Retaining wall cost in Portland, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,350 – $12,500
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $31.50 – $60
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #218
- 1 = most expensive
Portland homeowners pay roughly $6,350 to $12,500 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $31.50 to $60 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Portland is 8% lower. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $20.54 an hour in the Portland area, 31% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Portland, ME, standard level
$8,200 to $10,600
About $40 to $51.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $6,100 |
| Labor | $3,850 | $4,150 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $340 |
| Total | $8,200 | $10,600 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Portland, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,150 | $7,600 | 55% |
| Labor | $3,600 | $4,000 | $4,450 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $460 | 3% |
| Total | $6,350 | $9,400 | $12,500 | 100% |
Why Portland prices look the way they do
Labor is 43% of the midpoint bill here, against 46% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is brickmasons and blockmasons (50%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Portland the blended ratio comes out at 0.85. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Maine statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Portland metro is 97.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,150, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (101.9) and land at $50 to $460.
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 Portland. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in Portland
Because every project leans on different trades, Portland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs +6% and inground pool −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,250 | −3% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,750 – $9,550 | +3% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,500 | +6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,000 – $9,950 | −1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,600 – $108,500 | −4% |
When to schedule retaining wall in Portland
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Portland Intl Jetport (5 miles from the city center). 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 Portland (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 144 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Portland gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 69 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, October and December (5.3 inches in October). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 32 | 16 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 17 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 42 | 26 | 4.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 35 | 4.4 | Workable |
| May | 64 | 46 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 55 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 61 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 41 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 32 | 4.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 22 | 4.5 | Cold |
Specs and site conditions that change a Portland bid
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).
Portland against nearby metros and the rest of Maine
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 $9,400 to $12,300 across Portland and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, MEthis page | $6,350 – $12,500 | $9,400 | |
| Manchester, NH85 miles | $7,150 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +10% |
| Boston, MA85 miles | $8,900 – $15,800 | $12,300 | +31% |
| Worcester, MA120 miles | $8,100 – $14,600 | $11,400 | +21% |
| Barnstable, MA135 miles | $8,600 – $15,200 | $11,900 | +27% |
| Providence, RI140 miles | $8,300 – $14,800 | $11,600 | +23% |
| Maine (statewide) | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Portland comes in at #218 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, Portland is 1% above the Maine figure.
Other Maine metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Portland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $8,150 – $15,100 | $11,600 | +24% |
| Lexington, KY | 286,910 jobs | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +5% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $7,500 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +13% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $8,000 – $14,500 | $11,300 | +20% |
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 Portland is 0.85 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Portland metro, so we used the Maine statewide median: $20.54 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.31 and $28.53 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.31 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.50 and $27.46 an hour. About 1,470 work in the metro. That is 51.0 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 $28.62 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.00 and $30.84 an hour. BLS counts 880 of them working in the area, 30.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the brickmasons and blockmasons on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.53 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $630. At the 25th percentile ($19.31) it shrinks by about $95. The total moves by 6.7% or 1.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 288,480 jobs in the Portland-South Portland area. That makes it the 89th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.19% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $19.31 | $20.54 | $28.53 | $29.87 | 0.69 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.50 | $23.31 | $27.46 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $25.00 | $28.62 | $30.84 | $28.78 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
Portland: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Portland 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
$6,350 to $8,800
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,200 to $10,600
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,000 to $12,500
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,200 – $4,500 | $4,200 – $5,500 | $5,150 – $6,450 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,550 – $3,650 | $3,400 – $4,450 | $4,200 – $5,250 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,100 – $7,100 | $6,600 – $8,550 | $8,050 – $10,100 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,600 – $10,500 | $9,800 – $12,700 | $12,000 – $14,900 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $8,200 to $10,600 for Portland, ME is attached.
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Retaining wall in Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Portland?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,350 to $12,500 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,200 to $10,600. 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 Portland?
About $31.50 to $60 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Portland or Manchester?
Manchester is 85 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,300, which is 10% more than Portland ($9,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $4,000 out of $9,400. Materials are 55% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Portland?
$5,100 to $10,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Portland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $460 for fees in the Portland area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Maine?
Portland is 1% above the Maine statewide estimate ($9,300 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Maine; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Portland?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $20.54 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.31 to $28.53.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Portland?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,350 to $8,800 and premium work $10,000 to $12,500. 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 Portland?
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 Portland
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.