Retaining walls hold up driveways, level backyards and make hillside lots usable all over the Lower Mainland, from Burke Mountain in Coquitlam to Promontory in Chilliwack. They're also one of the bigger yard projects most homeowners take on, so it pays to know what drives the price before the quotes come in.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Block retaining wall, per linear foot | $90 – $250 |
| Low garden wall, about 20 ft | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| Backyard wall, 40 ft long and 3 ft high | $3,600 – $10,000 |
| Engineered wall design (taller walls) | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Removing and replacing an old timber wall | add $1,000 – $4,000 |
These are budgeting ranges for segmental concrete block walls. Natural stone, poured concrete and very tall walls cost more. Your actual price depends on a site visit. See the full cost guide.
What moves the price
Height. This is the biggest factor. A taller wall needs a deeper base, more block, more drain rock and usually geogrid reinforcement laid back into the soil behind it. Past a certain height (often around 1.2 m or 4 ft) most BC municipalities also want an engineer's design. Our permit guide explains when.
Length. More wall means more of everything, but the price per foot usually drops a little on longer runs because the setup costs are spread out.
Drainage behind the wall. In our rainy climate this is what decides whether a wall lasts. A good wall has a perforated drain at the base, clean drain rock behind it and somewhere for that water to go. It adds cost, and it's the last place to save money.
Access. If a small excavator and a pallet of block can get into the yard, the job goes quickly. If everything has to be carried through a narrow side yard, labour climbs.
Old wall removal. Rotting timber walls from the 1980s and 90s are common in older neighbourhoods. Taking one out, hauling it away and dealing with the soil behind it adds a day or more.
Block style. Basic grey block is the most affordable. Textured, coloured or natural-look block costs more per piece but can be worth it on a wall you see every day.
Example: a typical backyard wall
A 40 ft wall, 3 ft high, levelling a sloped backyard in Langley or Abbotsford might include:
- Excavation and a compacted gravel base
- 3 or 4 courses of block plus caps
- A perforated drain pipe at the base and drain rock behind the wall
- Backfill and compaction in layers
- Haul-away of extra soil
That job usually falls somewhere in the $3,600 to $10,000 range, depending on access, block and how much soil has to move.
What a good quote includes
- Wall length, height and the block product, by name
- Base depth and material
- Drainage behind the wall and where the water goes
- Whether geogrid is used, and at which courses
- Whether engineering or a permit is needed, and who arranges it
- Soil haul-away and site cleanup
- Utility locates through BC 1 Call before digging
- A written warranty
Red flags
Be careful with any quote that doesn't mention drainage behind the wall, or that has no base depth. A wall built straight on the dirt, with clay backfill and no drain, can look fine for a year or two before winter water pushes it over. Also be cautious if a contractor says a tall wall near a driveway or property line "won't need anything" without checking with your city.
Ways to save
- Terrace instead of one tall wall. Two shorter walls, spaced well apart, can sometimes avoid engineering. A landscaper can tell you if your slope allows it.
- Plant the slope. A gentle slope can often be held with a planted bed and tough ground cover instead of a wall.
- Book outside peak season. Spring fills up fast. Ask about late summer or early fall starts.
Ready to price your wall? Send one request and compare up to three quotes from retaining wall builders in Coquitlam, Langley, Abbotsford and across the Lower Mainland.