How many blocks for a 50 ft long, 3 ft high retaining wall?
A 50 ft wall showing 3 ft above grade takes 578 standard 12 × 4 in blocks in 11 courses, one of them buried, plus 53 cap units. Under and behind it you need 1.61 cubic yards of base gravel (2.4 tons), 6.96 cubic yards of drainage stone, 54 ft of perforated pipe, and 321 sq ft of fabric. In larger 18 × 8 in blocks the wall takes 215 blocks.
Blocks for a 50 ft × 3 ft wall by block size
| Block | Blocks (5% extra) | Courses | Caps | Block cost, typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 4 in standard | 578 | 11 | 53 | $1,618 to $2,630 |
| 16 × 6 in | 280 | 7 | 40 | $1,344 to $2,184 |
| 18 × 8 in large | 215 | 6 | 36 | $1,548 to $2,516 |
| 8 × 4 in garden wall | 867 | 11 | 79 | $1,734 to $2,818 |
Each count includes one buried course below grade and 5 percent for cuts. Base gravel, drainage stone, pipe, and fabric are the same for every block.
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Base and drainage for a 50 ft wall
- Trench: 11 in deep and about 19 in wide along the full 50 ft, roughly 2.7 cubic yards of digging.
- Base gravel: 1.61 cubic yards of 3/4 in minus, compacted in lifts, about 2.4 tons. See the gravel calculator to price it.
- Drainage stone: 6.96 cubic yards of clean 3/4 in stone for a 12 in column behind the blocks, about 10.4 tons.
- Drain pipe: 54 ft of 4 in perforated pipe with a sock, sloped to daylight at one or both ends.
- Fabric: 321 sq ft of non-woven landscape fabric to separate stone from soil.
- Adhesive: 5 tubes of construction adhesive for the caps and top course.
Walls over 3 ft should have geogrid reinforcement every two courses and usually need a permit. Ask the block supplier for the grid layout for your block.
What a 50 ft × 3 ft block wall costs
Materials run about $2,396 to $3,782: standard blocks at $2.80 to $4.50 each, caps at $3 to $5, gravel and stone at $45 to $65 a ton, plus pipe and fabric. Larger blocks cost more per piece but fewer are needed, so the total lands in a similar range. Installed by a landscaper, segmental block walls typically price at $20 to $40 per square foot of wall face, or $3,000 to $6,000 for this 150 square foot wall. The blocks alone weigh about 8.7 tons, so plan on delivery.
Common questions
How many retaining wall blocks for 50 feet?
578 standard 12 × 4 in blocks for a wall 3 ft above grade, 280 of the 16 × 6 in size, or 215 of 18 × 8 in blocks, each including a buried course and 5 percent extra.
How much gravel for a 50 ft retaining wall?
1.61 cubic yards for a 6 in compacted base plus 6.96 cubic yards of clean stone behind the wall, about 12.9 tons in total.
Do I need a permit for a 3 ft retaining wall?
Often yes. Many jurisdictions require a permit and sometimes an engineered design at 3 or 4 ft, and sooner if the wall supports a slope, driveway, or building. Rules vary by city, so call the building department before you dig.