Retaining wall cost in Dallas, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,850 – $13,300
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $34 – $64.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #150
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Dallas area: $6,850 to $13,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $28.56 an hour in the Dallas area, 4% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Dallas, TX, standard level
$8,800 to $11,400
About $43 to $55 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,400 | $6,500 |
| Labor | $4,200 | $4,550 |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $340 |
| Total | $8,800 | $11,400 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Dallas, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,450 | $8,000 | 54% |
| Labor | $3,900 | $4,350 | $4,850 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $260 | $460 | 3% |
| Total | $6,850 | $10,100 | $13,300 | 100% |
Why Dallas prices look the way they do
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, Dallas wages are 0.93 times the national level. Labor makes up about 43% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Dallas is at 102.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,450 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.1: $50 to $460.
Specs and site conditions that change a Dallas bid
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.
Who does the work: Dallas trade wages
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 Dallas the blend is 0.93.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $28.56 an hour, which is 4% below the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $24.04 and $28.72 an hour. BLS counts 1,590 of them working in the area, 3.9 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 $21.14 an hour, which is 7% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.19 and $22.79 an hour. BLS counts 29,670 of them working in the area, 73.3 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 $24.70 an hour, 14% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.95 and $29.04 an hour. About 11,510 work in the metro. That is 28.4 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 $15 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $360. That is a swing of roughly 3.5% to 0.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington has 4,049,800 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 4th 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% | $24.04 | $28.56 | $28.72 | $29.87 | 0.96 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.19 | $21.14 | $22.79 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $22.95 | $24.70 | $29.04 | $28.78 | 0.86 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Dallas against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Dallas is the priciest of the group. College Station is the cheapest at $8,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TXthis page | $6,850 – $13,300 | $10,100 | |
| Waco, TX90 miles | $6,250 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −9% |
| Tyler, TX105 miles | $6,250 – $12,100 | $9,200 | −9% |
| Killeen, TX125 miles | $6,250 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −9% |
| Longview, TX135 miles | $6,250 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −9% |
| College Station, TX145 miles | $5,950 – $11,800 | $8,900 | −12% |
| Texas (statewide) | $6,500 – $12,700 | $9,600 | −5% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Dallas ranks #150 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Dallas is 5% above the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $6,600 – $12,900 | $9,750 | −3% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $6,600 – $12,600 | $9,600 | −5% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −8% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $5,900 – $11,700 | $8,850 | −12% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $6,050 – $11,900 | $8,950 | −11% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $6,400 – $12,300 | $9,350 | −7% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dallas against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $9,150 – $16,400 | $12,800 | +27% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $6,600 – $12,900 | $9,750 | −3% |
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $8,050 – $15,000 | $11,600 | +15% |
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $7,150 – $13,800 | $10,500 | +4% |
Related projects, priced for Dallas
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Dallas wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−1%) and concrete driveway lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $580 – $2,050 | −3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,950 – $5,350 | −2% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,450 | −8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | −1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,750 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,000 – $109,500 | −3% |
Dallas: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Dallas. 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
$6,850 to $9,450
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,800 to $11,400
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,700 to $13,300
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,450 – $4,800 | $4,500 – $5,850 | $5,500 – $6,900 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,750 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,750 | $4,450 – $5,600 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,500 – $7,600 | $7,050 – $9,150 | $8,650 – $10,700 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,200 – $11,300 | $10,500 – $13,600 | $12,800 – $15,900 |
The best months for retaining wall in Dallas
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Dallas Love Fld (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 Dallas are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Dallas gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 2 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and October (4.8 inches in October). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 108 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 | 58 | 38 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 42 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 57 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 93 | 74 | 3.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 97 | 78 | 1.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 77 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 90 | 70 | 3.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 59 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 68 | 48 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 40 | 3.2 | Workable |
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Detailed retaining wall report for Dallas, TX, $9
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Retaining wall in Dallas: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Dallas?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,850 to $13,300 in the Dallas area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,800 to $11,400. 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 Dallas?
About $34 to $64.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Dallas or Waco?
Waco is 90 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,200, which is 9% less than Dallas ($10,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dallas?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $4,350 out of $10,100. Materials are 54% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Dallas?
$5,500 to $10,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Dallas?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $460 for fees in the Dallas area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dallas expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Texas?
Dallas is 5% above the Texas statewide estimate ($9,600 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Dallas?
The BLS median is $28.56 an hour in the Dallas area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.04 to $28.72.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Dallas?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,850 to $9,450 and premium work $10,700 to $13,300. 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 Dallas?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. January and February 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 Dallas
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.