Retaining wall cost in Canton, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,500 – $13,700
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $37.50 – $66.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #104
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a retaining wall in Canton, plan on $7,500 to $13,700 for 200 sq ft of wall face, all in. Per sq ft of wall face, that is $37.50 to $66.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% higher than the national one. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $36.66 an hour in the Canton area, 23% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Canton, OH, standard level
$9,400 to $11,900
About $46 to $58 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $5,200 | $5,650 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $300 |
| Total | $9,400 | $11,900 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Canton, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $4,950 | $7,300 | 47% |
| Labor | $4,850 | $5,450 | $6,000 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $400 | 2% |
| Total | $7,500 | $10,600 | $13,700 | 100% |
What is behind the Canton number
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, Canton wages are 1.16 times the national level. Labor makes up about 51% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Canton metro is 93.6 (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 (89.4) and land at $45 to $400.
Climate in Canton: timing your retaining wall job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Akron Canton Rgnl Ap (10 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 Canton (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 120 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Canton gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 47 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.1 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 | 36 | 20 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 22 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 29 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 62 | 40 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 50 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 59 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 63 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 62 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 55 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 44 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 34 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 40 | 26 | 2.9 | Cold |
Canton 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 Canton is 1.16 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $36.66 an hour, 23% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $28.67 and $37.41 an hour. About 150 work in the metro. That is 9.2 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 $25.85 an hour, 14% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.85 and $35.80 an hour. About 1,100 work in the metro. That is 67.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.85 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.38 and $43.07 an hour. BLS counts 530 of them working in the area, 32.5 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 ($37.41 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $60. At the 25th percentile ($28.67) it shrinks by about $630. The total moves by 0.6% or 5.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 163,080 jobs in the Canton-Massillon area. That makes it the 145th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $28.67 | $36.66 | $37.41 | $29.87 | 1.23 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.85 | $25.85 | $35.80 | $22.66 | 1.14 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $24.38 | $28.85 | $43.07 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Canton
Because every project leans on different trades, Canton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +5% and sod installation −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $630 – $2,200 | +5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,150 – $5,700 | +5% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,750 – $9,600 | +4% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,950 – $9,850 | −1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,800 – $115,000 | +2% |
How Canton compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Canton. Wheeling is the lowest at about $9,400 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton, OHthis page | $7,500 – $13,700 | $10,600 | |
| Akron, OH30 miles | $7,550 – $13,700 | $10,600 | level |
| Youngstown, OH40 miles | $6,850 – $12,900 | $9,900 | −7% |
| Wheeling, WV55 miles | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,400 | −12% |
| Cleveland, OH65 miles | $7,850 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +4% |
| Pittsburgh, PA75 miles | $7,700 – $14,300 | $11,000 | +3% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $7,500 – $13,700 | $10,600 | level |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Canton comes in at #104 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, Canton is 0% above the Ohio figure.
Other Ohio metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $7,900 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +4% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $7,450 – $13,700 | $10,600 | level |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $7,850 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +4% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $7,200 – $13,400 | $10,300 | −3% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $7,550 – $13,700 | $10,600 | level |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $7,500 – $13,700 | $10,600 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Canton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Canton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont, TX | 163,220 jobs | $6,550 – $12,500 | $9,550 | −10% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $6,350 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −12% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −14% |
| Waterbury, CT | 160,710 jobs | $7,700 – $14,100 | $10,900 | +3% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Canton
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.
Canton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Canton 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
$7,500 to $10,000
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$9,400 to $11,900
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$11,200 to $13,700
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,800 – $5,100 | $4,750 – $6,100 | $5,750 – $7,050 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,050 – $4,100 | $3,850 – $4,900 | $4,650 – $5,750 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,050 – $8,050 | $7,550 – $9,550 | $9,050 – $11,100 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $9,000 – $12,000 | $11,200 – $14,200 | $13,400 – $16,400 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed retaining wall report for Canton, OH, $9
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Retaining wall in Canton: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Canton?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $7,500 to $13,700 in the Canton area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,400 to $11,900. 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 Canton?
About $37.50 to $66.50 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 Canton or Akron?
Akron is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,600, which is 0% more than Canton ($10,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Canton?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $5,450 out of $10,600. Materials are 47% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Canton?
$6,050 to $11,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Canton?
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 Canton area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Canton expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Ohio?
Canton is 0% above the Ohio statewide estimate ($10,600 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Canton?
The BLS median is $36.66 an hour in the Canton area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.67 to $37.41.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Canton?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $7,500 to $10,000 and premium work $11,200 to $13,700. 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 Canton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October and November 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 Canton
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.