How Much Does a Retaining Wall Cost? [2025]

Cost of Building a Retaining Wall in Australia: Cost Factors, Cost By Type and More

Building a retaining wall in Australia is essential for managing soil erosion, improving landscaping, and providing structural support on sloped properties. Whether you're constructing one for practical or aesthetic purposes, factors like materials, height, and site conditions significantly impact the overall cost. Understanding retaining wall prices is crucial for budgeting your project effectively. In this guide, we break down the cost to build a retaining wall, including material prices, installation expenses, and factors that influence the final cost.

The cost of constructing a retaining wall ranges from $150 to $750 per square metre, depending on the materials used and the complexity of the site. For instance, sandstone retaining wall cost tends to be higher due to its aesthetic appeal and durability, while concrete sleeper retaining wall cost per metre is generally more affordable and commonly used for residential projects. Similarly, limestone block retaining wall cost per metre varies depending on block size and sourcing. If you're considering a more modern option, concrete block retaining wall cost is a durable choice, often used in commercial and residential applications alike. For a more precise understanding, it's also helpful to look at concrete sleeper retaining wall cost per m2, especially when estimating larger areas. Additionally, those planning to use Besser blocks should be aware of the cost to lay Besser blocks in Australia, which includes both material and labour. All these elements together shape the overall investment needed for your landscape transformation.

Retaining Wall Types

• Gravity Retaining Walls: Relying on their own mass and weight, gravity retaining walls resist the soil pressure. These walls are usually made from materials such as brick, stone and concrete.


• Cantilever Retaining Walls: These retaining walls are typically reinforced with upside-down steel bars in a T-shape. For a retaining wall construction of about 25 feet, cantilever retaining walls are suitable.


• Anchored Retaining Walls: This type of retaining wall uses tie bags or anchors to extend their stability into the soil for lateral support. For a retaining wall construction of about 50 feet and above, anchored retaining walls are suitable.


• Sheet Pile Retaining Walls: Made from interlocking wood sheets, vinyl and steel, sheet pile retaining walls are usually driven into the ground to create the barrier.


• Gabion Retaining Walls: Gabion type of retaining walls are made from wire mesh baskets that are filled with solid rocks. For a retaining wall construction of about 10 feet, gabion retaining walls are suitable.


• Reinforced Retaining Walls: These retaining walls are made from geometric fabrics with a combination of concrete and steel reinforcements. For a retaining wall construction of about 30 feet, reinforced retaining walls are suitable.

Retaining Wall Costs Per Square Metre

Before estimating the cost of retaining wall construction, a cost-affecting factor is considered which is square metres (m²). So, look at some of the rough estimations for the retaining walls in the aspect of square metres.

• Rock Walls- About $220 per square metre.


• Besser Blocks- Between $550 and $750 per square metre.


• Stack Blocks And Timber Sleepers- Between $300 and $500 per square metre.


• Concrete Sleepers And Rendered Blockwork- Between $400 and $700 per square metre.


• Traditional Stone Wall- About $450 per square metre.

Retaining Wall Prices By Material

The cost of retaining wall construction varies significantly based on material and this is how it can be listed.

• Gravity Retaining Walls Construction Cost- Between $200 and $750 per square metre.


• Cantilever Retaining Walls Construction Cost- Between $300 and $600 per square metre.


• Sheet Pile Retaining Walls Construction Cost- Between $500 and $700 per square metre.


• Anchored Retaining Walls Construction Cost- Between $300 and $750 per square metre.


• Gabion Retaining Walls Construction Cost- Between $150 and $700 per square metre.


• Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls Construction Cost- Between $200 and $500 per square metre.


• Brick Retaining Walls Construction Cost- Between $250 and $650 per square metre.


• Sandstone Retaining Walls Construction Cost- Between $150 and $550 per square metre.


• Timber Retaining Walls Construction Cost- Between $200 and $400 per square metre.


• Concrete Retaining Walls Construction Cost- Between $400 and $750 per square metre.

Retaining Wall Costs Per Square Metre by Location

When planning a retaining wall project in Australia, it’s essential to consider local price variations. Below is a breakdown of average retaining wall costs per square metre in major cities:

Retaining Walls in Melbourne

• Timber: $250 – $350/m²


• Concrete sleepers: $300 – $450/m²


• Stone or block: $400 – $600/m²

Retaining Walls in Sydney

• Timber: $300 – $400/m²


• Concrete sleepers: $350 – $500/m²


• Stone or block: $450 – $700/m²

Retaining Walls in Brisbane

• Timber: $250 – $330/m²


• Concrete sleepers: $280 – $430/m²


• Stone or block: $400 – $580/m²

Retaining Walls in Adelaide

• Timber: $220 – $300/m²


• Concrete sleepers: $270 – $400/m²


• Stone or block: $380 – $550/m²

Retaining Walls in Canberra

• Timber: $260 – $350/m²


• Concrete sleepers: $300 – $450/m²


• Stone or block: $420 – $600/m²

Retaining Walls in Perth

• Timber: $240 – $330/m²


• Concrete sleepers: $280 – $430/m²


• Stone or block: $400 – $580/m²

What Determines The Cost Of Retaining Walls?

The retaining wall construction cost is influenced by different cost-affective factors and understanding each of such factors is very important. This is because these cost-affecting factors help in the accurate planning and budgeting of your retaining wall construction. Here are some key cost-affecting determinants of retaining wall construction.

• Type Of Retaining Wall- A why range of retaining wall types are gravity walls, gabion walls, cantilever walls, anchored walls, sheet pile walls and reinforced soil walls.


• Materials Used- A few common materials such as concrete blocks, vinyl sheet piles, geosynthetic materials, natural stones, poured concrete, etc.


• Site Conditions- Different site conditions such as soil type drainage slope and terrains determine the construction cost.


• Complexity Of Design- Complexities in wall design, edges, curves and steps lead to increases and decreases in retaining wall construction costs.


• Labour Costs- Depending upon the skills, experience, training, availability and expertise, labour cost varies.


• Accessibility- Ease of access to transportation and logistics of equipment and materials required.


• Local Market Conditions- Labour cost, material cost and market conditions together contribute to the overall returning wall construction cost.


• Additional Features- Drainage systems, decorative elements and landscaping. Different retaining wall types are constructed based on layer-by-layer construction, formwork construction, installation of anchors etc. So, changes in the type of retaining wall construction decide the method of construction that needs to be involved.


• Engineering And Permits- Based on the type of retaining wall and its height, an engineer does an analysis and avails all the local permits required. By doing this, an engineer ensures your property has structural stability throughout and after the retaining wall construction.

How Long Will A Retaining Wall Take To Build?

Depending on factors like the type of retaining wall, height, length, construction methods, etc, the time it takes to build a retaining wall varies. Moreover, factors such as the complexity of the design and project site conditions decide the time it takes to return wall construction.

• Anchored Retaining Walls- Because of tieback or anchor installation, it takes between several weeks and a few months.


• Sheet Pile Retaining Walls- Relatively quick and vary between a few days and a few weeks.


• Gabion Retaining Walls- Depending upon the design complexity and size of the retaining wall it takes a few days and ends in a few weeks.


• Reinforced Retaining Walls- As construction of these retaining walls requires reinforcement materials it takes between a few days and a few weeks.

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