What decides the cost of a gabion retaining wall, how to work out the quantity, and how to get an accurate quotation.
A gabion wall is priced from its volume (cubic metres of gabions) plus the work to build it, and several site factors change the total a lot. Rather than a misleading rate per metre, this guide shows how to estimate the quantity and what moves the cost — then send us the details for a delivered quotation.
Count the boxes, steel and stone for your wall with the gabion wall calculator.
Pricing a tender item? See rate analysis of gabion work — the MoRTH Standard Data Book build-up per m³, with a free Excel template.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Wall height and length | Volume rises faster than height, because taller walls also need wider bases. |
| Stone availability | Stone near the site is far cheaper than stone brought in by truck. |
| Transport distance | Gabions and stone are heavy; distance from the works to the site matters. |
| Wire diameter and mesh | Heavier wire (e.g. 3.0 mm instead of 2.7 mm) uses more steel. |
| Coating | PVC coated wire costs more than galvanized, but lasts far longer in water. |
| Foundation and excavation | Deeper embedment, rock or soft ground adds earthwork. |
| Filter and backfill | Selected backfill and a filter layer are part of the job. |
| Labour and access | Hand packing is labour-heavy; steep or remote sites slow it down. |
Gabion work is measured in cubic metres (m³). Add up the cross-section of the wall and multiply by its length.
Worked example — a 3 m high stepped wall with courses 2.0 m, 1.5 m and 1.0 m wide, each 1 m high:
| Course | Width × height | Area per metre of wall |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom | 2.0 m × 1 m | 2.0 m² |
| Middle | 1.5 m × 1 m | 1.5 m² |
| Top | 1.0 m × 1 m | 1.0 m² |
| Total | 4.5 m² → 4.5 m³ per metre |
A 20 m long wall therefore needs about 90 m³ of gabions. With 35–40% voids, the stone needed is roughly 0.6–0.65 m³ of solid stone per m³ of gabion — check the bulk density of your stone with the supplier.
Revet mattresses are measured in square metres of plan area, and lacing wire is commonly supplied at about 3% of the gabion weight.
Gabion walls avoid formwork, reinforcement steel and curing time, can use local stone, and tolerate foundations that would need extra work for a rigid wall. Whether that makes them cheaper depends on stone and labour at your site — see gabion wall vs RCC wall.
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Gabion boxes are measured in cubic metres (m³): the wall's cross-section area multiplied by its length. Revet mattresses are measured in square metres of plan area.
Well-packed gabions have about 35–40% voids, so roughly 0.6–0.65 m³ of solid stone is needed per m³ of gabion.
Tell us your dimensions, wire specification and quantity — we'll come back with a quotation and lead time.
