How much do precast or poured concrete walls cost?

Concrete walls cost

Building a concrete wall costs $7,500 to $14,000 on average. A poured concrete wall costs $90 to $280 per linear foot. A precast concrete wall costs $150 to $320 per linear foot. The average cost of a poured concrete foundation or basement walls is $10,000 to $37,500.

*For 6’ to 8’ tall walls.

Concrete walls cost per linear foot

A poured-concrete wall costs $90 to $280 per linear foot. A precast-concrete wall costs $150 to $320 per linear foot. Total costs depend on the wall location, dimensions, finishes, and construction method.

*For 6’ to 8’ tall walls.

Poured concrete walls cost calculator

Poured concrete wall prices depend on the height and wall type.

Concrete fence wall cost

A poured-concrete fence wall costs $90 to $280 per linear foot for 6’ to 8’ tall walls or $15 to $35 per square foot of wall face. Prices include footings up to 2' deep. Freestanding walls typically need finishing on both sides, top caps, and reinforced footings.

Poured concrete retaining wall cost

A poured concrete retaining wall costs $60 to $270 per linear foot for 3’ to 6’ tall walls or $20 to $45 per square foot of wall surface. Total costs depend on the wall-finish type, drainage, excavation depth, and backfill options. Retaining walls often have French drains at the base.

Board-formed concrete walls cost

Board-formed concrete walls cost $30 to $70 per square foot on average. Board-formed concrete walls are cast-in-place by pouring concrete into wooden plank forms to create a wood-grain imprinted texture with joint lines.

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Precast concrete walls cost

Precast concrete walls cost $150 to $320 per linear foot installed for 6’ to 8’ tall walls or $25 to $40 per square foot. Installation costs depend on if wall-panel joints have either cement grouting, caulking, or bolting.

*For 6’ to 8’ tall walls, 6” to 8” thick, without footings. Includes local delivery.

Additional costs apply for:

• Fiberboard insulation costs $6 to $7 per square foot extra.
• Surface-patterned designs cost 12% to 20% more.
• High-strength concrete for the panels costs 2% to 6% more.
• Prices decrease by 20% to 25% for precast concrete fences over 200' long.

Precast-concrete wall panels prices

Precast-concrete wall panels cost $2,500 to $4,000 per 100-square foot panel installed. Material prices alone are $2,000 to $3,000 per 100-square foot panel, depending on the color, finish, shape, and built-in insulation. Manufacturers produce and cure the panels offsite for faster installation.

*Prices for 6’ to 8’ tall precast walls up to 8” thick.

Prefab concrete basement wall prices

Installing a 100’ to 200’ long prefab basement wall costs $15,000 to $64,000 on average, depending on the height, thickness, and design type. “Prefabricated concrete” is another term for precast concrete panels.

*Total prices installed for 6’ to 8’ tall walls up to 8” thick.

How much do Superior Walls cost?

Superior Walls® cost $100 to $130 per linear foot installed for 8’ to 9’ tall concrete walls with built-in insulation. Installing Superior brand walls is up to 55% cheaper than regular poured-concrete walls. Builders install these precast concrete walls in 2 to 3 hours.

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Cost of poured concrete foundation walls

The cost of poured concrete foundation walls is $10,000 to $37,500 on average or $10 to $25 per square foot of the total foundation floor area. These prices are for foundation walls 8’ to 10’ tall, including the concrete floor.

Cost of poured concrete basement walls

A poured concrete basement foundation costs $26,000 to $80,000 on average for the walls, excavation, and slab base. The cost depends on the basement size, location, soil conditions, and structural design.

Basement waterproofing costs $1,900 to $6,300 to seal both the interior and exterior walls.

Precast vs. poured concrete foundation walls

The following chart shows the differences between a precast and poured concrete foundation:

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Cost factors to build a concrete wall

The cost to build a concrete wall depends on:

• Wall design – Curved walls, complex designs, and multiple openings increase the labor time.
• Wall dimensions – The wall’s length, height, and thickness determine the total cost. Walls taller than 4 feet require multiple concrete pours and additional scaffolding.
• Accessibility – Working on slopes, hard-to-access sites, or those more than 40 miles from the supplier increases the labor time.
• Delivery – Concrete delivery costs $120 to $150 per cubic yard for a 10-yard truckload of ready-mix concrete.
• Grading and excavation – The cost to level a yard is $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot. Extra charges apply for excavation in rocky soil and backfilling around the footing.
• Poured-concrete wall footers – A reinforced concrete footer costs $18 to $55 per linear foot for poured concrete walls. The footer depth depends on the frost line and local building codes.
• Precast-concrete wall footers – Installers set precast concrete foundation walls in a compacted gravel base that costs $1 to $3 per square foot, and then they pour a concrete slab around the walls.
• Reinforcements – Concrete walls typically need steel rebar or other reinforcements, depending on the wall design.
• Engineers – Hiring a structural engineer costs $100 to $500 per hour to draw up basic building plans. Consulting an architect costs $1,500 to $5,000 for design work on large structures.
• Drainage – An exterior French drain costs $10 to $25 per linear foot. An interior perimeter drain costs $40 to $85 per linear foot to prevent water damage. Without proper drainage, hydrostatic pressure could cause the wall to lean outwards.
• Permits – A wall construction permit costs $500 to $2,000, depending on the type, size, and location.

Concrete wall construction finishing costs

Additional concrete wall finishing costs include:

• Exterior painting costs $1 to $4 per square foot.
• Adding exterior siding costs $3 to $18 per square foot on average.
• Stamped concrete costs $5 to $15 per square foot more.
• Concrete wall waterproofing sealant costs $2 to $10 per square foot.
• Interior drywall installation costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot.
• Rough concrete wall finishes cost $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot for texturing the surface with a broom, brush hammer, or acid etching.

Cost of block wall vs. poured concrete

A cinder block wall costs $15 to $30 per square foot. The hollow voids in the concrete blocks are filled with poured concrete or cement-based mortar.

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Frequently asked questions

How thick are poured-concrete walls?

A poured concrete wall is 8 to 12 inches thick on average, depending on the structure height, underground pressure, and local building codes. The taller the wall and the more soil pressure it resists, the thicker the wall must be.

Do poured concrete walls leak?

Poured concrete walls typically leak through the wall-floor joint or old cracks. Common causes include high hydrostatic pressure around the foundation, poor drainage, and improper foundation installation.

• Basement waterproofing costs $2,000 to $6,300 on average for sealing the walls, installing an interior drainage system, and epoxy-injection crack repair.
• Foundation crack repairs cost $250 to $800 per crack.

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Hiring concrete wall contractors

Poured-concrete wall building is not a DIY project. Always hire a professional mason.

When hiring concrete contractors near you, use this checklist:

• Compare three estimates or more 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 result in low-quality work.
• Check their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
• Pick licensed, insured, and bonded contractors with years of experience.
• Never pay in full upfront. Make a payment schedule at job milestones.
• Collect an itemized bid listing all costs involved.

Questions to ask concrete wall contractors

• What size concrete wall and design do you recommend for my project, and why?
• What are my choices for the wall finish and sealant?
• How long will this wall take to build and cure?
• Do you have photos of your past projects?
• How much space will the crew need? Will they need water access and electrical outlets?
• Can I see a scaled wall design before construction?
• How long have you been building poured concrete walls?
• What does your warranty include, and how long does it last?
• Will you reinforce the concrete with rebar?
• How will you build the wall foundation, and how deep does it need to be?
• Will you pull building permits and supervise site inspections?
• What’s your payment policy and schedule?
• How do you deal with unexpected delays?
• Are all materials, cleanup, and labor fees in this estimate? What extra charges typically apply?
• How should I contact the project supervisor?
• Do you hire subcontractors, and if so, does it cost extra to manage them?
• Can I get a detailed contract copy before work begins?

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