Retaining Wall Planning Worksheet
Plan the dimensions, materials, drainage, and budget before you break ground
A retaining wall is unforgiving — mistakes in height, drainage, or the base course show up as a leaning or collapsed wall a season or two later. This worksheet walks you through every decision before you dig: measurements, permits, the drainage system, a full material list, and a budget. Fill it in, then use BuildCalc Pro’s calculators to turn your dimensions into exact block, gravel, and pipe quantities. Print double-sided.
Site & Wall Basics (Measure First)
Fill these in before you price anything — every material quantity depends on them.
- Total wall length (feet)
- Finished wall height (feet)Measure from the buried base course to the top of the cap
- Slope behind the wall (flat, gentle, steep)Steeper slopes push harder — they may need engineering
- Soil type (sandy, loam, clay, rocky)Clay holds water and raises drainage needs
- What the wall holds back (garden bed, driveway, hillside)
- Is there a structure, driveway, or pool above the wall?A surcharge load almost always requires an engineer
Permits & Safety (Check Before You Dig)
Skipping these is the most expensive mistake in wall building.
- Call 811 to locate underground utilitiesFree, required, and prevents dangerous strikes
- Confirm the permit threshold with your city/countyWalls over 4 ft (or over a load) usually need a permit + engineered plans
- Check property lines and required setbacks
- Confirm the wall will not redirect water onto a neighbor’s lot
- For walls over 4 ft or holding a load: engineered drawings obtained
Drainage Plan (Non-Negotiable)
Poor drainage is the number one cause of retaining wall failure. Plan it before you build.
- Perforated drain pipe behind the base course
- Clean gravel backfill (not soil) directly behind the wall
- Geotextile fabric between gravel and native soil
- A real outlet: pipe sloped to daylight or a dry well
- Weep holes or gravel chimney for segmental block walls
Material Take-Off
Use the Retaining Wall Calculator and Gravel Calculator to fill the quantity column, then price each line from your supplier quote.
| Material | Quantity | Unit Cost | Line Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall block / stone | ______ | $ ______ | $ ______ |
| Cap blocks | ______ | $ ______ | $ ______ |
| Base course gravel (crushed stone) | ______ | $ ______ | $ ______ |
| Backfill / drainage gravel | ______ | $ ______ | $ ______ |
| Leveling sand | ______ | $ ______ | $ ______ |
| Perforated drain pipe | ______ | $ ______ | $ ______ |
| Geotextile fabric | ______ | $ ______ | $ ______ |
| Block adhesive / pins | ______ | $ ______ | $ ______ |
| Delivery / haul-away | ______ | $ ______ | $ ______ |
| MATERIALS SUBTOTAL | $ ______ |
Budget Summary
| Materials subtotal (from take-off above) | $ ______ |
| Tool / equipment rental (plate compactor, etc.) | $ ______ |
| Permit & engineering fees | $ ______ |
| Labor (if hiring out) | $ ______ |
| Contingency (add 10–15%) | $ ______ |
| TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET | $ ______ |
Plan It Right (Step by Step)
- Measure twice. Nail down length and finished height first — every material quantity flows from them. Enter them in BuildCalc Pro’s Retaining Wall Calculator to get your block and cap counts.
- Check the permit threshold. Most jurisdictions require a permit and engineered plans for walls over 4 feet or any wall holding a load (driveway, structure, pool). Confirm before you buy.
- Design the drainage before the wall. Perforated pipe, clean gravel backfill, geotextile fabric, and a real outlet — this is what keeps the wall standing.
- Build the take-off. Use the calculators to size base gravel, backfill, and drain pipe, then get supplier quotes to fill the cost columns.
- Add contingency. Budget an extra 10–15% for the surprises every excavation project produces — rock, wet soil, or extra base.
- Call 811. Always locate utilities before the first shovel goes in the ground.