Retaining wall cost in Virginia
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,700 – $13,000
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $33 – $63
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $10,300
- Metros covered
- 8
Across Virginia, a retaining wall costs about $6,700 to $13,000 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Statewide, that midpoint is 4% below the US figure of $10,300. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median $26.29 an hour in Virginia (US: $29.87).
Inside Virginia, the metros we cover range from $9,100 (Roanoke) to $9,650 (Charlottesville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Virginia (statewide), standard level
$8,550 to $11,100
About $42 to $54 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $6,300 |
| Labor | $4,100 | $4,450 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $330 |
| Total | $8,550 | $11,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Virginia
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $5,300 | $7,850 | 54% |
| Labor | $3,800 | $4,250 | $4,700 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $450 | 3% |
| Total | $6,700 | $9,850 | $13,000 | 100% |
What brickmasons and blockmasons and the other trades earn in Virginia
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.91 for Virginia.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $26.29 an hour, 12% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $22.38 and $29.15 an hour. About 2,350 work in the state. That is 5.7 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 $20.94 an hour, 8% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.80 and $22.86 an hour. About 25,830 work in the state. That is 62.9 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 $27.48 an hour, which is 5% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.10 and $30.45 an hour. BLS counts 12,100 of them working in the state, 29.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for brickmasons and blockmasons ($29.15 an hour) would add about $230 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.38) would take off about $310. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,109,320 jobs across Virginia (May 2025), which is 2.6% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $22.38 | $26.29 | $29.15 | $29.87 | 0.88 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.80 | $20.94 | $22.86 | $22.66 | 0.92 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $23.10 | $27.48 | $30.45 | $28.78 | 0.95 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Virginia
Height
Walls over 4 feet need engineering, deeper excavation and more skilled labor; many cities require permits over 3-4 feet (HomeGuide).
Material
Block, poured concrete and natural stone are priced differently; concrete and stone walls run higher than the segmental block default.
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.
Which Virginia city is cheapest for retaining wall?
0 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $9,850, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (200 sq ft of wall face) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $6,600 – $12,700 | $9,650 | −2% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $6,450 – $12,600 | $9,500 | −3% |
| Winchester, VA | $6,450 – $12,500 | $9,500 | −4% |
| Richmond, VA | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,450 | −4% |
| Blacksburg, VA | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,450 | −4% |
| Lynchburg, VA | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,250 | −6% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $6,200 – $12,300 | $9,250 | −6% |
| Roanoke, VA | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −7% |
Other Virginia jobs that often go with retaining wall
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Virginia wages and prices. Against national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−1%) and concrete driveway lowest (−6%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $580 – $2,050 | −3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,200 | −5% |
| 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 | $3,900 – $9,700 | −3% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,800 – $108,500 | −4% |
Virginia against its neighbors
Virginia ranks 37 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for retaining wall, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $13,300 and the cheapest New Mexico at $9,000, both for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint. Virginia sits at $9,850. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $7,600 – $14,500 | $11,000 | +12% |
| Maryland | 150 miles away | $7,050 – $13,600 | $10,300 | +5% |
| Delaware | 170 miles away | $7,000 – $13,300 | $10,100 | +3% |
| North Carolina | 180 miles away | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,350 | −5% |
| Pennsylvania | 210 miles away | $7,350 – $13,800 | $10,600 | +7% |
Virginia seasons and retaining wall
Season matters for retaining wall. For each Virginia metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Virginia Beach has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Virginia at 11 months (February through December); Blacksburg has the shortest at 7 (April through October). Rainfall runs from 39 inches a year in Harrisonburg to 48 inches in Charlottesville.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 32 | 87 | 47 | 11: February through December |
| Richmond | 29 | 90 | 46 | 8: March through June and August through November |
| Roanoke | 29 | 88 | 43 | 9: March through November |
| Charlottesville | 28 | 84 | 48 | 9: March through November |
| Lynchburg | 25 | 85 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| Blacksburg | 22 | 82 | 43 | 7: April through October |
| Winchester | 24 | 86 | 41 | 8: April through November |
| Harrisonburg | 23 | 86 | 39 | 8: April through November |
Quality levels and sizes in Virginia
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Virginia wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$6,700 to $9,200
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,550 to $11,100
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,500 to $13,000
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,350 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,700 | $5,400 – $6,750 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,700 – $3,800 | $3,550 – $4,650 | $4,350 – $5,500 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,350 – $7,400 | $6,900 – $8,950 | $8,450 – $10,500 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,000 – $11,000 | $10,300 – $13,300 | $12,500 – $15,500 |
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Detailed retaining wall report for Virginia, $9
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Retaining wall in Virginia: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Virginia?
$6,700 to $13,000 for 200 sq ft of wall face, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Virginia can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Virginia is cheapest for retaining wall?
Roanoke at about $9,100 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). The priciest is Charlottesville at $9,650.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Virginia than the US average?
It is 4% cheaper: $9,850 against $10,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Virginia?
About 43% ($4,250). Materials are 54%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.91x the national wage level.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Virginia?
The BLS statewide median is $26.29 an hour, against $29.87 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.38 to $29.15.
+Where does Virginia rank for retaining wall costs?
37th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $9,850 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Virginia?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,700 to $9,200 and premium work $10,500 to $13,000. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+Does the season matter for retaining wall in Virginia?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Virginia metros we cover, Virginia Beach has the most comfortable months (11 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Retaining wall by city in Virginia
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.