Segmental Retaining Wall Takeoff
Blocks per course and number of courses (with the buried first course), total and cap blocks.
Example
You enter
- Wall run (ft) 30
- Exposed height (ft) 3
- Block face length (in) 18
- Block face height (in) 8
You get
- Courses 6
- Total blocks 120
- Drain cuyd 4.07
Checked against published worked examples from: VERSA-LOK Retaining Wall Systems.
Details, formula, and sources
ScopeBlocks per course and number of courses (with the buried first course), total and cap blocks, and base-trench and drainage gravel for a segmental wall. Over 4 ft needs an engineered design with geogrid.
Formula or tableBuried = max(1 in/ft of height, one block height); courses = ceil(total height / block height); total = courses x ceil(run x 12 / block length); gravel by zone geometry.
Source and editionSegmental retaining-wall maker guidance (Allan Block / Versa-Lok, by name).
Free accessInstall guides free at the block maker's pages.
What governsEstimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
API field nameswall_length_ft, exposed_height_ft, block_length_in, block_height_in, courses, total_blocks, drain_cuyd
- Embedment + drainage bury ~1 in per ft, 2 ft x 6 in base pad, 12 in drainage zone (fixed in the take-off); engineered design over ~4 ftAllan Block / Versa-Lok