Retaining wall cost in Manchester, NH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,150 – $13,500
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $35.50 – $65
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #121
- 1 = most expensive
Manchester homeowners pay roughly $7,150 to $13,500 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $35.50 to $65 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Manchester is almost level. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $32.16 an hour in the Manchester area, 8% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Manchester, NH, standard level
$9,050 to $11,600
About $44.50 to $56.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $6,150 |
| Labor | $4,700 | $5,100 |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $350 |
| Total | $9,050 | $11,600 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Manchester, NH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,750 | $5,200 | $7,600 | 50% |
| Labor | $4,400 | $4,900 | $5,400 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $260 | $480 | 3% |
| Total | $7,150 | $10,300 | $13,500 | 100% |
Why Manchester 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 $32.16 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Manchester is 1.04 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the New Hampshire statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Manchester metro is 97.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,200, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.7) and land at $55 to $480.
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 Manchester. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Manchester 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.
Related projects, priced for Manchester
Because every project leans on different trades, Manchester's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs +5% and French drain −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $580 – $2,050 | −3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,600 | +3% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,650 – $9,200 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,450 | +5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,000 – $10,000 | level |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,200 – $113,000 | level |
Is Manchester cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group at $12,300. Portland is the cheapest at $9,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester, NHthis page | $7,150 – $13,500 | $10,300 | |
| Worcester, MA45 miles | $8,100 – $14,600 | $11,400 | +10% |
| Boston, MA45 miles | $8,900 – $15,800 | $12,300 | +19% |
| Amherst, MA60 miles | $8,450 – $15,100 | $11,800 | +14% |
| Springfield, MA70 miles | $8,650 – $15,300 | $12,000 | +16% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $6,350 – $12,500 | $9,400 | −9% |
| New Hampshire (statewide) | $7,300 – $13,700 | $10,500 | +1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Manchester comes in at #121 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, Manchester is 1% below the New Hampshire figure.
Manchester is the only New Hampshire metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Manchester's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Manchester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria, CA | 200,760 jobs | $7,800 – $14,600 | $11,200 | +8% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | −12% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $8,650 – $15,300 | $12,000 | +16% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $8,200 – $15,100 | $11,700 | +13% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Manchester
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Manchester 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
$7,150 to $9,700
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$9,050 to $11,600
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$11,000 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 | $3,600 – $4,950 | $4,650 – $6,000 | $5,650 – $7,000 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,900 – $4,000 | $3,750 – $4,850 | $4,550 – $5,700 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,750 – $7,800 | $7,300 – $9,350 | $8,850 – $10,900 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,600 – $11,600 | $10,800 – $13,900 | $13,100 – $16,100 |
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 Manchester is 1.04 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Manchester metro, so we used the New Hampshire statewide median: $32.16 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $25.61 and $36.22 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $22.84 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.68 and $26.49 an hour. About 1,070 work in the metro. That is 53.6 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 $29.02 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.00 and $33.38 an hour. BLS counts 210 of them working in the area, 10.5 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 ($36.22 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $320. At the 25th percentile ($25.61) it shrinks by about $520. The total moves by 3.1% or 5.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 199,560 jobs in the Manchester-Nashua area. That makes it the 115th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.13% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $25.61 | $32.16 | $36.22 | $29.87 | 1.08 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $19.68 | $22.84 | $26.49 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $25.00 | $29.02 | $33.38 | $28.78 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
When to schedule retaining wall in Manchester
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Manchester Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Manchester (8 of 12 months). 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 129 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Manchester gets about 40 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (4.0 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and July are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 16 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 | 34 | 17 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 19 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 27 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 38 | 3.3 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 48 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 58 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 62 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 54 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 33 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 39 | 24 | 3.3 | Cold |
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 $9,050 to $11,600 for Manchester, NH is attached.
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Retaining wall in Manchester: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Manchester?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $7,150 to $13,500 in the Manchester area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,050 to $11,600. 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 Manchester?
About $35.50 to $65 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $55 to $480 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Manchester or Worcester?
Worcester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $11,400, which is 10% more than Manchester ($10,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Manchester?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $4,900 out of $10,300. Materials are 50% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Manchester?
$5,750 to $10,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Manchester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $55 to $480 for fees in the Manchester area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Manchester expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of New Hampshire?
Manchester is 1% below the New Hampshire statewide estimate ($10,500 at the midpoint).
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Manchester?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $32.16 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.61 to $36.22.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Manchester?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $7,150 to $9,700 and premium work $11,000 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 Manchester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. April and July 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 Manchester
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.