Retaining wall cost in Duluth, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $8,150 – $14,500
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $40.50 – $70.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #50
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Duluth, MN usually costs $8,150 to $14,500 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $40.50 to $70.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,100 more. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $38.78 an hour in the Duluth area, 30% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Duluth, MN, standard level
$10,100 to $12,600
About $49.50 to $61.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,100 | $6,000 |
| Labor | $5,800 | $6,300 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $10,100 | $12,600 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Duluth, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $5,050 | $7,450 | 45% |
| Labor | $5,400 | $6,050 | $6,700 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $400 | 2% |
| Total | $8,150 | $11,300 | $14,500 | 100% |
Where the Duluth 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, Duluth wages are 1.29 times the national level. Labor makes up about 53% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Duluth is at 95.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,050 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 88.8: $45 to $400.
Planning more than one job in Duluth?
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Duluth wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+17%) and sod installation lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +17% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,350 – $6,100 | +12% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,100 – $10,600 | +14% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,250 | −1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,550 – $11,400 | +14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,800 – $127,000 | +13% |
Cost by quality level and size in Duluth
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Duluth. 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
$8,150 to $10,700
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$10,100 to $12,600
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$12,000 to $14,500
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $4,100 – $5,450 | $5,100 – $6,450 | $6,100 – $7,450 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,300 – $4,400 | $4,100 – $5,200 | $4,950 – $6,050 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,500 – $8,600 | $8,050 – $10,200 | $9,650 – $11,700 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $9,750 – $12,800 | $12,000 – $15,100 | $14,300 – $17,400 |
Duluth weather and the retaining wall calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Duluth (5 miles from the city center). 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 Duluth are May through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, April, 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 177 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Duluth gets about 31 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 90 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 2 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 | 20 | 2 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 25 | 6 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 36 | 18 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 49 | 30 | 2.5 | Cold |
| May | 63 | 41 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 72 | 50 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 78 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 76 | 55 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 67 | 47 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 53 | 36 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 37 | 23 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 25 | 10 | 1.5 | Cold |
What local crews earn in Duluth
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 Duluth the blend is 1.29.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $38.78 an hour, which is 30% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $38.05 and $44.93 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 4.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $29.49 an hour, which is 30% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.29 and $37.00 an hour. BLS counts 1,390 of them working in the area, 111.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $36.08 an hour, 25% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.89 and $40.28 an hour. About 770 work in the metro. That is 61.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (brickmasons and blockmasons) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $480 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $55. That is a swing of roughly 0.5% to 4.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Duluth has 124,710 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 173rd 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% | $38.05 | $38.78 | $44.93 | $29.87 | 1.30 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $23.29 | $29.49 | $37.00 | $22.66 | 1.30 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $29.89 | $36.08 | $40.28 | $28.78 | 1.25 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Duluth
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.
Is Duluth cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $10,100 to $12,600 across Duluth and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MNthis page | $8,150 – $14,500 | $11,300 | |
| St. Cloud, MN155 miles | $8,250 – $14,700 | $11,500 | +1% |
| Minneapolis, MN160 miles | $9,100 – $16,100 | $12,600 | +11% |
| Eau Claire, WI175 miles | $8,050 – $14,400 | $11,200 | −1% |
| Wausau, WI210 miles | $8,050 – $14,400 | $11,200 | −1% |
| Fargo, ND215 miles | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | −11% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $8,800 – $15,600 | $12,200 | +8% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Duluth ranks #50 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Duluth is 7% below the Minnesota figure.
Elsewhere in Minnesota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $9,100 – $16,100 | $12,600 | +11% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $8,550 – $15,100 | $11,800 | +4% |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $8,250 – $14,700 | $11,500 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Duluth against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $6,600 – $12,700 | $9,650 | −15% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $8,100 – $14,500 | $11,300 | level |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $7,400 – $13,800 | $10,600 | −7% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $6,300 – $12,200 | $9,250 | −18% |
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Retaining wall in Duluth: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Duluth?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $8,150 to $14,500 in the Duluth area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,100 to $12,600. 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 Duluth?
About $40.50 to $70.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Duluth or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 155 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $11,500, which is 1% more than Duluth ($11,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Duluth?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $6,050 out of $11,300. Materials are 45% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Duluth?
$6,500 to $11,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Duluth?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $400 for fees in the Duluth area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Duluth expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Duluth is 7% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($12,200 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Duluth?
The BLS median is $38.78 an hour in the Duluth area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $38.05 to $44.93.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Duluth?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $8,150 to $10,700 and premium work $12,000 to $14,500. 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 Duluth?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. May 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 Duluth
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.