Retaining wall cost in Minneapolis, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $9,100 – $16,100
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $45 – $78
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +23%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #8
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a retaining wall in Minneapolis, plan on $9,100 to $16,100 for 200 sq ft of wall face, all in. Per sq ft of wall face, that is $45 to $78 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 23% higher than the national one. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $47.10 an hour in the Minneapolis area, 58% above the US median of $29.87.
Estimate your retaining wall cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Minneapolis, MN, standard level
$11,200 to $14,000
About $55 to $68.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,450 | $6,500 |
| Labor | $6,600 | $7,150 |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $350 |
| Total | $11,200 | $14,000 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Minneapolis, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,450 | $8,050 | 43% |
| Labor | $6,150 | $6,850 | $7,600 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $260 | $470 | 2% |
| Total | $9,100 | $12,600 | $16,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Minneapolis number
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 $47.10 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Minneapolis is 1.46 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 55% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Minneapolis metro is 103.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,450, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (104.8) and land at $50 to $470.
Minneapolis against nearby metros and the rest of Minnesota
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 $11,100 to $12,600 across Minneapolis and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MNthis page | $9,100 – $16,100 | $12,600 | |
| St. Cloud, MN70 miles | $8,250 – $14,700 | $11,500 | −9% |
| Rochester, MN90 miles | $8,550 – $15,100 | $11,800 | −6% |
| Eau Claire, WI100 miles | $8,050 – $14,400 | $11,200 | −11% |
| La Crosse, WI145 miles | $7,950 – $14,300 | $11,100 | −12% |
| Duluth, MN160 miles | $8,150 – $14,500 | $11,300 | −10% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $8,800 – $15,600 | $12,200 | −3% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −19% |
Across 300 US metros, Minneapolis comes in at #8 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, Minneapolis is 3% above the Minnesota figure.
Other Minnesota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $8,150 – $14,500 | $11,300 | −10% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $8,550 – $15,100 | $11,800 | −6% |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $8,250 – $14,700 | $11,500 | −9% |
Cities with a workforce like Minneapolis's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Minneapolis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $9,200 – $16,300 | $12,800 | +1% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $7,450 – $13,900 | $10,700 | −15% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $9,400 – $16,800 | $13,100 | +4% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $7,750 – $14,400 | $11,100 | −12% |
Climate in Minneapolis: timing your retaining wall job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Lower St Anthony Falls (in the city). 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 Minneapolis (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 147 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Minneapolis gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 18 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 | 22 | 8 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 27 | 12 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 40 | 24 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 36 | 3.3 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 59 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 64 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 62 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 54 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 56 | 41 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 40 | 27 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 27 | 15 | 1.3 | Cold |
Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis is 1.46 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $47.10 an hour, 58% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $44.37 and $47.68 an hour. About 820 work in the metro. That is 4.2 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 $29.79 an hour, 31% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $24.17 and $40.14 an hour. About 17,330 work in the metro. That is 88.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $40.07 an hour, which is 39% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $33.65 and $48.47 an hour. BLS counts 4,270 of them working in the area, 21.9 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 ($47.68 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $45. At the 25th percentile ($44.37) it shrinks by about $210. The total moves by 0.4% or 1.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,951,650 jobs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area. That makes it the 14th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $44.37 | $47.10 | $47.68 | $29.87 | 1.58 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $24.17 | $29.79 | $40.14 | $22.66 | 1.31 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $33.65 | $40.07 | $48.47 | $28.78 | 1.39 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.46 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Minneapolis?
Because every project leans on different trades, Minneapolis's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +24% and sod installation +12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $740 – $2,600 | +23% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,700 – $6,750 | +24% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,350 – $11,200 | +21% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,700 – $3,700 | +12% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $5,000 – $12,400 | +24% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $44,500 – $139,000 | +23% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Minneapolis
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Minneapolis 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
$9,100 to $11,900
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$11,200 to $14,000
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$13,300 to $16,100
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $4,550 – $6,050 | $5,700 – $7,150 | $6,800 – $8,300 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,650 – $4,900 | $4,600 – $5,800 | $5,500 – $6,750 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $7,250 – $9,550 | $9,000 – $11,300 | $10,700 – $13,000 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $10,900 – $14,200 | $13,400 – $16,700 | $15,900 – $19,200 |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Minneapolis
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.
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 $11,200 to $14,000 for Minneapolis, MN is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the retaining wall numbers for Minneapolis, MN line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Minneapolis: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Minneapolis?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $9,100 to $16,100 in the Minneapolis area. A standard-spec job lands at $11,200 to $14,000. 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 Minneapolis?
About $45 to $78 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $470 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Minneapolis or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $11,500, which is 9% less than Minneapolis ($12,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Minneapolis?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $6,850 out of $12,600. Materials are 43% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Minneapolis?
$7,250 to $13,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Minneapolis?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $470 for fees in the Minneapolis area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Minneapolis expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Minneapolis is 3% above 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 Minneapolis?
The BLS median is $47.10 an hour in the Minneapolis area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $44.37 to $47.68.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Minneapolis?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $9,100 to $11,900 and premium work $13,300 to $16,100. 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 Minneapolis?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April 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 Minneapolis
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.