside Hawaii, the metros we cover range from $13,400 (Honolulu) to $13,500 (Kahului) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Hawaii (statewide), standard level
$11,800 to $14,800
About $58 to $72.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,800 | $7,050 |
| Labor | $6,800 | $7,450 |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $360 |
| Total | $11,800 | $14,800 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Hawaii
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,100 | $5,900 | $8,700 | 44% |
| Labor | $6,350 | $7,100 | $7,900 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $270 | $490 | 2% |
| Total | $9,550 | $13,300 | $17,100 | 100% |
Retaining wall cost by metro in Hawaii
2 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $13,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | $9,750 – $17,300 | $13,500 | +2% |
| Honolulu, HI | $9,650 – $17,200 | $13,400 | +1% |
What brickmasons and blockmasons and the other trades earn in Hawaii
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 1.52 for Hawaii.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $38.10 an hour, 28% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $22.81 and $43.72 an hour. About 120 work in the state. That is 1.9 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 $37.07 an hour, 64% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $25.13 and $42.19 an hour. About 4,580 work in the state. That is 73.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $55.70 an hour, which is 94% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $35.19 and $58.55 an hour. BLS counts 2,380 of them working in the state, 37.9 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 ($43.72 an hour) would add about $440 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.81) would take off about $1,200. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 627,530 jobs across Hawaii (May 2025), which is 0.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $22.81 | $38.10 | $43.72 | $29.87 | 1.28 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $25.13 | $37.07 | $42.19 | $22.66 | 1.64 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $35.19 | $55.70 | $58.55 | $28.78 | 1.94 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.52 | |||||
Quality levels and sizes in Hawaii
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Hawaii wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$9,550 to $12,600
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$11,800 to $14,800
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$14,100 to $17,100
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $4,800 – $6,400 | $6,000 – $7,600 | $7,200 – $8,800 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,850 – $5,150 | $4,850 – $6,150 | $5,800 – $7,150 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $7,650 – $10,100 | $9,500 – $11,900 | $11,300 – $13,800 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $11,400 – $15,000 | $14,100 – $17,700 | $16,800 – $20,400 |
Hawaii seasons and retaining wall
Season matters for retaining wall. For each Hawaii metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Honolulu has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Hawaii at 12 months; Kahului has the shortest at 10 (October through July). Rainfall runs from 16 inches a year in Kahului to 16 inches in Honolulu.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | 67 | 88 | 16 | 12: all year |
| Kahului | 64 | 89 | 16 | 10: October through July |
How Hawaii compares with nearby states
Hawaii ranks 1 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. Hawaii sits at $13,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2530 miles away | $8,200 – $15,200 | $11,700 | −12% |
| Oregon | 2590 miles away | $8,050 – $15,000 | $11,500 | −13% |
| Washington | 2710 miles away | $8,500 – $15,400 | $12,000 | −10% |
| Nevada | 2730 miles away | $7,100 – $13,400 | $10,200 | −23% |
| Alaska | 2850 miles away | $7,750 – $14,600 | $11,200 | −16% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Hawaii
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.
Related projects, priced for Hawaii
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Hawaii wages and prices. Against national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+49%) and sod installation lowest (+18%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $820 – $2,850 | +37% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,900 – $7,150 | +31% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $5,300 – $13,900 | +49% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,800 – $3,900 | +18% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $5,350 – $13,300 | +33% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $49,700 – $155,000 | +37% |
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Retaining wall in Hawaii: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Hawaii?
$9,550 to $17,100 for 200 sq ft of wall face, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Hawaii can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Hawaii is cheapest for retaining wall?
Honolulu at about $13,400 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). The priciest is Kahului at $13,500.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Hawaii than the US average?
It is 30% more expensive: $13,300 against $10,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Hawaii?
About 54% ($7,100). Materials are 44%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.52x the national wage level.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Hawaii?
The BLS statewide median is $38.10 an hour, against $29.87 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.81 to $43.72.
+Where does Hawaii rank for retaining wall costs?
1st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $13,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Hawaii?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $9,550 to $12,600 and premium work $14,100 to $17,100. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+Does the season matter for retaining wall in Hawaii?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Hawaii metros we cover, Honolulu 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 Hawaii
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.