Pricing Retaining Walls & Patios: A Landscaper's Guide for Hamilton, NJ

Question: I'm a landscaper in Hamilton, NJ. How should I charge for retaining walls and patios—by linear foot, square foot, or job? What's the rule of thumb?

Answer: Unit-Based Pricing with Full Cost Accounting

Walls: price per linear foot. Patios: price per square foot. Factor in:

• Materials
• Labor
• Overhead
• Site conditions (access, slope, soil)
• Design complexity (engineered vs. non-engineered walls)
• Design fees

Divide total cost by the unit (LF or SF). Local material costs vary widely—research your market. Consider hiring an estimator; much estimating relies on experience-based intuition.

Reference books: Kerr's Cost Data for Landscape Construction, Walker's Building Estimator's Reference Book.

—Mark Harshman | mahdrafting.com