Concrete wall costs between $3,068 and $14,590, depending on the size of the wall and any required permits.
From installing concrete foundations to reinvigorating your backyard with hardscaping, understanding the full concrete wall costs is key to any project. The average cost of a concrete wall is between $3,068 and $14,590, though the low- and high-end costs of installing a wall are $900 and $38,000.
Concrete walls can play many roles throughout your property. Decorative concrete fences may include stamped concrete to spruce up your property, while weight-bearing retaining or structural walls in your home come with a range of requirements. Let's break down the costs of these various kinds of concrete walls.
Concrete walls can cost anywhere from $10 to $100 per square foot but average closer to between $15 and $60 per square foot for most projects. You’ll also find wall projects measured in linear feet, with cost ranges depending on the height of the wall, which often falls between 2 and 8 feet high.
The wide range accounts for both poured and pre-cast concrete wall costs, the latter of which costs less due to decreased labor. The thickness, availability in your area, and type of materials in the wall will all sway the price as well. With this average range in mind, let's look at some common wall sizes.
| Square Footage of Wall | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 32 ft. | $480–$1,920 |
| 48 ft. | $720–$3,600 |
| 80 ft. | $1,200–$4,800 |
| 100 ft. | $1,500–$6,000 |
| 160 ft. | $2,400–$1,920 |
| 200 ft. | $3,000–$12,000 |
Materials will account for between 50% and 75% of the total cost of a concrete wall. A common material list includes installation equipment, framing tools, and the concrete itself. 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. Let's break it down.
At least half of the cost of a concrete wall will go toward labor prices. Precast walls will drop the labor price since contractors build preset sizes off-site, but you may end up paying more for delivery down the line.
On average, labor costs between $8 and $18 per square foot or between $35 and $40 an hour. Labor costs increase for specialized designs, reinforcement, and advanced land preparation.
In most areas, you will need to obtain a building permit to build a wall inside your home or around your landscape. Permit costs will range anywhere from $150 to $2,000.
Concrete availability where you live, as well as the standard cost of labor, will sway the price as well. Installing an indoor concrete wall in a major city will naturally cost more than installing a wall in a small town. Here are some common concrete wall prices around the country.
| City | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| New York | $3,200–$17,000 |
| Los Angeles | $2,700–$16,800 |
| Miami | $5,500–$9,900 |
| Seattle | $3,900–$16,100 |
| Denver | $3,500–$14,000 |
The accessibility of the construction site accounts for several price factors. Firstly, accessing hard-to-reach areas in your home, removing load-bearing walls, or working on extreme slopes can all contribute to a higher labor price. Additionally, access to concrete and the contractor are also key to keeping prices low.
Concrete walls that live below grade—such as for foundations and basements—will require land clearing and excavation before construction gets started. Built within the cost of a foundation, excavation can add between $2 and $10 per square foot.
Exterior walls may require a few methods of drainage to manage how water flows around or below them on your landscape. Overall, you'll pay an additional $10 to $100 per linear foot for drainage. The large range accounts for the many types of landscape drainage designs. French drains cost between $10 and $50 per linear foot, while trench and channel drains reach up to $100 per linear foot.
The majority of concrete walls require either wire mesh or rebar for reinforcement. While contractors will include these prices in the total estimate, assume that rebar accounts for between $1.40 and $2.55 per linear foot.
Flat-fee delivery will typically cost between $110 and $150 per cubic yard for poured concrete walls. Precast wall delivery jumps up to between $150 and $320 per cubic yard, even though you'll pay less for the concrete wall itself.
The type of concrete wall will heavily affect its cost. Each wall has a unique manufacturing, delivery, and installation cost.
Precast concrete walls cost 23% less than poured concrete walls. Overall, you'll pay between $1,600 and $8,000, or an average of $4,800. The materials cost $20 to $40 per square foot or between $150 and $320 per linear foot.
Keep in mind that labor is often cheaper, too, as it doesn’t require as much to install precast concrete on-site. Precast concrete is manufactured in molds to create panels that specialists easily put into place.
Poured concrete walls are the most common and versatile, as they can fit any customized shape or project. Because of this, poured concrete wall costs vary widely. They cost between $10 and $25 per square foot, or an average of $2,900 to $10,400 for a foundation wall and up to $30,000 for a full basement.
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 or between $60 and $280 per linear foot.
Stamped patterns on a concrete wall add finesse to an otherwise blank slate of material. The process can also make the concrete look like brick or natural stone. You'll pay between $8 and $28 per square foot for a stamped wall, depending on the complexity of the design.
Block concrete—also known as cinder blocks—can also build a sturdy and versatile wall. You'll pay between $10 and $15 per square foot, or an average of $1,300 for a concrete block wall. Not only is building a concrete wall a potential DIY option, but it also serves as a quick fix for landscaping walls when you're in a hurry.
The cost of a retaining wall runs a bit higher since it plays a vital role in retaining a part of your landscape, often on a steep slope. Concrete retaining walls cost between $30 and $50 per square foot, including installation. These walls almost always require reinforcement and landscape alterations.
One of the perks of a concrete wall is the minimal maintenance necessary to keep it strong, but issues can pop up along the way. Here are some upkeep and repair costs to consider if you want to extend your wall's longevity.
Concrete walls in a crawl space or basement will often require waterproofing. Basement waterproofing costs will average $5,000, or between $5 and $10 per square foot. You should also reseal your basement walls every 10 years. This process will cost between $1 and $8 per square foot.
Cracks, crumbling, and discoloration can all happen to concrete walls over time. Prices widely depend on the issue. A general inspection will run you between $150 and $300, repairing medium-sized cracks will cost about $200, and adding supports for a bowing basement wall costs an average of $4,500.
While you can get to know concrete as a DIYer, it's best to stay away from projects that require a permit or have a highly structural component. In most cases, it's best to leave walls for a concrete professional near you.
Cinder block walls are far more DIY-friendly but still require a good deal of heavy lifting. In nearly all cases, it's best to hire a local concrete wall contractor with ample concrete knowledge and access to the best equipment.
Concrete walls are highly customizable. Special features, such as paint, doors, or gates, will all affect your bottom line. Here are some options to consider.
Add color or a clean white finish to your concrete wall with specialized paint for between $1 and $3.50 per square foot. The look is ideal for the exterior of foundation walls as well as fences and retaining walls.
Doors in exterior walls or concrete fences are also popular choices. Cutting concrete to add a door costs an average of $3,000, including the cost of the door itself and its hardware.
The cost to install a gate falls between $200 and $7,900, depending on its size, material, and design.
You may also choose to install landscape lighting to your concrete wall, a job that costs between $100 and $400 per fixture. If you're handy at home, this may be a doable DIY, but keep in mind that you will need to know how to drill into concrete in most cases.
As you consider who to hire to install a concrete wall, talk with each prospective contractor about your budgeting options. In addition to choosing the right team for the job, there are some surefire ways to cut costs.
Consider precast concrete over poured concrete whenever possible.
Book your project well in advance and outside of the busy spring DIY season.
Handle preparation and cleanup by yourself, particularly landscaping.
Consider block walls for exterior projects when possible.
Keep the wall design simple and avoid specialty add-ons.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Allie Ogletree contributed to this piece.
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.
Concrete walls last anywhere from 30 to 100 years. In many cases, concrete walls will last longer with proper support and ongoing maintenance. Some concrete foundations, for example, could last up to two centuries when properly maintained. Toward the end of its life span, however, it's critical to have a structural engineer examine the concrete wall for potential signs of decay.
While concrete walls do not need to "breathe" in the traditional sense of the word, they do require waterproofing and dehumidifying methods, particularly in basements below the water table. Concrete both contains moisture from its initial installation and can absorb water when exposed. Ensuring proper basement ventilation, installing a vapor barrier, and controlling water exposure are all important tasks.
