Retaining wall cost in Spokane, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $8,050 – $14,900
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $40 – $72
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #42
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Spokane, WA usually costs $8,050 to $14,900 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $40 to $72 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,200 more. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $37.50 an hour in the Spokane area, 26% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Spokane, WA, standard level
$10,100 to $12,800
About $49.50 to $62.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $6,600 |
| Labor | $5,400 | $5,900 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $330 |
| Total | $10,100 | $12,800 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Spokane, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,950 | $5,550 | $8,200 | 49% |
| Labor | $5,050 | $5,650 | $6,250 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $450 | 2% |
| Total | $8,050 | $11,500 | $14,900 | 100% |
Where the Spokane 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 $37.50 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Spokane is 1.20 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 49% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Spokane is at 105.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,550 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 100.3: $50 to $450.
How Spokane compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Spokane. Missoula is the lowest at about $9,950 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face), 175 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WAthis page | $8,050 – $14,900 | $11,500 | |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID55 miles | $7,100 – $13,400 | $10,200 | −11% |
| Kennewick, WA140 miles | $8,400 – $15,300 | $11,900 | +3% |
| Missoula, MT175 miles | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,950 | −13% |
| Yakima, WA185 miles | $8,100 – $15,000 | $11,500 | +1% |
| Seattle, WA200 miles | $9,200 – $16,300 | $12,800 | +12% |
| Washington (statewide) | $8,500 – $15,400 | $12,000 | +4% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Spokane ranks #42 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Spokane is 4% below the Washington figure.
Elsewhere in Washington
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $9,200 – $16,300 | $12,800 | +12% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $8,650 – $15,700 | $12,200 | +6% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $8,400 – $15,300 | $11,900 | +3% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $8,100 – $15,000 | $11,500 | +1% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $8,350 – $15,300 | $11,800 | +3% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $8,650 – $15,700 | $12,200 | +6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Spokane against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −20% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $7,350 – $13,800 | $10,600 | −8% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −20% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $7,150 – $13,600 | $10,400 | −9% |
Cost by quality level and size in Spokane
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Spokane. 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
$8,050 to $10,800
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$10,100 to $12,800
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$12,100 to $14,900
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $4,050 – $5,500 | $5,150 – $6,600 | $6,200 – $7,650 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,250 – $4,450 | $4,150 – $5,350 | $5,050 – $6,250 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,450 – $8,650 | $8,100 – $10,300 | $9,800 – $12,000 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $9,650 – $12,900 | $12,100 – $15,300 | $14,500 – $17,800 |
What nearby projects cost in Spokane
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Spokane wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+16%) and sod installation lowest (+8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $680 – $2,400 | +14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,300 – $6,000 | +11% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,200 – $10,700 | +16% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,550 | +8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $11,000 | +10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,200 – $125,500 | +11% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Spokane
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.
What local crews earn in Spokane
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 Spokane the blend is 1.20.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $37.50 an hour, which is 26% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $30.12 and $40.70 an hour. BLS counts 40 of them working in the area, 1.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $24.53 an hour, which is 8% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.24 and $31.37 an hour. BLS counts 1,700 of them working in the area, 66.5 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 $35.75 an hour, 24% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.35 and $42.14 an hour. About 700 work in the metro. That is 27.4 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 $250 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $580. That is a swing of roughly 5.1% to 2.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Spokane-Spokane Valley has 255,820 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 101st 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% | $30.12 | $37.50 | $40.70 | $29.87 | 1.26 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.24 | $24.53 | $31.37 | $22.66 | 1.08 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $29.35 | $35.75 | $42.14 | $28.78 | 1.24 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.20 | |||||
Spokane 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, Spokane Felts 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 Spokane are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, 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 123 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Spokane gets about 17 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, November and December (2.2 inches in December). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 0.7 and 0.5 inches. The station averages about 29 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 | 38 | 26 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 43 | 27 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 51 | 32 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 37 | 1.5 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 44 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 50 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 56 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 55 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 47 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 38 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 31 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 37 | 26 | 2.2 | Cold |
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Retaining wall in Spokane: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Spokane?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $8,050 to $14,900 in the Spokane area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,100 to $12,800. 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 Spokane?
About $40 to $72 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 Spokane or Coeur d'Alene?
Coeur d'Alene is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,200, which is 11% less than Spokane ($11,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Spokane?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $5,650 out of $11,500. Materials are 49% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Spokane?
$6,450 to $12,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Spokane?
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 Spokane area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Spokane expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Washington?
Spokane is 4% below the Washington statewide estimate ($12,000 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Spokane?
The BLS median is $37.50 an hour in the Spokane area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.12 to $40.70.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Spokane?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $8,050 to $10,800 and premium work $12,100 to $14,900. 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 Spokane?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. July and August 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 Spokane
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.