Retaining wall cost in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,100 – $13,400
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $35.50 – $64.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #134
- 1 = most expensive
Coeur d'Alene homeowners pay roughly $7,100 to $13,400 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $35.50 to $64.50 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Coeur d'Alene is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.2).
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Coeur d'Alene, ID, standard level
$9,000 to $11,500
About $44 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 | $4,700 | $5,100 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $320 |
| Total | $9,000 | $11,500 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Coeur d'Alene, ID
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 50% |
| Labor | $4,400 | $4,900 | $5,400 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $440 | 2% |
| Total | $7,100 | $10,200 | $13,400 | 100% |
Where the Coeur d'Alene price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: brickmasons and blockmasons at 50%, construction laborers at 30%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 20%. Weighted together, Coeur d'Alene wages are 1.04 times the national level. Labor makes up about 48% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Idaho statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Coeur d'Alene metro is 96.2 (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 (98.3) and land at $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 Coeur d'Alene. The wage table below marks each row.
When to schedule retaining wall in Coeur d'Alene
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Coeur D'Alene (in the city). 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 Coeur d'Alene (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 121 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Coeur d'Alene gets about 25 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, November and December (3.5 inches in December). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 0.7 and 0.8 inches. The station averages about 18 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 | 36 | 26 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 41 | 27 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 31 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 37 | 1.9 | Workable |
| May | 66 | 44 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 72 | 51 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 57 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 56 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 48 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 39 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 44 | 32 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 36 | 26 | 3.5 | Cold |
Planning more than one job in Coeur d'Alene?
Because every project leans on different trades, Coeur d'Alene's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +4% and sprinkler system −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $630 – $2,200 | +4% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,500 | +1% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,650 – $9,300 | +1% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,250 | −1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,850 – $9,600 | −4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,100 – $113,000 | level |
Cost by quality level and size in Coeur d'Alene
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Coeur d'Alene 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
$7,100 to $9,600
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$9,000 to $11,500
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,900 to $13,400
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,600 – $4,900 | $4,600 – $5,900 | $5,600 – $6,900 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,900 – $3,950 | $3,700 – $4,800 | $4,500 – $5,600 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,700 – $7,750 | $7,250 – $9,250 | $8,750 – $10,800 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,550 – $11,500 | $10,800 – $13,700 | $13,000 – $16,000 |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Coeur d'Alene
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).
Material
Block, poured concrete and natural stone are priced differently; concrete and stone walls run higher than the segmental block default.
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 Coeur d'Alene is 1.04 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Coeur d'Alene metro, so we used the Idaho statewide median: $30.06 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $25.34 and $36.52 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $24.48 an hour, 8% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.40 and $28.20 an hour. About 1,080 work in the metro. That is 149.4 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 $31.03 an hour, which is 8% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.99 and $37.58 an hour. BLS counts 450 of them working in the area, 62.3 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 ($36.52 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $510. At the 25th percentile ($25.34) it shrinks by about $370. The total moves by 5.0% or 3.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 72,280 jobs in the Coeur d'Alene area. That makes it the 254th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $25.34 | $30.06 | $36.52 | $29.87 | 1.01 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.40 | $24.48 | $28.20 | $22.66 | 1.08 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $27.99 | $31.03 | $37.58 | $28.78 | 1.08 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Coeur d'Alene against nearby metros and the rest of Idaho
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 200 sq ft of wall face range from $9,950 to $12,800 across Coeur d'Alene and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, IDthis page | $7,100 – $13,400 | $10,200 | |
| Spokane, WA55 miles | $8,050 – $14,900 | $11,500 | +12% |
| Missoula, MT120 miles | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,950 | −3% |
| Kennewick, WA150 miles | $8,400 – $15,300 | $11,900 | +16% |
| Yakima, WA210 miles | $8,100 – $15,000 | $11,500 | +13% |
| Seattle, WA240 miles | $9,200 – $16,300 | $12,800 | +25% |
| Idaho (statewide) | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | −2% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Coeur d'Alene comes in at #134 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, Coeur d'Alene is 2% above the Idaho figure.
Other Idaho metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | −2% |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $7,200 – $13,400 | $10,300 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Coeur d'Alene's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Coeur d'Alene against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −3% |
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | −11% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −12% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $7,050 – $13,300 | $10,200 | −1% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Retaining wall in Coeur d'Alene: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Coeur d'Alene?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $7,100 to $13,400 in the Coeur d'Alene area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,000 to $11,500. 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 Coeur d'Alene?
About $35.50 to $64.50 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 Coeur d'Alene or Spokane?
Spokane is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $11,500, which is 12% more than Coeur d'Alene ($10,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Coeur d'Alene?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $4,900 out of $10,200. Materials are 50% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Coeur d'Alene?
$5,700 to $10,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Coeur d'Alene?
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 Coeur d'Alene area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Coeur d'Alene expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Idaho?
Coeur d'Alene is 2% above the Idaho statewide estimate ($10,100 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Idaho; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Coeur d'Alene?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $30.06 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.34 to $36.52.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Coeur d'Alene?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $7,100 to $9,600 and premium work $10,900 to $13,400. 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 Coeur d'Alene?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. July and August 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 Coeur d'Alene
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.