Kick erosion to the curb with an eye-catching retaining wall. Retaining wall costs in Philadelphia, PA, vary based on the material, but this guide will help you budget.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Wall in Philadelphia? [2026 Data]
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Cost Insights
Installing a wall in Philadelphia costs $22 to $29 per linear foot on average.
The cost of building a new wall depends primarily on its dimensions, location within your home, and any unique features.
Permits, insulation, electrical wiring, and plumbing can increase costs.
Wall construction prices vary widely based on the covering, trim details, and finish.
Hiring a professional wall installer can ensure your wall is structurally sound.
Wall installation costs in Philadelphia typically range from $1,082 and $3,045, with an average of $2,062. While installing a wall may seem straightforward, it actually involves many steps, including framing, electrical work, and finishing. Additionally, building a wall involves several decisions, such as trim and finish details.
Whether you’re dividing a room, installing a privacy partition, or creating a new space altogether, understanding the factors that affect your final price can help you plan with confidence.
Wall Installation Cost Factors
Size matters when it comes to wall construction pricing. However, the type of wall you want and its details also play a significant role. For example, the cost of installing drywall versus wall paneling pricing can vary by $9 to $35 per square foot.
Expect most wall construction in Philadelphia, PA, to cost between $22 and $29 per linear foot for a typical section. While the standard wall height is 8 feet, you may need a taller or shorter wall. Half-walls cost less, averaging between $11 and $19 per linear foot.
After determining the length of the wall you need, or its linear feet, multiply it by the height to get your total square footage and estimate your costs.
Size
The bigger the wall, the more expensive it is to build. The standard wall height is 8 feet, though you may need something taller or shorter. Once you figure out the wall length you need, just multiply it by the height to get the square footage.
You can expect a finished wall, including framing, drywall, and electrical, to cost around $22 to $29 per linear foot. Half-walls cost $11 to $19 per linear foot and are useful for dividing areas in bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and more.
| Wall Length (Linear Feet, by 8-Feet-Tall) | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 10 | $220–$290 |
| 15 | $330–$435 |
| 20 | $440–$580 |
| 25 | $550–$725 |
| 35 | $770–$1,015 |
| 40 | $880–$1,160 |
Material
The cost to install a wall depends greatly on its material. Walls come in a wide range of materials, including brick, plaster, stone, and concrete.
| Material | Cost Per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Drywall | $1.65–$2.90 |
| Plaster | $3.35–$9.65 |
| Glass | $28–$72 |
| Concrete | $11–$57 |
| Wood | $11–$38 |
| Stone or stone veneer | $17–$77 |
| Brick or brick veneer | $5.50–$43 |
Type of Wall
Whether you want to install a partition wall for privacy or a load-bearing exterior wall, the wall's function determines the final cost.
General Contractor Costs
Hiring a Philadelphia-area contractor for wall construction is your best bet. At a local cost of $50 to $150 per hour, your contractor will assume all tasks necessary to complete the job safely and legally while meeting all building code standards.
Additionally, hiring a contractor can provide access to options beyond standard wall materials, such as glass, veneers, and other drywall alternatives.
Structural Engineer Costs
Most wall installations require a local building permit. Your contractor will be responsible for obtaining it and managing the inspections that accompany it. Depending on the project's details, your municipality will often require a structural engineer to sign off on the construction plans to obtain the building permit.
While it is usually your contractor's responsibility, whether you or your contractor hires the structural engineer, the cost averages $70 to $250 per hour, or roughly $2 to $10 per square foot in Philadelphia.
Does Installing a New Wall Increase Home Value?
Installing a new wall to create a new room or living space can increase your home's value by 5% to 20%, provided it's well-constructed and attractive. However, the more significant payback often lies in its perceived value, functionality, and aesthetics, which can make the home more attractive to potential buyers.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed over 30,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Contractor services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Philadelphia, PA
4.7★ avg. • 27 total reviews
- Maria R.
We have used Brian and his team for multiple projects. The biggest project was for our built in bookshelves. The work was quick but extremely well done. We have also had trouble where our builder had done a shoddy job and 3 of our under mounted sinks collapsed and detached from the counter....
Diaz Home Improvement - Paul P.
Father and sons, Mike, Mike Jr., and Dan, turned the unfinished basement of our 110 year old house into a completely finished basement. I am extremely skeptical that a better crew can found. On every dimension, they far exceeded our expectations. They worked closely with us to make sure...
MDK Remodeling Inc - Laura B.
They were slow and sloppy. We used them in 2014 to install a Diaken HP in the 3rd fl of 4 unit apt bldg then we renovated all units between 2017-2019. More than half the fixtures have had leaks or other problems. Every time there was a different crew. I overheard them saying the previous crew...
Best Choice Plumbing & Heating - Graig S.
Daniel the inspector generally found very few problems with the property and we proceeded with the purchase. Subsequent to moving in we've found myriad problems that should have been identified by the inspector as requiring or attention or at least been raised as concerns, including water...
- Scott W.
We couldn't be more pleased. Mike's work included carpentry of all kinds, installing a new exterior door, cutting opening and infilling for a new exterior window and installing it, laying a floor, patching a subfloor, painting, plumbing, etc. He is very exacting and his workmanship is first...
Brink Home Improvements & Renovations LLC - Evan J.
Three years ago we bought a 100-year-old house that has a lot of "delayed maintenance" issues. We started a project stripping wallpaper and repairing some severely damaged walls, and then life took over and the project sat unfinished for a year. I finally reached out to Barry Bush after...
Barry Bush Home Improvements Llc - Robert K.
Juan came by to look at the job, and he did tell us that he usually <br /> didn't take on partially finished projects. But he was willing to do <br /> it. He figured it would take 2-3 passes, and told us the price ($500). <br /> It was more than we really wanted to spend, but we were...
Noahs Drywall llc - Darielle M.
First, I rejoined Angie’s list recently and was shocked to see Jim Brouse advertising. Jim Brouse informed me back in 2010 that he had gone out of business and thus could not complete my work, like replacing the rotting garden door he had installed (he used an interior door that rotted...
- Lynn T.
We chose Wesley Neves Painting after five bids. Wesley said that he was licensed and fully insured. He told me later that his license was expired and was being renewed but he never was able to show me his license. He said he was fully insured and gave me his insurance certificate. He said...
W N Painting & Remodeling - Daniel R.
I am usually reluctant to pay anyone in advance for services for obvious reasons, Summit was very nice and within two weeks came out to look at our roof. The gentleman caulked our roof in spots and explained that he thought the roof spout needed to be extended but otherwise found no...
Summit Roofing & Siding Contractors LLC
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