Short answer
A basic poured concrete retaining wall costs about $30 to $60 per square foot of wall face nationally, according to ConcreteNetwork; one decorative-concrete contractor they quote charges $60 to $85 per square foot on difficult hillside sites. Wall face means height times length: a 4-foot-tall wall 30 feet long is 120 square feet, so roughly $3,600 to $7,200 at the basic rate. Height is the biggest lever, because walls over 4 feet usually need an engineer's design, deeper footings, more steel and a permit, and are poured in two stages. ConcreteNetwork's figures were last updated in 2020, so treat them as the shape of the price rather than the number; our written estimate is the number for your slope.
| Basic poured concrete wall | $30–$60 per sq ft of wall face[1] |
|---|---|
| Difficult hillside sites (one contractor's rate) | $60–$85 per sq ft[1] |
| 4 ft × 30 ft wall (120 sq ft), basic rate | ≈ $3,600–$7,200[1] |
| Walls over 4 ft | poured in two stages: footings, then wall[1] |
What's in a poured retaining wall
- Excavation and the cut. Removing the bank and making room for the footing and the drainage zone behind the wall.
- Footing. A reinforced concrete footing sized for the wall height and the soil, below the frost line where that applies.
- Forms and steel. Vertical and horizontal rebar tied to the footing; forms set plumb, with any curve, step or texture built in.
- The pour. Walls over about 4 feet are poured in two stages: footing first, wall after it cures.
- Drainage and backfill. Gravel, a perforated drain pipe, filter fabric and weep holes, then backfill in compacted lifts.
- Finish. Form-finish, integral color, a textured form liner, or a cap.
How to read a retaining wall quote
Ask for the height and length, the footing size, the rebar schedule, the drainage detail and the finish, each as its own line. A quote that is just a lump sum per foot hides the thing that fails first, which is drainage. Our estimate lists all of it. Size the concrete with the wall calculator and read how we build them on the retaining walls page.
A note on the source
The national figures above come from ConcreteNetwork's poured retaining wall cost page, which was last updated in 2020. Material and labor have moved since, and most Georgia quotes we see today sit at or above the top of those ranges. We publish them because they are sourced; we don't invent a "2026 Georgia price". The estimate is the price.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a retaining wall priced per square foot of face?
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Because height and length together decide the concrete, steel, footing and formwork. A 2-foot garden wall and a 6-foot cut wall of the same length are very different jobs, and the face area captures most of that.
Is a block wall cheaper than poured concrete?
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For low walls, often, if you're happy with the look of the block. Poured walls below about 4 feet are frequently competitive with finished block, because block has to be stuccoed or veneered to look finished while a colored poured wall needs only its forms removed. Above 4 feet, engineering drives both.
Does a retaining wall need a permit in Georgia?
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Most Georgia cities and counties require a permit above a certain height, commonly around 4 feet, and some require an engineer's stamp. Walls near a property line or a street often need one regardless. We check the rule for your jurisdiction at the estimate and pull the permit.
What does drainage add?
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Every retaining wall we build gets gravel backfill, a perforated drain at the footing and weep holes or an outlet. It's a modest line on the estimate and the reason the wall is still straight in ten years. Most failed walls in Georgia clay failed because water had nowhere to go.
What else changes the price?
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Curves (more complex forms), steps or a seat-wall cap, a decorative finish or integral color, soil that needs a wider footing, tight access for the concrete truck, and engineering fees on tall or critical walls.
Sources
- [1]ConcreteNetwork.com, Poured Concrete Retaining Wall Cost (updated June 26, 2020; checked November 7, 2026)
Prices are national ranges published by the sources above, not quotes. Your price depends on size, access, site preparation and local labor rates in Georgia. Our free on-site estimate is the price for your site.
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