Never make an extra trip to the stone yard. Get perfect block counts.
Total Blocks Required
0
Wall Blocks
Grave / Crusher Run (Tons):0 Tons
Capstones (Linear alignment):0 Caps
* Block count includes a 5% waste factor for broken stones or cuts. Gravel estimates a standard 4-inch base and 12-inch backfill zone.
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📏 Gravity Wall Mechanics
Retaining walls work by using their weight (gravity) to hold back soil. Proper estimation requires accounting for the blocks you see and the gravel you don't.
Blocks = CEIL((Length x Height) / Block Face Area) x 1.05
The Buried Course: For structural stability, the first course of blocks should be partially or fully buried. Professionals usually add one extra course to their vertical height estimate to account for this "base course."
Drainage Zone: Water is the #1 cause of wall failure. We estimate a **12-inch wide zone of 3/4" clean gravel** behind the entire height of the wall to allow water to drain away from the blocks.
Gravel Weight: Most crusher run or drainage gravel weighs approximately **2,700 to 3,000 lbs per cubic yard**. Our calculator uses a 1.35 ton-per-yard conversion factor.
💡 Expert Tip
Never build a retaining wall taller than 3 feet without consulting a structural engineer. High walls require "deadman" anchors, geogrid soil reinforcement, and specific drainage pipe configurations that simple gravity walls do not provide.