How much does a cinder block wall cost?
How much does a cinder block wall cost?
$1 – $5 Per block (materials only)
$15 – $30 Per square foot (installed)
$60 – $240 Per linear foot (installed)
$1,500 – $6,000 Average cost to build a 25'-long wall
Cinder block wall cost
Building a cinder block wall costs $60 to $240 per linear foot or $15 to $30 per square foot. A 10'-long cinder block fence costs $600 to $2,400 installed. Cinder block prices are $1 to $5 per block or $115 to $225 per pallet (70-90 blocks). The labor cost to lay CMU blocks adds $5 to $10 per block.
| Linear feet | 4’ tall | 6’ tall | 8’ tall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10’ | $600 – $1,200 | $900 – $1,800 | $1,200 – $2,400 |
| 15’ | $900 – $1,800 | $1,350 – $2,700 | $1,800 – $3,600 |
| 25’ | $1,500 – $3,000 | $2,250 – $4,500 | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| 50’ | $3,000 – $6,000 | $4,500 – $9,000 | $6,000 – $12,000 |
| 100’ | $6,000 – $12,000 | $9,000 – $18,000 | $12,000 – $24,000 |
| 150’ | $9,000 – $18,000 | $13,500 – $27,000 | $18,000 – $36,000 |
| 200’ | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 – $36,000 | $24,000 – $48,000 |
*Total cost to install. Includes foundation, concrete reinforcement, and rebar.
Block wall cost calculator
Enter the length and height (in feet) of the block wall to estimate the cost and materials needed.
How much is a block wall per square foot?
A freestanding concrete block wall costs $15 to $30 per square foot installed on average. Prices depend on the project type, foundation, reinforcements, and whether the wall is load- or non-load bearing. Concrete block retaining walls cost up to 20% more.
| Construction factor | Average cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Materials | $5 – $13 |
| Labor | $10 – $17 |
| Total cost installed | $15 – $30 |
*Includes foundation, concrete reinforcement, and rebar.
Block wall cost per linear foot
Installing a concrete block wall costs $60 to $240 per linear foot, depending on the height and wall thickness. Most local building codes specify fence height limits of 4’ for the front yard and 6’ to 8’ for the backyard.
| Wall height (feet) | Average cost per linear foot |
|---|---|
| 4’ | $60 – $120 |
| 6’ | $90 – $180 |
| 8’ | $120 – $240 |
*Total installed cost with 8”x8”x16” blocks, including the footing.
Labor cost to lay a concrete block wall
Labor costs $10 to $17 per square foot for concrete block wall installation. The cost to lay blocks is $5 to $10 per block for labor and equipment only. The going rate for block work labor is $35 to $100 per hour.
| Block laying rates | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Per block | $5 – $10 |
| Per square foot | $10 – $17 |
| Hourly | $35 – $100 |
Cost to install a cinder-block wall by type
Cinder-block wall installation costs $8 to $40 per square foot, depending on if it's a fence, retaining wall, garage or house wall, shed wall, or foundation.
Building code requirements for cinder-block walls typically include:
Grout filling
Rebar
Gravel or concrete foundation
Level ground
| Block wall type | Average cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Block fence | $15 – $30 |
| Block retaining wall | $20 – $35 |
| Block garage wall | $10 – $35 |
| Block shed wall | $8 – $16 |
| Block house wall | $10 – $40 |
| Block foundation | $12 – $18 |
*Total installed cost for the walls and footers. Walls shorter than 70 ft. long cost more.
Cinder block fence cost
A cinder block fence costs $60 to $240 per linear foot or $15 to $30 per square foot, depending on the height, filling, and base foundation. A 50’-long block wall fence costs $3,000 to $9,000 on average. Additional finishing costs apply to seal both sides of the concrete block fence.
Block wall fences 4’ to 8’ tall need a 1’ to 3’+ concrete footing and grout-filling reinforcement with rebar.
| Linear feet | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 10' | $600 – $2,000 |
| 30' | $1,800 – $6,000 |
| 50' | $3,000 – $9,000 |
| 100' | $6,000 – $18,000 |
Cinder block retaining wall cost
A cinder block retaining wall costs $60 to $210 per linear foot for walls 3’ to 6’ high, or $20 to $35 per square foot, including gravel backfill and a poured concrete or gravel foundation. Total costs depend on the wall size, foundation type, and reinforcements required by building codes.
Footings often need to be 1 to 2 feet deep.
Concrete grout filling and rebar are essential to stop retaining walls from cracking.
Excavation costs vary depending on the soil type, depth, and whether workers must dig by hand or with power-trenching tools.
Cinder block garage cost
A 2-car cinder block garage costs $19,600 to $28,200 on average or $35 to $60 per square foot. The cost to build cinder block garage walls alone is $10 to $35 per square foot. Attached garages with insulation and electricity cost the most.
Cost of building a concrete block shed
Building a cinder block shed costs $3,000 to $4,400 on average, or $30 to $44 per square foot. A shed’s block walls alone cost $8 to $16 per square foot.
| Size | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 8’x10’ (80 square feet) | $2,400 – $3,520 |
| 10’x10’ (100 square feet) | $3,000 – $4,400 |
| 10’x20’ (200 square feet) | $6,000 – $8,800 |
*Includes concrete slab foundation 4” thick with various levels of finishing & roof types.
Concrete block sheds are cheaper than garages because they are smaller, have a shallow foundation, and often require no interior insulation and minimal reinforcements.
Cinder block house cost
A complete cinder block house costs $190 to $250 per square foot, including the foundation, exterior walls, and building framing. Concrete house block walls only cost $10 to $40 per square foot. Cinder block housing is made of concrete masonry unit (CMU) reinforced cinder blocks.
Concrete cinder block homes are fire-resistant.
In comparison, the average cost to build a house with lumber is $100 to $155 per square foot. Cinder block construction materials cost more and are more labor-intensive than stick-built homes.
Concrete block foundation or basement cost
A concrete block foundation costs $8,000 to $41,500 on average or $12 to $18 per square foot. Cinder block foundation types include basements, stem walls, piers, and crawl spaces. All blocks have concrete or cement grout with rebar reinforcements.
Cinder block foundation costs vary according to:
Structure size
Permit and inspection costs
Excavation and site-leveling fees
Waterproofing and sealing charges for finishing basement walls
Cinder block prices
Cinder blocks cost $1 to $3 per block for CMU blocks, hollow concrete blocks, half-blocks, rounded blocks, and slump blocks.
Solid concrete blocks, breeze blocks, and split-faced blocks cost $2 to $5 per block.
| Block type | Price per block | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Standard CMU cinder blocks | $1.25 – $2.50 |
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| Half-blocks | $1.10 – $2.00
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| Standard solid blocks | $3.30 – $5.00 |
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| Thin solid blocks | $1.65 – $2.50 |
|
| Split-faced blocks | $3.00 – $5.00 |
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| Rounded blocks | $2.65 – $3.00 |
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| Breeze blocks | $2.70 – $4.00
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| Slump blocks | $2.00 – $2.75 |
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*Material prices only.
Pallet of cinder blocks price
One pallet of cinder blocks costs $115 to $225 on average and weighs 2,500 to 3,250 pounds. A standard pallet holds 70 to 90 cinder blocks. Each 8”x8”x16” cinder block weighs 28 to 36 pounds on average.
Bulk cinder block delivery costs $60 to $200+, depending on the quantity and location.
Refundable pallet deposits are $15 to $20 per pallet.
Decorative cinder blocks prices
Decorative cinder blocks come as breeze blocks, split-faced blocks, or custom-ordered concrete blocks for specific sizes and designs.
| Block type | Cost per block | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Split-faced blocks | $3.00 – $5.00 | Split-faced blocks have a rough and natural-looking texture because masons cut them after curing to expose their interior aggregate. |
| Breeze blocks cost | $2.70 – $4.00 | Also called concrete screen blocks, the cut-out designs let wind and light through them. Square concrete breeze blocks are best for garden partitions and not for structural applications. |
| Concrete slump blocks | $2.00 – $2.75 | Block makers remove the blocks from the mold before setting to add a slumped appearance to the block. |
*Material prices only.
Specialty cinder block prices
Different wall designs may require custom-shaped concrete blocks or capstones. Jamb-joist blocks have slots for window or door frames, and sash blocks support casement windows. Other common types include:
| Block type | Cost per block | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Capstones | $1.00 – $1.50 |
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| Header blocks | $2.00 – $2.20 |
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| L-corner block | $2.20 – $3.30 |
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| Bond beam | $1.30 – $3.00 |
|
*Material prices only.
Concrete (CMU) blocks prices
Building and construction concrete block prices are $1 to $4 per block, depending on the size. Standard 8”x8”x16” concrete block prices are $1.25 to $2.50 each. The biggest 12”x8”x16” CMU blocks cost $2 to $4 per block.
| Block width (inches) | Average cost per block |
|---|---|
| 4” | $1.00 – $2.00 |
| 6” | $1.00 – $2.50 |
| 8” | $1.25 – $2.50 |
| 10” | $1.60 – $3.00 |
| 12” | $2.00 – $4.00 |
*Based on standard concrete block sizes of 8” high and 16” long with open cells.
Contractors refer to concrete blocks as concrete masonry units (CMU), cinder blocks, masonry blocks, and “Haydock blocks” in some places.
Alternatives to standard concrete blocks
Alternatives to standard concrete blocks include:
Cylinder block prices are $2.75 to $2.80 per block for 12” high and 6” diameter solid concrete blocks. Cylinder blocks make attractive garden bed borders or foundation supports.
Ecology blocks cost $35 to $65 per block and are 2’x2’x6’ in size, weighing 3,600 to 3,850 lbs. each. Ecology blocks contain recycled concrete and are easily stackable with a tongue-and-groove design.
Insulated concrete forms (ICF) cost $4 to $8 per square foot. These lightweight polystyrene (EPS) concrete forms are stackable and easy to install. The insulation is Styrofoam or Nexcem brand cement-bonded wood fiber to fills the voids inside blocks.
Material prices only. Installation costs depend on the size, location, and project type.
Blockwork construction price factors
The following factors affect the total cinder block wall construction cost:
Building permits – A permit costs $50 to $450 on average, depending on the wall type, length, and location. Walls 3’ to 4’ tall or larger typically require permits, and contractors should pull permits.
Foundation – Large or load-bearing walls cost more for deeper footings.
Complexity – Wall designs with curves and multiple corners take more time.
Openings for gates, windows, & doors – Framing openings and adding supportive beams costs extra for additional reinforcements, mortar joints, and labor.
Difficult terrain or climate – Installations on sloped or rugged terrain increase labor time because of more digging and foundation work.
Site access – Extra charges for traveling apply according to the distance from building material suppliers to the project site.
Removing an old concrete fence or block wall – Demolishing concrete walls costs $5 to $16 per linear foot, depending on the size and reinforcements inside.
Reinforcements – Filling the wall with cement and rebar costs $1.00 to $5.25+ per square foot. Building codes state reinforcements are necessary for almost all block walls, except for non-load-bearing walls shorter than 2’ tall in some cities.
Insulation – Filling the concrete blocks with core-filling injection foam costs $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot.
Excavation – Machine excavation costs $1 to $5 per square foot, depending on the dirt type, depth, and number of obstructions.
Trenching – Foundation trenching costs $5 to $12+ per linear foot or more for rocky soil. Block wall foundations need to be 1’ to 3’ deep on average, or deeper for tall fences.
Drainage – Installing a French drain costs 10 to $35 per linear foot to prevent flooding around the wall.
Equipment allowance – Cutting and grinding blocks onsite is labor-intensive work with various fees depending on the wall design and project size.
Standard cinder block size dimensions
Standard cement cinder block dimensions are 8”x8”x16”. Actual block measurements are smaller to allow for a mortar layer 3/8” thick between the block joints. Other common cinder block sizes range from 4” to 12” in depth and are typically 8” tall.
Cinder-block wall finishing cost
Most cinder-block wall finishing options cost $1.50 to $10.00 per square foot. Sealing cinder-block walls is vital since they absorb water easily. Unsealed concrete-block walls will crack, get wall and insulation rot, mold, and suffer structural failures.
| Finishing type | Average cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Painting | $0.65 – $0.80 |
| Waterproofing sealant | $2.00 – $10.00 |
| Plastering / Stucco | $3.00 – $4.00 |
| Vinyl siding | $3.30 – $6.70 |
| Concrete finish | $1.50 – $3.50 |
| Stone veneer | $13.00 – $30.00 |
Cinder block wall FAQs
Is a poured concrete wall or a block wall cheaper?
A concrete block wall is cheaper at a total cost of $15 to $30 per square foot on average, and a poured concrete wall costs $15 to $35 per square foot installed.
Cinder blocks require skilled labor for effective installation. Concrete block walls are better for remote and hard-to-access locations.
Poured concrete is stronger and easier to waterproof, but it requires more site preparation and formwork. Concrete prices depend on the type, load size, and delivery distance.
What’s the difference between concrete and cinder blocks?
Today, there is no difference between concrete blocks and cinder blocks. All concrete blocks contain cement, sand, gravel, and other materials like ash or coal cinders. Concrete blocks have different weight-bearing ratings depending on their content.
How much weight can a cinder block support?
A concrete cinder block supports 1,900 to 3,000 pounds of weight per square inch (PSI), as per the ASTM International 2018 standards. Cinder block walls reinforced with concrete and steel provide a higher load-bearing capacity.
| Block building application | Minimum required weight rating (lbs. PSI) |
|---|---|
| Non-load-bearing partitions | 500 – 1,700+ |
| Load-bearing concrete block walls | 1,900+ |
| Building construction | 2,000 – 2,500+ |
| Exterior wall of a building | 3,000 |
Where to buy cinder blocks?
Buying cinder blocks costs $1 to $5 per block. Cinder blocks are available to buy from home improvement stores, building material suppliers, and landscaping companies.
| Store | Price per block | Selection |
|---|---|---|
| Home Depot | $1.10 – $1.65 |
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| Lowe’s | $1.10 – $5.20 |
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| Menards | $1.20 – $5.00 |
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DIY cement block wall cost
Equipment to build a DIY cement cinder block wall costs $100 to $300+. Materials cost $15 to $45 per linear foot of wall for the concrete blocks, cement mix, and binders. Recommended safety gear includes a dust mask, goggles, gloves, and safety boots. Other tools and materials needed are:
| Tools | Materials |
|---|---|
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Homeowners with construction experience can build a concrete-block garden wall on an existing concrete or compacted gravel foundation. However, professional masons should install load-bearing walls for fences and buildings.
Always check local building codes for requirements on wall reinforcements, height allowances, and wall footings before making a cement block wall.
How many cinder blocks do I need?
To calculate how many concrete cinder blocks are necessary to build a wall:
Multiply the width and height of the surface area to get the total square footage.
Subtract the square footage for door and window openings.
Divide the total square footage by 0.9 to get the number of blocks needed.
Add 5% to 10% more blocks per project to account for broken blocks and wastage from cutting blocks at the sides.
| Wall size (square feet) | Blocks needed | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 110 | $135 – $275 |
| 250 | 275 | $345 – $685 |
| 500 | 555 | $695 – $1,385 |
*Based on standard 8”x8”x16” concrete blocks covering 0.9 square feet of surface area, including mortar allowance.
How much concrete is needed to fill a cinder block?
You need 0.01 cubic yards or 0.25 cubic feet of concrete to fill one 8”x8”x16” cinder block. Reinforcing cinder blocks with concrete filling strengthens them and prevents minor cracks.
| Number of blocks | Concrete (cubic feet) | Concrete (cubic yard) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 12.5 | 0.5 |
| 100 | 25 | 1 |
| 200 | 50 | 2 |
| 400 | 100 | 4 |
*Based on standard 8”x8”x16” concrete blocks.
Hiring a block wall contractor
Before hiring a masonry company or retaining wall contractor near you:
Compare at least three estimates from various masons.
Look for installers certified by the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA), or other masonry organizations.
Beware of the cheapest quotes that often mean low-quality work.
Check their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Pick certified, insured, and bonded contractors with years of masonry experience.
Never pay in full upfront. Follow a payment schedule at job milestones.
Collect an itemized bid that details all costs involved.
Questions to ask masonry contractors
What materials will you make the wall from?
What are my choices for the wall finish?
Can I see photos of your past projects?
How long have you been building block walls?
Can you show me a scaled landscape design of the wall before construction?
What types of walls do you have the most experience in building?
How do you build the wall foundation?
Can you match the mortar finish to my existing home?
How will you manage unexpected project delays?
Will you pull the required building permits and be here for site inspections?
What should I do to prepare space for the crew?
Are all materials and labor fees in this estimate? What extra charges can I expect?
Does your crew clean up after the job is complete, and does that cost extra?
How should I contact the project supervisor?
Do you hire subcontractors, and if so, are there extra charges to manage them?
What do you include in your warranty?
How long will this wall construction take?
What’s your payment schedule?
Will you give me a copy of the contract before work begins?