Per lineal metre, expect roughly A$320 to A$600 for a low concrete sleeper wall and A$560 to A$1,020 at 1.2 m retained height, drainage included but before access, slope, removal and professional work. Multiply length by average retained height to get wall-face area, price that, then add site-specific scope as separate lines.
Cost per lineal metre by retained height
The bands below are the calculator's wall-system coefficient multiplied by height, plus the A$80 to A$180 per metre drainage allowance. They exclude access and slope multipliers, removal, professional work and the upper-band contingency, all of which are added separately.
Bands are the calculator's national planning coefficients, version rwq-au-2026-09-01-preliminary, GST inclusive, before any site inspection. They are not quotes and not a structural sizing rule.
| Average retained height | Concrete sleeper, per lineal metre | Timber sleeper, per lineal metre |
|---|---|---|
| 0.6 m | A$320 to A$600 | A$260 to A$490 |
| 0.9 m | A$440 to A$810 | A$350 to A$650 |
| 1.2 m | A$560 to A$1,020 | A$440 to A$800 |
| 1.8 m | A$800 to A$1,440 | A$620 to A$1,120 |
Lineal metre versus square metre
A lineal rate hides height. Square-metre planning exposes the visible scale, but two walls with the same face area can still differ because of loads, soil, access, founding, drainage and geometry.
| Example | Length | Average retained height | Wall-face area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low garden wall | 20 m | 0.6 m | 12 m² |
| Boundary wall | 10 m | 1.2 m | 12 m² |
| Short higher wall | 6 m | 2.0 m | 12 m² |
Why equal area does not mean equal cost
The three examples have the same visible area but not necessarily the same design, excavation, access or approval pathway. Height, loads and neighbouring property can materially change the work.
- Keep retained height explicit in every request.
- Describe what is above and near the wall.
- Show access width, slope and spoil route.
- Ask for drainage and professional items as separate rows.
How to use an advertised rate
Ask for the rate's date, region, unit and inclusions. Confirm whether it covers posts or footings, drainage, excavation, backfill, spoil, demolition, finish, engineering, approvals and GST. If the answer is unclear, treat the figure as discovery rather than a budget.
What to record before seeking quotes
- Dimensions
Length, average retained height and how the dimensions were measured. - Earthworks
Excavation, spoil quantity, disposal, temporary support and site protection. - Drainage
Aggregate, geotextile, pipe, outlets and stormwater connections stated separately. - Professional scope
Engineering, geotechnical input, certification and approvals included or clearly excluded. - Commercial scope
GST, payment stages, variations, programme, warranty and exclusions.