Retaining wall cost in Charlottesville, VA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,600 – $12,700
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $32.50 – $61.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #192
- 1 = most expensive
Charlottesville homeowners pay roughly $6,600 to $12,700 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $32.50 to $61.50 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Charlottesville is 6% lower. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $25.38 an hour in the Charlottesville area, 15% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Charlottesville, VA, standard level
$8,450 to $10,900
About $41.50 to $53 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,100 |
| Labor | $4,100 | $4,450 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $330 |
| Total | $8,450 | $10,900 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Charlottesville, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,150 | $7,550 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,850 | $4,300 | $4,750 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $450 | 3% |
| Total | $6,600 | $9,650 | $12,700 | 100% |
Where the Charlottesville price comes from
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 $25.38 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Charlottesville is 0.91 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 44% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Charlottesville metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,150, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (99.1) and land at $50 to $450.
When to schedule retaining wall in Charlottesville
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Charlottesville 2 Sse (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Charlottesville (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February 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 73 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Charlottesville gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, July and September (4.9 inches in September). Inside the workable window, June and November are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 10 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 | 44 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 48 | 31 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 37 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 66 | 47 | 4.2 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 55 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 64 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 68 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 66 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 61 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 50 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 56 | 40 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 32 | 3.8 | Cold |
Charlottesville against nearby metros and the rest of Virginia
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 200 sq ft of wall face range from $9,100 to $10,500 across Charlottesville and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VAthis page | $6,600 – $12,700 | $9,650 | |
| Harrisonburg, VA40 miles | $6,450 – $12,600 | $9,500 | −1% |
| Lynchburg, VA55 miles | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,250 | −4% |
| Richmond, VA75 miles | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,450 | −2% |
| Washington, DC85 miles | $7,150 – $13,800 | $10,500 | +9% |
| Roanoke, VA85 miles | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −6% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $6,700 – $13,000 | $9,850 | +2% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Charlottesville comes in at #192 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, Charlottesville is 2% below the Virginia figure.
Other Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $6,200 – $12,300 | $9,250 | −4% |
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,450 | −2% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −6% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,250 | −4% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,450 | −2% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $6,450 – $12,500 | $9,500 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Charlottesville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charlottesville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler, TX | 115,220 jobs | $6,250 – $12,100 | $9,200 | −5% |
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $6,100 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −6% |
| Topeka, KS | 115,750 jobs | $6,850 – $12,900 | $9,850 | +2% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −6% |
Why two Charlottesville quotes can differ
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).
Material
Block, poured concrete and natural stone are priced differently; concrete and stone walls run higher than the segmental block default.
Planning more than one job in Charlottesville?
Because every project leans on different trades, Charlottesville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs −3% and concrete driveway −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $580 – $2,050 | −3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,150 | −6% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,450 – $8,650 | −6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,800 – $9,500 | −5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,400 – $107,500 | −5% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Charlottesville is 0.91 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $25.38 an hour, 15% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $20.76 and $28.22 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 2.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.67 an hour, 4% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.49 and $22.62 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 49.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.75 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.22 and $30.44 an hour. BLS counts 310 of them working in the area, 27.0 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 ($28.22 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $220. At the 25th percentile ($20.76) it shrinks by about $360. The total moves by 2.3% or 3.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 114,780 jobs in the Charlottesville area. That makes it the 190th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $20.76 | $25.38 | $28.22 | $29.87 | 0.85 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.49 | $21.67 | $22.62 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $24.22 | $28.75 | $30.44 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Charlottesville
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Charlottesville 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
$6,600 to $9,050
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,450 to $10,900
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,300 to $12,700
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,300 – $4,650 | $4,300 – $5,600 | $5,300 – $6,600 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,650 – $3,750 | $3,450 – $4,550 | $4,300 – $5,350 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,300 – $7,300 | $6,800 – $8,800 | $8,300 – $10,300 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,900 – $10,800 | $10,100 – $13,000 | $12,300 – $15,200 |
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 $8,450 to $10,900 for Charlottesville, VA is attached.
Detailed retaining wall report for Charlottesville, VA, $9
The report lays out the retaining wall numbers for Charlottesville, VA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Retaining wall in Charlottesville: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Charlottesville?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,600 to $12,700 in the Charlottesville area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,450 to $10,900. 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 Charlottesville?
About $32.50 to $61.50 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 Charlottesville or Harrisonburg?
Harrisonburg is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,500, which is 1% less than Charlottesville ($9,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charlottesville?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $4,300 out of $9,650. Materials are 53% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Charlottesville?
$5,300 to $10,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Charlottesville?
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 Charlottesville area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charlottesville expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Virginia?
Charlottesville is 2% below the Virginia statewide estimate ($9,850 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Charlottesville?
The BLS median is $25.38 an hour in the Charlottesville area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.76 to $28.22.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Charlottesville?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,600 to $9,050 and premium work $10,300 to $12,700. 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 Charlottesville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. June 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 Charlottesville
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.