Retaining wall cost in Bloomington, IN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,350 – $13,500
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $36.50 – $65.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #116
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Bloomington area: $7,350 to $13,500 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. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $35.15 an hour in the Bloomington area, 18% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Bloomington, IN, standard level
$9,200 to $11,700
About $45 to $57 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,950 |
| Labor | $5,000 | $5,400 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $310 |
| Total | $9,200 | $11,700 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Bloomington, IN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $5,000 | $7,350 | 48% |
| Labor | $4,650 | $5,200 | $5,750 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $240 | $430 | 2% |
| Total | $7,350 | $10,400 | $13,500 | 100% |
Why Bloomington 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 $35.15 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Bloomington is 1.11 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 50% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Indiana statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bloomington is at 94.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,000 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.1: $50 to $430.
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 Bloomington. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Bloomington?
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bloomington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (+9%) and sod installation lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $620 – $2,200 | +4% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,550 | +2% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,750 – $9,650 | +4% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,350 – $10,900 | +9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,200 – $116,500 | +3% |
Who does the work: Bloomington 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 Bloomington the blend is 1.11.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bloomington metro, so we used the Indiana statewide median: $35.15 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.39 and $38.56 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.42 an hour, which is 3% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.28 and $30.52 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 49.2 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 $29.87 an hour, 4% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.64 and $42.78 an hour. About 230 work in the metro. That is 31.4 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 $270 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $610. That is a swing of roughly 5.9% to 2.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bloomington has 73,240 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 251st 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% | $27.39 | $35.15 | $38.56 | $29.87 | 1.18 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $19.28 | $23.42 | $30.52 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $21.64 | $29.87 | $42.78 | $28.78 | 1.04 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
The best months for retaining wall in Bloomington
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Bloomington Indiana Univ (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 Bloomington are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March 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 108 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Bloomington gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 18 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (5.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, August and September are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.8 inches. The station averages about 21 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 | 37 | 21 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 23 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 32 | 3.7 | Cold |
| Apr | 64 | 42 | 5.2 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 53 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 62 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 65 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 64 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 56 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 34 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 41 | 26 | 3.5 | Cold |
Why two Bloomington quotes can differ
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.
Bloomington: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bloomington. 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
$7,350 to $9,800
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$9,200 to $11,700
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$11,100 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 | $3,700 – $5,000 | $4,700 – $6,000 | $5,650 – $7,000 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,950 – $4,050 | $3,750 – $4,850 | $4,600 – $5,650 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,900 – $7,900 | $7,400 – $9,400 | $8,900 – $10,900 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,800 – $11,700 | $11,000 – $13,900 | $13,200 – $16,200 |
Bloomington against nearby metros and the rest of Indiana
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Indianapolis is the priciest of the group at $10,800. Louisville is the cheapest at $10,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, INthis page | $7,350 – $13,500 | $10,400 | |
| Terre Haute, IN40 miles | $7,250 – $13,400 | $10,300 | −1% |
| Indianapolis, IN50 miles | $7,650 – $14,000 | $10,800 | +4% |
| Louisville, KY90 miles | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | −4% |
| Lafayette, IN90 miles | $7,250 – $13,400 | $10,300 | −1% |
| Evansville, IN95 miles | $7,450 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +1% |
| Indiana (statewide) | $7,650 – $14,000 | $10,800 | +4% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bloomington ranks #116 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bloomington is 3% below the Indiana figure.
Elsewhere in Indiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $7,650 – $14,000 | $10,800 | +4% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $7,200 – $13,400 | $10,300 | −1% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $7,450 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +1% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $7,650 – $13,900 | $10,800 | +3% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $7,300 – $13,500 | $10,400 | level |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $7,250 – $13,400 | $10,300 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bloomington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $9,750 – $17,300 | $13,500 | +30% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −13% |
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $6,850 – $12,900 | $9,900 | −5% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −5% |
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Retaining wall in Bloomington: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Bloomington?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $7,350 to $13,500 in the Bloomington area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,200 to $11,700. 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 Bloomington?
About $36.50 to $65.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $430 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Bloomington or Terre Haute?
Terre Haute is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,300, which is 1% less than Bloomington ($10,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bloomington?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $5,200 out of $10,400. Materials are 48% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Bloomington?
$5,900 to $10,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Bloomington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $430 for fees in the Bloomington area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bloomington expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Indiana?
Bloomington is 3% below the Indiana statewide estimate ($10,800 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Indiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Bloomington?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $35.15 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.39 to $38.56.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Bloomington?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $7,350 to $9,800 and premium work $11,100 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 Bloomington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. August and September 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 Bloomington
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.