How Much Does a Wood or Timber Retaining Wall Cost?

Common Range: $16 – $45 / Square Foot

National Average: $25.50 Per Square foot Installed

Updated: November 17, 2023. Written by: Steve Hansen

To ensure we provide the most precise and current cost estimates to you, we compile costs from industry data, licensed contractors, our users completed projects, and home improvement industry experts. We may earn commission from our partners when you utilize the services through our website. Our editorial integrity and quality remains our top priority, and recommendations do not affect our opinion or evaluations. Learn more about us and our editorial process, and read our advertiser disclosures.

What Does a Timber or Wood Retaining Wall Cost?

The cost range for a wood retaining wall is between $16 – $45 per square foot. The main cost factors are the length and height of the retaining wall, whether you use pressure treated 6 x 6 timbers or railroad ties, as well as the terrain where the wooden retaining wall will be installed.

Average Cost

The average cost to install a timber retaining wall is about $25.50 per square foot or $2,500 for pro installation of a 20′ long x 5′ high wall (100 sf). If doing it yourself, the same retaining wall cost is about $1,000 or $10 per square foot.

Average Do It Yourself Cost
$10 / Sqft (Materials and tools only)
Average Contractor Installed Cost
$25.50 Per Square Foot
Typical Cost Range
$16 – $45 / Square Foot

6x6 wood retaining wall installed

Get Wood Retaining Wall Cost Quotes

Get Wood Retaining Wall Cost Quotes

Overview of Retaining Walls Made of Wood or Timber

A wood or timber retaining wall is an effective means of controlling a sloped area in your yard to make use of the space while adding character to the landscape. Wood retaining walls are typically built with pressure-treated timber or railroad ties, and they’ll last 40 years or more, when treated or preserved properly.

This Costimate provides you with detailed wood retaining wall costs for materials and labor. DIY installation costs are covered too. Timber retaining wall prices from local and online sellers are also provided for national costs to assist you in budgeting for your wall.

Wood and Timber Retaining Wall Cost Factors

How much your retaining wall will cost depends on the scope of the project. Length and height of the wall have the most impact due to the amount of needed retaining wall timbers. Specific costs are listed below.

Note: On this page, when we refer to a “square foot” of wall, we’re talking about the vertical face of the exposed and buried wall. For example, if you had a retaining wall 10 feet long and 3 feet high, that would be 30 square feet of vertical wall.

  • Square Feet of Wall Face – Most walls are built with timbers approximately 6” high (they are 5.5” square) and 8’ long, so each timber is 4 square feet of wall face. As an example, a wall 60’ long and 4’ high will be 240 square feet of wall face. That number divided by 4 means you’ll need 60 timbers plus a few extra to replace damaged or warped material.
  • Type of Timbers Used – Most timber retaining walls are built with either pressure treated 6″ x 6″ or used railroad ties. While the rail ties are treated differently for longer usage, new pressure treated timbers look better and tend to provide a more uniform appearance.
  • Difficulty of Installation – If your retaining wall is on a hard to access slope, or the slope needs to have a lot of dirt removed to accommodate, it’s going to cost more.
  • Steps or Corners – Basically, if your wall needs a set of stairs or has complicated corners, it’s going to cost a bit more than a standard retaining wall due to the added time to complete these features.
  • Use of a Top Finish Board – Depending on your design or wall location you might want to add a 12”x2” cap on the wall for use as a bench, shelf for potted plants or simply to give the wall a finished look.
  • Drainage Materials – Walls retaining significantly sloped areas will have large amounts of water run against them. Similar to a french drain system, placing stone beneath the first timber and a drain at the base of the slope-side of the wall will facilitate drainage of water that might otherwise cause faster deterioration of the wood – even pressure-treated wood, or complete failure of the wall itself when the water freezes and expands.
  • Stain or Finish – Pressure treated wood can be stained once it has dried in 3-6 months, depending on your climate.
Get Wood Retaining Wall Cost Quotes

Get Wood Retaining Wall Cost Quotes

Wood and Supplies Cost Details

Now let’s dig into actual wood retaining wall costs that will allow you to produce an estimate for your project.

Cost of Retaining Wall Timbers

  • $35-$45 ea. | Pressure treated 6″ x 6″ timbers, 8′ long, are the professional’s choice for building wood retaining walls.
  • $20-$35 ea. | Creosote treated, Used Railroad Ties, 7″ x 9″, 8′ long from a local home improvement store.

Related Materials and Installation Supplies

  • $8-$20 | Stakes or rebar and string to mark the path the wall will run and the height of its top.
  • $40-$65 | 6’ level for checking that the ground is level and the wall going up straight.
  • $22-$28 ea. | 2” x 12” pressure-treated 12’ boards for use as a cap, bench or shelf (optional).
  • $2.75-$3.50 ea. | Pieces of ½” rebar 4’ long are driven into the ground through drilled pilot holes to anchor each base timber near both ends.
  • 70-90 cents ea. | Galvanized 60d 12” spikes are driven through pilot holes every 8” to hold each layer of timber to the layer beneath it, so that’s 12 spikes per 8’ timber.
  • $20-$27 per 5lb box |Decks screws every 8” are used to secure a cap to the top row of timber (optional).
  • $20-$24 per cubic yard | A 2” layer of ¾” stone or similar material is installed and compacted beneath the first layer of timbers and then installed at outside foot of the wall to facilitate drainage – you’ll need about one cubic foot of drainage stone for every 3 linear feet of wall.
  • $55-$70 ea. | 50’ roll of 4” perforated drain tile that lays on the stone at the outside base of the wall.
  • $40-$50 ea. | 100’ roll of professional-grade landscape fabric is used over the drain tile to keep sediment from clogging it, and enough crushed stone is placed on top to hold it in place.
  • $33-$45 per gallon | Exterior wood stain (optional)
  • $6-$15 ea. | Brush for applying stain (optional)

Note: If you hire a landscape company to install your wood retaining wall it’s possible that the will have a wholesale account at a local lumber or home improvement store, so they might get better pricing on materials than you.

Get Wood Retaining Wall Cost Quotes

Get Wood Retaining Wall Cost Quotes

Permits, Inspection, and Installation Costs

Here are miscellaneous costs you might have, plus the timber retaining wall installation labor time and cost.

Permits and Inspection

Some building departments require a permit for any retaining wall while others only require one for a wall 4’ high and above. A quick call will let you know if you need one to comply with your local building codes.

Note on HOAs: If you are part of a homeowner’s association, make sure your wall complies with the HOA bylaws or risk having to modify or remove it.

  • $0-$75 | Underground utility lines must be located and marked to prevent hitting them during digging. Call 811 to have this done. In most areas this is a free service provided by the utility companies. They don’t want the cost or liability of having to repair damaged lines.
  • $35-$200 | Permit for the retaining wall if required for your project
  • $200 – $350 – For retaining walls higher than 3 feet it’s strongly recommended (and may be required by local code) to hire an engineer for the design of the wall.

Labor Cost and Installation Time

Building a wood retaining wall is a time-intensive project compared, for example, with building a wood fence. Here is the labor cost of installing a wood retaining wall.

  • $4-$12 per square foot | Installation labor.

These are the factors that affect where your project will fall on the cost spectrum.

  • Accessibility to Location—If your home is in a remote area, travel time for the crew will be longer and more fuel will be required, so cost will go up.
  • Length of the fence – The base of the wall must be trenched, so for example, a wall 100’ long and 2’ high will cost more to install than a wall 50’ long but 4’ high, though both have 200 square feet of facing.
  • Obstructions—Having to remove trees, roots, shrubs or large amounts of dirt in the path of the wall will raise costs.
  • Soil Type—Hard or rocky soil takes more time to trench, so increases the cost.
  • Time of Year – When landscape companies aren’t busy their estimates are more competitive. Having a retaining wall built in spring or summer will cost more than during fall or winter, in most regions of the country.

Note: In any season, the best strategy for getting the lowest estimates is to request bids from several companies and letting them know they are competing for the retaining wall job.

Completed Installation Time

Here’s how long it will take to install your retaining wall:

  • 1-2 days | Simple installation of a wall less than 100 square feet
  • 2-3 days | Simple installation up to 200 square feet or difficult installation of less than 100 square feet of retaining wall
  • 4-6 days | Larger, more challenging installations

Day 1: Dig the trench for the base layer of timbers, install stone, lay the timbers and anchor them into the soil.

Days 2-4: Installing the remaining courses of timber and an optional cap.

Days 5 or longer: Longer time may be required on large walls, especially high retaining walls that require additional supports.

In any job, the size of the crew will affect how fast the work goes. This time estimate is for a crew of two or three.

Get Wood Retaining Wall Cost Quotes

Get Wood Retaining Wall Cost Quotes

Retaining walls can help you create more usable space in your yard and get the most of your outdoor living space. Research these other outdoor projects, retaining walls, and yard projects at Costimates.


Are You a Retaining Wall Installer?

If so, head over to our Costimates Pro’s page, and help us make this page better and more accurate for both our visitors and your future customers.

DIY or Hire a Pro

I’ve installed small, block retaining walls, as well as small border type retaining walls out of landscaping timbers. I’ve never put in a structural or timber retaining wall. That said, you’re going to need a lot of skill and a good bit of help to get the job if you choose to do it yourself.

  • Requires a lot of digging and planning.
  • Good with a wide array of hand tools, math, power tools.
  • Able to lift heavy materials.
  • Your going to need a few helpers and a good wheelbarrow driver.

If you’re a moderately experienced DIY’er, I don’t think you’ll have much trouble installing your own timber retaining wall. However, I still think it’s something left to the Pros.

Get Wood Retaining Wall Cost Quotes

Get Wood Retaining Wall Cost Quotes

Reviewed and edited by Steve Hansen of Costimates

steve hansen of costimates-sm Steve Hansen, that's me, the Senior Editor of Costimates. (Learn more about myself and our team) I'm an avid home improvement professional with more than 37 years experience working on all types of residential new home building, upfits, repairs and remodeling.

"Like most homeowners, I was frustrated with the lack of quality information available on specific home improvement repairs and renovations. In 2015, Costimates was formed to help homeowners learn as much as possible about various projects and their costs so they could make better financial decisions."