Concrete cost guide
Concrete Wall Cost
A poured concrete wall costs roughly $30 to $70 per square foot of wall face, and retaining walls run $40 to $100+ per square foot once engineering and drainage are included. Walls cost far more per cubic yard of concrete than flatwork because they require formwork on both sides, bracing, careful reinforcement, and sometimes a pump truck.
This guide breaks down what makes walls expensive and why a slab calculator only gets you the volume, not the full cost. Use the footing calculator to estimate concrete volume from length, height, and thickness, then price forming and reinforcement separately.
Need project-specific numbers? Use the Concrete Wall Cost Calculator.
Last updated June 10, 2026
Typical Cost Ranges
| Item | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Poured wall | $30-$70/sq ft | Forms, rebar, placement, finishing |
| Retaining wall | $40-$100+/sq ft | Engineering and drainage can dominate |
| Concrete pump | $400-$1,200+ | When truck access is limited |
What Drives the Cost
- Formwork: Walls need forms on both faces plus bracing to resist the pressure of wet concrete, and forming is often the biggest labor line.
- Reinforcement: Vertical and horizontal rebar is essential in walls, especially retaining walls that resist soil pressure.
- Height and thickness: Taller and thicker walls need more concrete, stronger forms, and more bracing, raising cost faster than area alone suggests.
- Engineering: Retaining walls over a few feet usually require engineered design and drainage, which can dominate the budget.
- Pump access: When a truck cannot pour directly into the forms, a pump adds $400 to $1,200 or more.
How To Estimate It
- Wall volume = length x height x thickness
- Cubic yards = volume cubic feet / 27
Why walls cost more than slabs
A slab is poured into the ground and screeded flat. A wall has to be formed on both sides, braced against the hydrostatic pressure of wet concrete, reinforced vertically and horizontally, poured carefully to avoid voids, then stripped and finished. That extra labor and material is why wall cost per cubic yard runs well above flatwork.
Retaining walls and drainage
Retaining walls hold back soil, so they live or die by drainage and reinforcement. Weep holes, gravel backfill, and drainage pipe are not optional extras — they are what stop water pressure from cracking or tipping the wall. Walls above a few feet typically need engineered design, which adds cost but prevents failures that are dangerous and expensive to fix.
FAQs
Why are concrete walls more expensive than slabs?
Walls need formwork on both sides, bracing, rebar placement, careful pours, and often engineering or pumping.
Can I use the slab calculator for a wall?
For volume, yes: length x height x thickness works. For total cost, wall forming and reinforcement require separate pricing.
How much does a poured concrete wall cost?
Roughly $30 to $70 per square foot of wall face for a standard poured wall, with retaining walls higher once engineering and drainage are added.
Do concrete retaining walls need drainage?
Yes. Weep holes, gravel backfill, and drainage pipe relieve water pressure behind the wall, which is the leading cause of retaining-wall failure.
When do I need a concrete pump for a wall?
When the ready-mix truck cannot reach the forms directly, a pump moves concrete to the pour location and typically adds $400 to $1,200 or more.