Retaining Wall Block Comparison
Which block is cheapest for your wall? Compare brands side by side — blocks needed, caps and cost per face square foot — using your own local prices.
| Block system | Face size | Coverage | Blocks | Caps | Price / block | Cost / sq ft | Wall cost |
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Compare on cost per square foot, not price per block
The number on the sticker — price per block — is the wrong thing to compare, because blocks cover different amounts of wall. An 18 × 8 in Allan Block face covers a full square foot; a 16 × 6 in big-box unit covers two-thirds of one. Buy the same wall and you'll lay far fewer of the big blocks. This tool converts every system to the two numbers that actually decide the bill: how many blocks you'll place and the cost per face square foot once you plug in your real prices.
How the numbers are figured
- Courses: total height (exposed + buried base course) ÷ block height, rounded up. Shorter blocks need more courses.
- Blocks per course: wall length ÷ block face width, rounded up, then × all courses, plus your waste allowance.
- Coverage: face width × face height — the wall area one block covers, the honest basis for comparison.
- Cost per sq ft: total block (and cap) cost ÷ the wall's exposed face area, so every system is measured the same way.
Counts include the buried base course you still have to buy, which is why cost per exposed square foot is slightly higher than coverage alone would suggest. That's the real quantity you order.
Bigger block isn't automatically cheaper
Larger-face units mean fewer blocks, fewer joints and faster labor — but they're heavier to place by hand, and premium engineered lines often cost more per square foot than a plain big-box block. The right pick balances material cost, how you'll move the blocks (machine or muscle), the look you want, and whether the system pins or locks the way your wall height needs. Use the table to settle the money question, then choose on weight and looks.
Which block brands are here?
The presets cover the systems most homeowners actually shop: Allan Block AB Classic and Belgard Anchor Diamond Pro (18 × 8 in engineered units), Versa-Lok Standard (16 × 6 in solid pinned), Pavestone RockWall (a common big-box DIY block), and a generic big-box standard unit. Every dimension is nominal for planning — confirm on the spec sheet, since lines change and setback and lip details vary. The Custom row lets you drop in any unit's exact face size and price.
After you pick a block
This tool answers "which unit and how many." For the rest of the shopping list — base and drainage gravel in tons, perforated pipe, filter fabric, geogrid and adhesive — use the full retaining wall takeoff calculator. To compare block against timber, poured concrete, gabion or natural stone on installed price, use the retaining wall cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare block costs across brands?
On cost per face square foot, not price per block. A bigger block covers more wall, so a pricier unit can still build a cheaper wall. Enter your wall size and each yard's block price and the tool normalizes everything for you.
Which retaining wall block is cheapest?
It depends on your local prices and the block's face size, not the brand. Larger-face units mean fewer blocks and less labor; small big-box units are cheaper each but you lay more. Put your real quotes in the table to see the winner for your wall.
Does a bigger block save money?
Often on labor and sometimes on materials, but heavier blocks are harder to place by hand. Compare cost per square foot for materials and weigh block weight against your access.
Are the block dimensions exact?
No — presets are nominal planning figures. Real units vary by product line and year, and setback and lip details differ. Confirm the face width and height on your spec sheet and edit the custom row before ordering.