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• Finishing Your Wall
  • Finishing Options
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Gravity Retaining Wall Heights    

Use the chart below to find the maximum height that your retaining wall can be built before reinforcement is required. The gravity wall heights shown do not account for seismic loading. Check with a local engineer for assistance if you are in a seismic area.

Maximum Wall Heights - Gravity Retaining Walls
Condition Above Retaining Wall	Soil Type	Friction Angle	AB Stones Only of the AB Collection 12° (Ref)	AB Collections 6° (Ref)	AB Fieldstone Short Anchoring Unit(SAU) 6° (Ref)	AB Fieldstone Long Anchoring Unit (LAU) 6° (Ref)	AB Vertical Only of the AB Collection 3° (Ref)
	Clay	27°	3 ft. 6 in. (1.0 m)	3 ft. 2 in. (0.9 m)	3 ft. 7 in. (1.1 m)	5 ft. 10 in. (1.8 m)	2 ft. 11 in. (0.9 m)
	Silty Sand	32°	5 ft. 4 in. (1.6 m)	4 ft. 7 in. (1.4 m)	5 ft. (1.5 m)	8 ft. 6 in. (2.6 m)	3 ft. 9 in. (1.1 m)
	Sand/Gravel	36°	5 ft. 10 in. (1.8 m)	5 ft. 2 in. (1.6 m)	5 ft. 8 in. (1.7 m)	9 ft. 8 in. (3 m)	4 ft. 3 in. (1.3 m)
	Wall Heights listed are for reference only.
	Clay	27°	1 ft. 8 in. (0.5 m)	1 ft. 4 in. (0.4 m)	1 ft. 8 in. (0.5 m)	4 ft. (1.2 m)	1 ft. 1 in. (0.3 m)
	Silty Sand	32°	3 ft. 10 in. (1.2 m)	3 ft. 1 in. (0.9 m)	3 ft. 7 in. (1.1 m)	7 ft. (2.1 m)	2 ft. 4 in. (0.7 m)
	Sand/Gravel	36°	4 ft. 6 in. (1.4 m)	3 ft. 6 in. (1 m)	4 ft. 2 in. (1.3 m)	8 ft. (2.4 m)	2 ft. 6 in. (0.8 m)
	Wall Heights listed are for reference only.
	Clay	27°	2 ft. 8 in. (0.8 m)	2 ft. 4 in. (0.7 m)	2 ft. 8 in. (0.8 m)	4 ft. 4 in. (1.3 m)	2 ft. 1 in. (0.6 m)
	Silty Sand	32°	4 ft. 8 in. (1.4 m)	4 ft. 1 in. (1.2 m)	4 ft. 4 in. (1.3 m)	7.0 ft. 4 in. (2.3 m)	3 ft. 2 in. (0.9 m)
	Sand/Gravel	36°	5 ft. 10 in. (1.8 m)	4 ft. 7 in. (1.4 m)	5 ft. 1 in. (1.5 m)	8 ft. 7 in. (2.6 m)	3 ft. 9 in. (1.1 m)
	Wall Heights listed are for reference only.
This table is based on clay soil having an internal friction angle of 27° (Ref) or better and a sandy soil having an internal friction angle of 32° (Ref) or better. All heights based on exposed wall heights and include a cap block. The gravity wall heights shown above do not account for seismic loading. Check with a local engineer for assistance if you are in a seismic area. Final designs for construction purposes must be performed by a local registered professional engineer, using the actual conditions of the proposed site. *The surcharge loading category above assumes a solid surface such as concrete, asphalt or pavers having a suitable supporting subgrade.