Retaining wall cost in Illinois
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $9,000 – $16,000
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $44.50 – $78
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +22%
- US $10,300
- Metros covered
- 6
Illinois prices for retaining wall: $9,000 to $16,000 for 200 sq ft of wall face, or $44.50 to $78 per sq ft of wall face without the permit. The state midpoint is 22% above the national one. Local wages for brickmasons and blockmasons are $43.26 an hour.
Inside Illinois, the metros we cover range from $11,400 (Rockford) to $12,800 (Chicago) 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 Illinois (statewide), standard level
$11,100 to $13,900
About $54.50 to $68 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,450 | $6,550 |
| Labor | $6,450 | $7,050 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $330 |
| Total | $11,100 | $13,900 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Illinois
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,500 | $8,100 | 44% |
| Labor | $6,050 | $6,750 | $7,450 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $450 | 2% |
| Total | $9,000 | $12,500 | $16,000 | 100% |
Illinois metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $12,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 12%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $9,150 – $16,400 | $12,800 | +2% |
| Springfield, IL | $8,700 – $15,200 | $11,900 | −5% |
| Bloomington, IL | $8,700 – $15,200 | $11,900 | −5% |
| Peoria, IL | $8,600 – $15,100 | $11,800 | −5% |
| Champaign, IL | $8,400 – $14,800 | $11,600 | −7% |
| Rockford, IL | $8,250 – $14,600 | $11,400 | −9% |
How Illinois compares with nearby states
Illinois ranks 2 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. Illinois sits at $12,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 120 miles away | $7,950 – $14,300 | $11,100 | −11% |
| Indiana | 140 miles away | $7,650 – $14,000 | $10,800 | −14% |
| Michigan | 220 miles away | $7,100 – $13,300 | $10,200 | −18% |
| Iowa | 240 miles away | $7,150 – $13,300 | $10,200 | −18% |
| Kentucky | 280 miles away | $6,800 – $12,900 | $9,850 | −21% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Illinois
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.
Quality levels and sizes in Illinois
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Illinois wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$9,000 to $11,800
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$11,100 to $13,900
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$13,200 to $16,000
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $4,500 – $6,000 | $5,650 – $7,100 | $6,750 – $8,250 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,650 – $4,850 | $4,550 – $5,750 | $5,450 – $6,700 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $7,200 – $9,500 | $8,900 – $11,200 | $10,600 – $12,900 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $10,800 – $14,100 | $13,300 – $16,600 | $15,800 – $19,100 |
Illinois seasons and retaining wall
Season matters for retaining wall. For each Illinois metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Chicago has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Illinois at 8 months (April through November); Bloomington has the shortest at 7 (April through October). Rainfall runs from 34 inches a year in Chicago to 40 inches in Springfield.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 19 | 85 | 34 | 8: April through November |
| Peoria | 18 | 86 | 38 | 8: April through November |
| Rockford | 15 | 84 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Champaign | 18 | 85 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Springfield | 19 | 86 | 40 | 8: April through November |
| Bloomington | 16 | 86 | 39 | 7: April through October |
Related projects, priced for Illinois
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Illinois wages and prices. Against national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+26%) and sod installation lowest (+9%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $720 – $2,500 | +19% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,600 – $6,500 | +20% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,500 – $11,700 | +26% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $5,050 – $12,600 | +26% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $45,300 – $141,500 | +25% |
What brickmasons and blockmasons and the other trades earn in Illinois
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 1.44 for Illinois.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $43.26 an hour, 45% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $30.02 and $49.16 an hour. About 2,490 work in the state. 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 $29.18 an hour, 29% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $45.79 an hour. About 35,940 work in the state. That is 58.9 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 $46.99 an hour, which is 63% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $33.28 and $52.56 an hour. BLS counts 12,290 of them working in the state, 20.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for brickmasons and blockmasons ($49.16 an hour) would add about $460 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($30.02) would take off about $1,050. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,098,130 jobs across Illinois (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $30.02 | $43.26 | $49.16 | $29.87 | 1.45 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.14 | $29.18 | $45.79 | $22.66 | 1.29 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $33.28 | $46.99 | $52.56 | $28.78 | 1.63 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.44 | |||||
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Retaining wall in Illinois: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Illinois?
$9,000 to $16,000 for 200 sq ft of wall face, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Illinois can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Illinois is cheapest for retaining wall?
Rockford at about $11,400 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). The priciest is Chicago at $12,800.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Illinois than the US average?
It is 22% more expensive: $12,500 against $10,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Illinois?
About 54% ($6,750). Materials are 44%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.44x the national wage level.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Illinois?
The BLS statewide median is $43.26 an hour, against $29.87 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.02 to $49.16.
+Where does Illinois rank for retaining wall costs?
2nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $12,500 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Illinois?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $9,000 to $11,800 and premium work $13,200 to $16,000. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+Does the season matter for retaining wall in Illinois?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Illinois metros we cover, Chicago has the most comfortable months (8 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 Illinois
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.