Retaining wall cost in Ann Arbor, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,700 – $14,000
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $38.50 – $68
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #86
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a retaining wall in Ann Arbor, plan on $7,700 to $14,000 for 200 sq ft of wall face, all in. Per sq ft of wall face, that is $38.50 to $68 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% higher than the national one. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $40.00 an hour in the Ann Arbor area, 34% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Ann Arbor, MI, standard level
$9,600 to $12,100
About $47 to $59 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $5,400 | $5,900 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $330 |
| Total | $9,600 | $12,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Ann Arbor, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $4,950 | $7,300 | 46% |
| Labor | $5,050 | $5,650 | $6,250 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $450 | 2% |
| Total | $7,700 | $10,900 | $14,000 | 100% |
Why Ann Arbor prices look the way they do
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, Ann Arbor wages are 1.20 times the national level. Labor makes up about 52% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Ann Arbor metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $4,950, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.9) and land at $50 to $450.
Ann Arbor labor market for retaining wall
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 Ann Arbor is 1.20 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $40.00 an hour, 34% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $37.64 and $40.00 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 $22.01 and $29.43 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 23.2 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 $30.05 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.91 and $39.58 an hour. BLS counts 170 of them working in the area, 7.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the brickmasons and blockmasons on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($40.00 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $0. At the 25th percentile ($37.64) it shrinks by about $190. The total moves by 0.0% or 1.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 219,730 jobs in the Ann Arbor area. That makes it the 110th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.14% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $37.64 | $40.00 | $40.00 | $29.87 | 1.34 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.01 | $24.48 | $29.43 | $22.66 | 1.08 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $23.91 | $30.05 | $39.58 | $28.78 | 1.04 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.20 | |||||
Ann Arbor against nearby metros and the rest of Michigan
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Ann Arbor. Saginaw is the lowest at about $10,000 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MIthis page | $7,700 – $14,000 | $10,900 | |
| Detroit, MI45 miles | $7,450 – $13,900 | $10,700 | −2% |
| Toledo, OH50 miles | $7,500 – $13,700 | $10,600 | −2% |
| Lansing, MI50 miles | $7,650 – $13,900 | $10,800 | −1% |
| Flint, MI55 miles | $7,400 – $13,600 | $10,500 | −3% |
| Saginaw, MI75 miles | $6,950 – $13,000 | $10,000 | −8% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $7,100 – $13,300 | $10,200 | −6% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −6% |
Across 300 US metros, Ann Arbor comes in at #86 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, Ann Arbor is 7% above the Michigan figure.
Other Michigan metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $7,450 – $13,900 | $10,700 | −2% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $7,100 – $13,200 | $10,100 | −7% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $7,650 – $13,900 | $10,800 | −1% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $7,400 – $13,600 | $10,500 | −3% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $7,050 – $13,200 | $10,100 | −7% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $6,950 – $13,000 | $10,000 | −8% |
Cities with a workforce like Ann Arbor's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Ann Arbor against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deltona, FL | 219,740 jobs | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,400 | −14% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $7,650 – $13,900 | $10,800 | −1% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $6,750 – $12,800 | $9,750 | −10% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 205,260 jobs | $8,600 – $15,600 | $12,100 | +11% |
Related projects, priced for Ann Arbor
Because every project leans on different trades, Ann Arbor's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs +6% and sod installation −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,800 | +6% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,700 – $9,450 | +2% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,150 – $10,400 | +4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,600 – $117,500 | +4% |
Climate in Ann Arbor: timing your retaining wall job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ann Arbor Muni Ap (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 Ann Arbor (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 150 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Ann Arbor gets about 30 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and July (3.6 inches in June). Inside the workable window, August and October are the driest, at 2.7 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 11 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 | 15 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 16 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 45 | 25 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 35 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 46 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 54 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 57 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 57 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 48 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 38 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 30 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Dec | 36 | 22 | 1.7 | Cold |
Why two Ann Arbor quotes can differ
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.
Ann Arbor: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Ann Arbor 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
$7,700 to $10,200
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$9,600 to $12,100
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$11,500 to $14,000
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,900 – $5,250 | $4,900 – $6,250 | $5,900 – $7,250 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,100 – $4,200 | $3,950 – $5,050 | $4,800 – $5,900 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,200 – $8,250 | $7,700 – $9,750 | $9,250 – $11,300 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $9,250 – $12,200 | $11,500 – $14,500 | $13,700 – $16,700 |
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 $9,600 to $12,100 for Ann Arbor, MI is attached.
Detailed retaining wall report for Ann Arbor, MI, $9
Multi-page report for Ann Arbor, MI: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Retaining wall in Ann Arbor: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Ann Arbor?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $7,700 to $14,000 in the Ann Arbor area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,600 to $12,100. 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 Ann Arbor?
About $38.50 to $68 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Ann Arbor or Detroit?
Detroit is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,700, which is 2% less than Ann Arbor ($10,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Ann Arbor?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $5,650 out of $10,900. Materials are 46% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Ann Arbor?
$6,200 to $11,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Ann Arbor?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $450 for fees in the Ann Arbor area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Ann Arbor expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Michigan?
Ann Arbor is 7% above the Michigan statewide estimate ($10,200 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Ann Arbor?
The BLS median is $40.00 an hour in the Ann Arbor area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $37.64 to $40.00.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Ann Arbor?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $7,700 to $10,200 and premium work $11,500 to $14,000. 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 Ann Arbor?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. August and October 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 Ann Arbor
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.