Retaining wall cost in Ogden, UT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,900 – $13,100
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $34 – $63
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #161
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a retaining wall in Ogden, plan on $6,900 to $13,100 for 200 sq ft of wall face, all in. Per sq ft of wall face, that is $34 to $63 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.4).
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Ogden, UT, standard level
$8,750 to $11,200
About $43 to $54.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,100 |
| Labor | $4,450 | $4,800 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $330 |
| Total | $8,750 | $11,200 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Ogden, UT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 51% |
| Labor | $4,150 | $4,600 | $5,100 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $450 | 3% |
| Total | $6,900 | $10,000 | $13,100 | 100% |
Why Ogden 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 $29.11 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Ogden is 0.98 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Ogden metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,100, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.3) and land at $50 to $450.
Climate in Ogden: timing your retaining wall job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ogden Hinkley Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through June and August through October are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Ogden (7 of 12 months). January, February, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February, 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 121 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Ogden gets about 16 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and May (2.2 inches in May). Inside the workable window, August and September are the driest, at 0.7 and 1.1 inches. The station averages about 49 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 | 21 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 25 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 33 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 60 | 39 | 2.0 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 47 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 55 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 65 | 0.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 63 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 53 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 41 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 31 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 37 | 22 | 1.3 | Cold |
Ogden: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Ogden 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
$6,900 to $9,350
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,750 to $11,200
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,600 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 | $3,450 – $4,800 | $4,450 – $5,800 | $5,450 – $6,750 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,800 – $3,850 | $3,600 – $4,700 | $4,400 – $5,500 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,500 – $7,550 | $7,050 – $9,050 | $8,550 – $10,600 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,250 – $11,200 | $10,500 – $13,400 | $12,700 – $15,600 |
Ogden against nearby metros and the rest of Utah
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Ogden. Logan is the lowest at about $9,900 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden, UTthis page | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | |
| Logan, UT55 miles | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −1% |
| Salt Lake City, UT70 miles | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,000 | +1% |
| Provo, UT90 miles | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +1% |
| Idaho Falls, ID175 miles | $7,200 – $13,400 | $10,300 | +3% |
| Grand Junction, CO230 miles | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +1% |
| Utah (statewide) | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | level |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Ogden comes in at #161 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, Ogden is 0% below the Utah figure.
Other Utah metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,000 | +1% |
| Provo, UT | 304,660 jobs | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +1% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $6,550 – $12,600 | $9,600 | −4% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Ogden's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Ogden against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | −8% |
| Jackson, MS | 270,730 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −9% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $6,450 – $12,400 | $9,400 | −6% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $8,450 – $15,700 | $12,100 | +21% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Ogden
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).
Ogden 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 Ogden is 0.98 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $29.11 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $24.38 and $36.47 an hour. About 270 work in the metro. That is 9.9 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 $22.31 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.74 and $26.80 an hour. About 3,140 work in the metro. That is 115.7 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 $28.96 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.54 and $31.46 an hour. BLS counts 1,160 of them working in the area, 42.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the brickmasons and blockmasons on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.47 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $580. At the 25th percentile ($24.38) it shrinks by about $370. The total moves by 5.8% or 3.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 271,370 jobs in the Ogden area. That makes it the 95th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.17% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $24.38 | $29.11 | $36.47 | $29.87 | 0.97 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.74 | $22.31 | $26.80 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $24.54 | $28.96 | $31.46 | $28.78 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.98 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Ogden
Because every project leans on different trades, Ogden's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −1% and concrete driveway −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,050 | −2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,950 – $5,350 | −2% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,450 – $8,650 | −6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,250 | −1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,950 – $9,850 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,300 – $110,500 | −2% |
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 $8,750 to $11,200 for Ogden, UT is attached.
Detailed retaining wall report for Ogden, UT, $9
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Retaining wall in Ogden: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Ogden?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,900 to $13,100 in the Ogden area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,750 to $11,200. 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 Ogden?
About $34 to $63 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Ogden or Logan?
Logan is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,900, which is 1% less than Ogden ($10,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Ogden?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $4,600 out of $10,000. Materials are 51% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Ogden?
$5,500 to $10,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Ogden?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $450 for fees in the Ogden area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Ogden expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Utah?
Ogden is 0% below the Utah statewide estimate ($10,000 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Utah; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Ogden?
The BLS median is $29.11 an hour in the Ogden area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.38 to $36.47.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Ogden?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,900 to $9,350 and premium work $10,600 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 Ogden?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and August through October. August and September 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 Ogden
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.