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Concrete wall costs between $2,800 and $11,200, with an average of $6,500 for most jobs
Whether you’re planning a home construction with a basement or want to update your landscape’s walkways, porch, or fence, there are various uses for concrete walls. While the average cost of a concrete wall is between $2,800 and $11,200, the low- and high-end costs of installing a wall are $900 and $25,000, respectively.
While that may seem like quite the range, the costs of a concrete wall will vary widely based on a few factors. Here’s what you need to know before you go in on a concrete wall.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Concrete Wall per Foot?
It costs between $30 to $40 per linear foot to install a concrete wall with a concrete contractor. Keep in mind, however, that this price may increase if you hire a mason. The cost to hire a masonry contractor is between $50 to $75 per hour. Additionally, the cost to install a concrete wall per square foot can fall anywhere between $10 to $60.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Concrete Wall Near You?
Rates for a concrete wall will vary greatly depending on where you live. Though prices are determined based on the competition in your area, here’s a general estimation of costs from homeowners in five states:
| State | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| California | $6,000 |
| Colorado | $5,600 |
| New York | $7,800 |
| Texas | $10,200 |
| Washington | $4,900 |
Factors that Affect Local Concrete Wall Installation Prices
Don’t just take your state’s estimated average as a set-in-stone price. Prices are bound to change and will also vary within each state and even within certain areas of that state.
As a rule of thumb, the following factors may affect total installation costs:
Rural vs. city: Rural areas tend to require longer traveling distances for cement trucks. For this reason, contractors may charge higher fees for transportation.
Region: Some regions have a higher cost of living than others; therefore, installing a concrete wall will go up.
Terrain: Lastly, the terrain for the installation plays a huge role in the cost of the concrete wall project. Hilly or mountainous locations, areas needing additional support systems, or sites needing soil excavation will cost you more than a flat, even landscape.
What Concrete Wall Can I Get on My Budget?
If you’re not sure what kind of concrete wall you can afford on your budget, here’s what you need to know based on various price points.
$1,000
For this budget, size is of the essence. Since the average cost of a concrete wall installation is $10 to $60 per square foot, your wall will be approximately 17 to 100 square feet. To save on expenses, create a small patio or walkway using precast or prefabricated concrete slabs, as this saves you from having to bring a concrete truck to the site.
$5,000
You can have more flexibility to install larger patios and small fences at this price point. A budget of $5,000 gives you around 80 to 500 square feet to work with, depending on style, type, and thickness.
$10,000
A budget of $10,000 gives you more customization options, larger or longer walls, patios, and even a foundation for a small home that ranges between 160 to 1,000 square feet.
$15,000
For larger homes, more immaculate fences, or homes that require additional supports (for basements)or drainage upgrades, you might need a higher budget such as the $15,000 price point to get the job done.
$20,000+
Thick, poured concrete walls for larger properties may run you into the $20,000+ price range. For projects like these, or for projects that include unique design elements, such as a foundation, thick basement walls, veneer stone, and/or stamped concrete, plan for this higher price point.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Concrete Wall Yourself?
If you don’t have the right experience, installing a concrete wall can quickly become a DIY disaster. (Think of all of the sidewalks and driveways you’ve seen that have unsightly cracks and foundation issues.)
You need a design plan, a solid understanding of the land grading, knowledge of structural reinforcement, and more to successfully DIY a concrete wall. Not to mention, concrete is heavy, so trying to do this without help can be dangerous. For these reasons, we recommend that you find a professional concrete installer near you to do the job.
What’s more, you also must hire a concrete delivery service near you to transport the concrete to your project site. If you still want to get your hands dirty, consider cleaning up the project area before and after the installation, which can help things run more smoothly and maybe even save you money.
Concrete Wall Cost Breakdown
Concrete walls serve one or both of two purposes—adding to the landscape and preventing grade sloping. The latter helps protect against drainage problems, which can lead to flooding in your home and damage to the foundation.
With so many variables to consider, it’s important to know your goals for a concrete wall to determine total expenses accurately. Let’s breakdown some major factors to keep in mind when installing a concrete wall:
Materials: You can either use concrete stone blocks or poured concrete. You’ll likely pay anywhere from $750 to $2,000 for the wall, including the additional materials needed to construct it.
Labor: The cost of a concrete wall equates to about $10 to $15 per square foot unless your pro charges by the hour.
Additional needs: A retaining wall will need a backfill, proper drainage, and a good base. You could pay an additional $200 to $400 for excavation and backfilling.
Permit: You might need a permit to build a concrete wall. The cost of a building permit varies by district, but expect to pay between $400 to $2,200 on average.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Concrete Wall by Type?
There are three main types of concrete walls: retaining, block, and stamped concrete. Here’s how they compare in price:
Retaining walls: These walls cost $5,200 on average and are commonly used for landscaping and slope and flood prevention due to their sturdiness.
Cinder block or concrete block walls: Block walls cost $1,300 on average and are also often used for landscaping. Because they’re easily stacked to form walls, they’re also easier to transport and are therefore cheaper.
Stamped concrete: These walls cost $4,200 on average and are added to already established walls for added texture and aesthetics.
How Much Does a Concrete Wall Cost by Style?
Before you can get started on your concrete wall project, know that there are a handful of styles from which to choose. Below is a quick rundown of each popular concrete wall style.
Precast Concrete Walls
This kind of concrete wall is around 23% cheaper than poured concrete. It costs anywhere from $1,600 and $8,000 or an average of $4,800. The materials cost approximately $20 to $30 per square foot, not including labor.
Keep in mind that labor is often cheaper, too, as it doesn’t require as much to pour precast concrete. Precast concrete is manufactured in molds to create panels that specialists easily put into place. In other words, you save money by avoiding the need for a cement truck to come on-site.
Board-Formed Concrete Walls
This design style is more modern, with wooden boards placed on wet concrete to add unique patterns to the final project. Since these walls require more engineering and material, expect to pay $30 to $50 per square foot minimum for board-formed concrete.
Poured Concrete Walls
There are three different types of poured concrete walls:
Foundation Walls: Poured concrete is the most popular method for creating a concrete slab. The cost of your poured concrete wall will vary depending on whether or not it needs a foundation. If you do need a concrete foundation, the cost ranges from $7,000 to $21,000. Poured concrete wall costs might be more than alternative options, but they’re the best defense against drainage or grade sloping issues.
Concrete Walls: If you don’t need a foundation slab for your concrete walls, you’ll generally pay between $2,900 to $10,400. Some homes—especially those with large basements—require thicker concrete walls that might cost as much as $25,000 or more.
Basement Walls: If you want a basement, you will need to have the third type installed. It must have 8- to 10-foot walls to adequately support the entire house. On average, you’re going to probably spend anywhere from $13,000 to $30,000 for a full basement foundation.
What Factors Influence the Cost to Install a Concrete Wall?
With all of the average prices above, many factors can affect the total cost of your concrete wall installation. These factors include but aren’t limited to:
Building materials: This includes equipment, framing materials, and cement. Also, any additions to your concrete wall will add to the total project cost. Brick, stone, and stone veneer are popular choices for installing over poured concrete. Prices range vastly for building materials and depend on the size of your site and what styles you choose.
Delivery: Concrete delivery costs about $4,300 on average. While this expense is usually included in a quote from a professional, if you’re DIYing it, you’ll need to add in this cost.
Drainage: For concrete walls with insufficient drainage underneath them, you might also invest in drainage, which costs between $1,900 and $5,500.
Engineer: A structural engineer is another expense that will run you between $350 and $700 on average.
Excavation: For surfaces that are uneven or at an angle, you will need to hire an excavation company near you to level the ground. This job will cost about $10 per cubic meter.
Finish: For a nice, smooth finish, expect to pay around $0.75 per square foot.
Permits and taxes: To have your concrete wall approved for installation, it will cost around $400 to $2,200 to acquire the necessary local building codes and permits.
Reinforcement: If you need additional reinforcement, fiberglass or mesh rebar will cost approximately $0.15 per square foot.
FAQs About Installing a Concrete Wall
What should I consider when installing a concrete wall?
Consider the land, project scope, and type of concrete wall you want to install before you hire a pro, as each of these factors largely affects the time, labor, and cost of your project.
Will my freshly poured concrete wall crack?
Newly poured concrete is prone to small, fine cracks within the first 30 days of installation, but most noticeable cracks will disappear within that time frame. If a crack is greater than 1 inch, consider contacting the person who installed your wall to inspect the job.
What other projects should I do at the same time?
If you’re thinking of installing a concrete wall, you also may want to install a concrete fence or build a patio or walkway, as the cement equipment will already be on-site and ready for use. You may also want to repair any cracked or old concrete on your property.
