Retaining wall cost in Chattanooga, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,950 – $13,100
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $34.50 – $63.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #155
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Chattanooga, TN usually costs $6,950 to $13,100 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $34.50 to $63.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.0).
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Chattanooga, TN, standard level
$8,800 to $11,300
About $43 to $55 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $4,500 | $4,900 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $300 |
| Total | $8,800 | $11,300 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Chattanooga, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 51% |
| Labor | $4,200 | $4,700 | $5,200 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $410 | 2% |
| Total | $6,950 | $10,000 | $13,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Chattanooga number
Labor is 47% of the midpoint bill here, against 46% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is brickmasons and blockmasons (50%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Chattanooga the blended ratio comes out at 1.00.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chattanooga is at 96.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,100 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.5: $45 to $410.
Chattanooga: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chattanooga. 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
$6,950 to $9,400
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,800 to $11,300
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,700 to $13,100
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,500 – $4,800 | $4,500 – $5,800 | $5,450 – $6,750 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,800 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,700 | $4,400 – $5,500 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,550 – $7,550 | $7,050 – $9,100 | $8,600 – $10,600 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,350 – $11,300 | $10,500 – $13,500 | $12,700 – $15,700 |
What local crews earn in Chattanooga
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 Chattanooga the blend is 1.00.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $33.49 an hour, which is 12% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $29.89 and $33.49 an hour. BLS counts 150 of them working in the area, 5.6 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 $20.80 an hour, which is 8% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.64 and $23.48 an hour. BLS counts 1,800 of them working in the area, 67.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $24.19 an hour, 16% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.75 and $28.77 an hour. About 750 work in the metro. That is 27.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (brickmasons and blockmasons) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $0 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $280. That is a swing of roughly 2.8% to 0.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chattanooga has 268,750 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 98th 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% | $29.89 | $33.49 | $33.49 | $29.87 | 1.12 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.64 | $20.80 | $23.48 | $22.66 | 0.92 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $21.75 | $24.19 | $28.77 | $28.78 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Chattanooga against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Nashville is the priciest of the group at $10,100. Dalton is the cheapest at $8,950.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TNthis page | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | |
| Dalton, GA35 miles | $5,950 – $11,900 | $8,950 | −11% |
| Huntsville, AL80 miles | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −9% |
| Knoxville, TN95 miles | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −1% |
| Gainesville, GA100 miles | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | −9% |
| Nashville, TN105 miles | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +1% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chattanooga ranks #155 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chattanooga is 1% above the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +1% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | level |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $6,700 – $12,800 | $9,750 | −3% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $6,750 – $12,900 | $9,800 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $6,750 – $12,900 | $9,800 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chattanooga against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $8,450 – $15,700 | $12,100 | +20% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −9% |
| Jackson, MS | 270,730 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −10% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −9% |
Why two Chattanooga quotes can differ
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.
Height
Walls over 4 feet need engineering, deeper excavation and more skilled labor; many cities require permits over 3-4 feet (HomeGuide).
Chattanooga 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, Chattanooga Lovell Ap (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 Chattanooga are February through June and September through December: 9 of 12. Outside them, January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 56 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Chattanooga gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.3 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 58 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 | 51 | 32 | 5.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 56 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 35 | 5.3 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Chattanooga?
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chattanooga wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−3%) and concrete driveway lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,300 | −3% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,050 | −12% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,300 | −7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,200 – $107,000 | −5% |
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Retaining wall in Chattanooga: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Chattanooga?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,950 to $13,100 in the Chattanooga area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,800 to $11,300. 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 Chattanooga?
About $34.50 to $63.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $410 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Chattanooga or Dalton?
Dalton is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $8,950, which is 11% less than Chattanooga ($10,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chattanooga?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $4,700 out of $10,000. Materials are 51% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Chattanooga?
$5,550 to $10,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Chattanooga?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $410 for fees in the Chattanooga area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chattanooga expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Chattanooga is 1% above the Tennessee statewide estimate ($9,900 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Chattanooga?
The BLS median is $33.49 an hour in the Chattanooga area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.89 to $33.49.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Chattanooga?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,950 to $9,400 and premium work $10,700 to $13,100. 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 Chattanooga?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and September through December. 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 Chattanooga
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.