What a retaining wall costs on a Point Loma slope
A residential retaining wall in Point Loma or Coronado runs roughly $40 to $90 per square face foot for segmental block, and more for poured concrete or stone veneer. Drainage, wall height, and access drive the price. Most yard walls we build run 2 to 4 feet tall.
Last updated: July 2026
We build retaining walls where the grade forces it. That is most of Point Loma below Sunset Cliffs, and the odd sloped lot in Coronado.
The wall is never the whole cost. The drainage behind it is.
Why the drainage behind the wall matters more than the block
A wall holds back soil. Wet soil weighs far more than dry soil, and it pushes. Build a wall without a drain and the pressure behind it will bow or crack the face within a couple of winters.
We set perforated pipe at the base, wrap it in gravel, and run it to daylight. On a Point Loma slope below Sunset Cliffs that drain is the difference between a wall that stands for decades and one you rebuild.
How tall can a wall go before it needs an engineer?
In most of San Diego a retaining wall over 3 to 4 feet, or any wall holding a surcharge like a driveway, needs an engineered design and a permit. We stay honest about that. Below that height we build segmental block walls that carry the load without the engineering bill.
Block vs poured concrete: which wall for a coastal yard
| Factor | Segmental block | Poured concrete |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per face sq ft | $40 to $70 | $60 to $90+ |
| Drainage | Weeps between units | Needs weep holes and pipe |
| Salt air | Holds up well | Can spall without good cover |
| Look | Modular, many colors | Smooth or veneer finish |
On coastal lots we lean toward segmental block. It drains between the units, it flexes a little instead of cracking, and salt does not work on it the way it works on poorly finished concrete.
What a real job looks like
On a washed-out yard above Sunset Cliffs we terraced the slope with two low block walls, set a drain behind each, and stepped the planting down between them. The walls came in around 3 feet. The drainage and grading cost more than the block did.
That is the pattern out here. Pay for the water plan first.
Read more on why drainage comes before plants on Point Loma slopes, or see the hardscape work we build across Coronado and Point Loma.
We are Ecosystem Landscaping and Design, CSLB #1152146, bonded and insured. Samuel Fortes walks every slope himself before we price the wall.