Wall cost breakdown — material + installed
Concrete Wall Cost Calculator
Answer first: a poured concrete wall costs $15–$30 per sq ft installed in 2026. A 40 ft × 4 ft × 8 in wall = 4.35 yd³ with 10% waste, ~196 80-lb bags, ~$840 material, $3,600–$7,200 installed. Includes retaining walls, basement walls, and block wall estimates.
40 ft × 4 ft × 8 in poured wall
4.35 yd³ with 10% waste — 196 80-lb bags — ~$840 material
Ready-mix required for walls over 1 yd³. Forms, rebar, and waterproofing are separate cost lines.
Retaining wall cost per linear foot
$20–$50/lin ft installed; poured concrete $25–$50/lin ft
Height, soil pressure, drainage, and reinforcement drive cost. Walls over 4 ft tall require an engineer in most jurisdictions.
Concrete block wall cost
$10–$20/sq ft installed; $390/1,000 sq ft material
8 in CMU block = $1.50–$2.50 per block. Standard 8×8×16 block covers 0.89 sq ft of wall face.
Interactive workflow
Run the numbers, then save or export the project
How much does a poured concrete wall cost per square foot?
A poured concrete wall costs $15–$30 per sq ft installed in 2026. Material alone runs $3–$5/sq ft ($840 for a 40 ft × 4 ft × 8 in wall). Labor, forms, rebar, and finishing add $12–$25/sq ft. Basement walls, retaining walls, and foundation walls each have different drivers.
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost?
A poured concrete retaining wall costs $20–$50 per linear foot installed in 2026. A 4 ft tall × 20 ft long wall runs $1,600–$4,000 total. Cost drivers include wall height (taller walls need more reinforcement and may need engineering review), drainage system, and backfill material.
How much concrete do I need for a wall?
Multiply wall length × height × thickness (all in feet), then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 40 ft × 4 ft × 0.667 ft (8 in) wall = 106.67 ÷ 27 = 3.95 yd³ before waste. Add 10% waste: 4.35 yd³. That is 196 common 80-lb bags or about 1.5 ready-mix truck loads.
How thick should a poured concrete retaining wall be?
A concrete retaining wall should be at least 8 inches thick for walls up to 4 ft. For walls 4–8 ft tall, 10–12 inches is typical. For walls over 8 ft, consult a structural engineer. Thickness also depends on soil type, surcharge load, and drainage. Many local codes require a permit for walls over 3–4 ft.
What is the cost of a concrete block wall?
A concrete block (CMU) wall costs $10–$20 per sq ft installed in 2026. Standard 8 in × 8 in × 16 in blocks run $1.50–$2.50 each and cover 0.89 sq ft of wall face. A 40 ft × 4 ft wall (160 sq ft) needs about 180 blocks plus mortar, filling cores, rebar, and two-course bond beam at top.
Does this calculator include footings?
No. This calculator estimates wall concrete only. Footings, reinforcement, drainage system, waterproofing, formwork, and backfill are separate cost lines. A concrete footing typically adds $9–$11 per linear foot in material for a standard residential wall.