How Much Does a Stone Wall Cost? [2024 Data]

Cost of a Stone Wall Per Square Foot 

The average cost per square foot for a stone wall is around $125, but that price can fall anywhere between $45 and $200, depending on the materials you use and how much your contractor charges for labor.

Stone walls are deceivingly tricky to design. It's not just about puzzle-piecing stone together with a bit of mortar. Nearly all standalone stone walls require their own footing and foundation as well as a drainage system to work with the natural flow of water beneath the ground.

Stone Wall Cost Factors

It's not uncommon to think that walling stone prices are the main focus. After all, without the stones themselves, what is there? But locally sourced materials can run relatively low, while labor makes up over two-thirds of your bottom line. The best masons and contractors will break down your estimate by material, labor, and other considerations.

Materials

Natural Stone Wall

Natural rock walls cost between $25 to $80 per square foot for materials and $15 to $30 per square foot of labor. In some cases, designers may charge by the hour as well. Masons cost a bit higher in exchange for their expertise at $70 to $110 per hour and contractors or less-experienced masonry professionals range from $30 to $50 per hour.

Stone Veneer

Stone veneer is a bit easier and predictable to work with. It is also easy to find in a range of styles. Materials will cost $10 to $25 per square foot, whereas labor will run $10 to $15 for the same amount.

Labor

The cost of labor will take the largest amount of your budget. Although the work doesn’t require special certifications or qualifications, it’s demanding and takes a long time. Expect to pay between $50 and $100 per hour for the work performed. If your contractor charges by the square foot, expect to pay $3 to $6 per square foot. 

Ground Preparation

For thousands of years, stone walls were built on the ground. However, modern building practices require a solid foundation. The good news is that foundations are relatively inexpensive, and for a slab foundation, that can be as low as $4 per square foot. 

For a larger wall or a wall that will be built on an uneven surface, a land survey may be required. Surveys cost an average of $376 to $747 to acquire. You may not need a survey (or even a permit), but the only way to know for sure is to contact your city and ask about municipal codes, or hire a pro who will handle the details for you.

Additional Features and Customization

A stone wall is much like an indoor wall in the sense that once it’s built, it can be customized in a number of different ways. Stone walls that line the driveway could benefit from some lights. The same concept goes with walls built along walkways. Like any project, customization adds to the price, and usually not in a direct way such as price per square feet. 

A stone wall will be budgeted by its size, but any features and customization will be billed based on the complexity and time requirements. Adding three light fixtures on top of a stone wall may only cost $470, but drainage, gates, and other custom additions can easily inflate the cost. 

Permits

Permits seem like a hassle when all you want to do is build a wall, but they’re something you can’t overlook. Stone walls are usually simple proposals, so permits shouldn’t be too expensive or take long to get. Depending on your municipality, a permit can be turned around in days for less than $200.

Angi Tip

Completing a project without a permit could result in major fines or having to tear it down and start over. A reputable contractor can pull the necessary permits for you prior to starting a project.

Caroline Gilbert

Director, Content & Editorial, Angi

Cost of Stone Walls by Location

The average national range to build a rock wall runs from $2,250 to $7,800, but where you live has a significant say in your bill. Factor in local permit costs, the price of materials, and, most importantly, local labor prices.

Let's take a look at a few states in different regions to know what to expect:

What Kind of Stone Wall Can I Get on My Budget?

The two main numbers to consider when it comes to your final installation costs are materials and labor. If you want a small yet upscale stone accent wall—like one that lines a small rock garden—labor costs will be lower. However, you may decide to use a more expensive natural stone for this project, increasing the cost of your rock wall. 

On the other hand, let's say your patio requires a 50-foot stone veneer wall. Materials cost less but the length of the wall and its structural requirements increase labor. 

Here are some example projects that fit in each budget.

Under $1,000

Using our hypothetical stone wall cost calculator, this lower price bracket may include 5- to 10-foot stone walls to separate your lawn and garden with a stone garden wall. Perhaps you're adding a small wall behind a koi pond or around a large tree in your front yard. Overall, smaller walls with less-intensive labor fall under $1,000.

$2,000 to $3,000

Add a dry-stacked wall over 10 square feet to add depth to a hilly landscape. These line gazebos, seating areas, or outdoor dining patios. The higher end of this range also includes the cost of small retaining walls.

$3,000 to $7,000

Larger stone fence or wall projects open up to you in this range, particularly if your wall requires extensive drainage. For example, the cost of a low fieldstone fence is between $40 to more than $80 an hour to install.

Building a Stone Wall Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

Photo: wittybear / Adobe Stock

There are other considerations to keep in mind before you dive into a DIY stone wall. Your local laws will likely dictate whether building a stone wall yourself is the right plan (before you even lay a single stone). Once you have your permits in order, and are sure your proposed wall can be built, you can get started. 

One of the major issues with DIYing a stone wall is the transfer of the material. Professionals will have heavy-duty trucks to move the stone to the build site, which means you may have to rent a truck or crew to deliver your materials. 

There is also a very human consideration as well—your body. A professional will perform the heavy lifting many times per week and is used to the demanding work. DIYers, even strong ones, may find the task tiring after even just a few hours. If you decide to DIY, consider inviting some friends over to help with the load.  

On average, you’ll pay around $1,500 to install your stone wall yourself, but that number could fall between $300 and $10,000, depending on a few different factors. Remember to consider the time spent as well, as time is a resource that you control, and which also comes at an opportunity cost. 

Cost of Different Types of Stone Walls

Stone walls can elevate your sprawling landscape into the head-turning envy of the neighborhood. Walls add natural levels that double as steps, seating, and opportunities for colorful flowers and shrubs to offset the stone.

Here are some common styles of stone walls and what to expect on the bill.

Retaining Wall

The average cost of a natural stone retaining wall is $8,500, including materials, labor, foundation, and drainage costs. A retaining wall's structural challenges can raise the average price even higher.

Retaining walls play double-duty—or even triple-duty—in your landscape. Most importantly, these walls prevent major erosion in an uneven landscape. Their stability and placement, however, make excellent seating and a prime focal point of your yard.

Accent Wall

A stone accent wall will average around $1,000, but the total can fall anywhere between $500 and $2,500, depending on the type of veneer you choose and the size of your wall.

A stone accent wall is one of the most affordable ways to add natural stone to your space, as it involves installing a convenient stone veneer over an existing wall. Standard veneer costs between $5 and $15 per square foot, while a faux stone veneer can cost as little as $2 per square foot. Real stone will look more natural and is more durable, while faux stone will be far more affordable and easier to install.

Dry-Stacked Wall

Expect to pay $40 to over $80 an hour plus the cost of materials—an average of around $30 per square foot—and extras like land surveys or permits based on their size and placement for a dry-stacked stone wall. You'll need an expert to dry stack stones since these walls don't use any binding agent to stay together.

A dry-stacked fieldstone wall is a more expensive option, usually totaling between $25 and $75 per square foot for the materials and closer to $80 per hour for the installation. provides that rustic right-out-of-the-Shire look to your landscape. Uneven stones come together into a cohesive wall that either lines your property or shapes your flower garden. 

Expect stone fence costs between $25 to $75 per square foot for a fieldstone retaining wall and $40 to $80 per hour of labor plus the cost of materials for a dry-stacked wall.

How to Save Money on a Stone Wall

The best way to save money when building a stone wall is by doing a portion–or all–of the labor yourself. However, this is not realistic for some, and other cost-saving measures can help, including:

• Reusing existing materials

• Sourcing local stone to reduce transport costs

• Using less expensive materials

• Considering stone veneer instead

• Choosing a simple wall design

• Hiring a local professional 

If you can wait, an off-season build might be significantly cheaper. Talk to your local stone wall professional about when the best time of the year is to build. In certain climates, you may not have an option (locations that experience cold winters).