Retaining Wall Cost Perth (Types Compared)

If your block slopes, a retaining wall is often the first job on the list. It holds soil in place, helps limit erosion and flooding, and turns an awkward slope into level ground you can actually use.

The cost of a retaining wall depends far more on your site than on a rate per metre. Two walls the same length can be very different jobs once you factor in height, approvals and what sits behind them. This guide explains what drives the price, how the wall types we build compare, and how we quote.

What a retaining wall has to do

A retaining wall holds back the soil behind it. The higher the wall, the more soil it’s holding and the more force it has to resist. That’s why a low edging wall around a planting bed and a wall levelling a sloping backyard are priced so differently, even if they look similar from the front.

On most of our projects, the retaining walls are part of a bigger job. We build in stages: earthworks and retaining walls first, then paving and structures, then the lawn, planting beds and retic at the end. That way everything above the wall sits on a stable, level base, and nothing gets done twice.

What affects the cost of a retaining wall

The type of wall

We build limestone walls, besser block retaining walls and concrete sleeper retaining walls. Each is built differently and suits different situations, which we compare below. Which one suits you comes down to the look you want, the height of the wall and your budget.

The height of the wall

Height is usually the biggest factor. With limestone, the taller the wall, the larger the blocks should be. The weight of larger blocks helps hold back the extra force from the soil behind a taller wall, while the smallest blocks are best kept for very short walls. Height is also what usually triggers council approval and engineering, which we cover next.

The length of the wall

A longer wall needs more blocks or sleepers and more time to build. Corners, curves and steps built into the wall add to the work.

Engineering and council approval

Local government approval is needed in some cases, and it varies depending on where you live. The most common situations are when a wall will be higher than 500mm, or closer than 1.5 metres to another structure. To seek approval, an engineer’s design is typically required.

Setbacks matter too. Limestone retaining walls in Perth usually need to be at least 0.6 metres from the property line, and taller walls need to be further away than shorter ones. If a wall on your block goes over these thresholds, the engineering and approval process becomes part of the job. We check your council’s requirements and the setbacks before anything starts, so you know where you stand before the first block goes in.

Drainage and what sits behind the wall

A retaining wall is there to keep soil in place and help limit erosion and flooding, so where the water goes matters. When we measure up, we look at the slope, the soil behind the wall and how water moves across the block after rain, and allow for it in the quote.

Access and site conditions

Difficult access and a significant slope both add work. Getting materials to the wall, levelling the ground and working around existing paving, fences or pools all take time, and we assess each of these on site.

Retaining wall types compared

Here’s how the three wall types we build compare. We haven’t ranked them on price, because on most jobs the height, approvals and site conditions make a bigger difference than the wall type itself.

Limestone is a popular choice for Perth retaining walls, and it ties in well with limestone steps, planters and paving. Besser block and concrete sleepers give a straight, clean line. We’ll talk through the options on site and recommend the one that suits your block. You can read more on our retaining walls page.

One tall wall or a terraced wall?

On a steep block, one very tall wall isn’t always the best answer. In general, a retaining wall can be more structurally sound and look better if it’s built in a terraced fashion, using two or more shorter walls.

It isn’t a way around approvals, though. Development approval may still be needed if the combined height of the terraced sections is more than one metre. We’ll tell you which option makes sense for your slope and what it means for approvals.

How we quote a retaining wall

We start with a free on-site measure and quote. Mike comes out, looks at the slope, the height and length of wall you need, the setbacks and access, and checks your council’s requirements. You then get a written price before any work begins.

We supply and install all forms of limestone blocks, and we handle the full job ourselves: site prep, base work, construction and clean-up, with no subcontracting. If you’d like paving, lawn or retic once the walls are in, we can take care of that too. As one of our clients in Jandakot put it, the team “initially built our retaining wall and levelled the yard ready for the pool install.”

The price we quote is the price you pay. If anything changes once work is underway, we tell you before any extra work goes ahead.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need council approval for a retaining wall in Perth?

Sometimes. It varies by local government, but approval is most commonly needed when a wall is higher than 500mm or closer than 1.5 metres to another structure. An engineer’s design is typically required to seek approval. We check what your council needs before work starts.

Which retaining wall type should I choose?

It comes down to the look you want, the height of the wall and your budget. Limestone suits a natural look and ties in with limestone paving and steps. Besser block and concrete sleepers give a straight, clean line. We’ll recommend the option that suits your block.

Can you do the paving and landscaping after the walls go in?

Yes. We build the walls and level the yard first, then move on to paving, lawn and reticulation.

Which areas do you build retaining walls in?

We service the full Perth metro area and surrounds, from Currambine in the north, south to Mandurah, east to the hills and across the western suburbs.

If you’ve got a sloping block and want to know what’s involved, get in touch. We’ll come out for a free on-site measure and give you a written quote.

Mike Tuhaka

Mike Tuhaka runs Perth Landscape Guys. He and his team design and build outdoor spaces right across Perth, from Currambine down to Mandurah, including paving, decking, retaining walls, artificial grass, lawn and reticulation. They are preferred installers for Freo Stone, Eco Stone and Remastone, and have worked on commercial projects for Murdoch University and Parsons Group. What customers mention most is Mike’s honest advice and the regular updates from the first plan to the final clean up.