Gabion Baskets – Galvanised Welded Wire Gabion Cages

Galvanised gabion baskets for building retaining walls, garden walls, planters, bench seats, fencing and decorative stone features. These welded wire gabion cages are supplied flat-packed and assembled on site — fill them with stone, rock, rubble or reclaimed material to create a solid, free-draining structure. Available in a range of gabion basket sizes from compact 0.5m cubes to full 2 x 1 x 1m cages, suitable for everything from a small gabion planter to a large-scale gabion retaining wall.

What Are Gabions?

A gabion is a welded mesh cage or box filled with stone, rock or other heavy material to form a structural or decorative element. Gabion baskets have been used in civil engineering for centuries and are now widely used for retaining walls, garden walls, boundary fencing, erosion control, flood defences, noise barriers and landscaping features. Modern welded gabion baskets use galvanised steel wire mesh formed into rectangular boxes with internal bracing to prevent the fill from bulging.

Sizes and Prices

All gabion baskets are supplied as flat-packed kits including welded mesh panels and corner spirals for assembly on site.

Gabion Wire and Mesh Specification

Each gabion cage is made from 3mm galvanised steel wire with a 3 x 3 inch (approximately 75 x 75mm) welded mesh aperture. The galvanised coating protects the wire from corrosion, giving a long service life in outdoor and buried applications. The welded mesh construction holds the basket shape under load and resists the pressure of the stone fill without bulging — a key advantage of welded wire gabion baskets over woven mesh types.

Gabion Retaining Walls

Gabion retaining walls are one of the most common uses. The mass of the stone fill resists the soil pressure behind the wall, while the open mesh lets water drain straight through. This eliminates the hydrostatic pressure build-up that can undermine solid retaining walls, making gabions effective on slopes, embankments and waterlogged ground. Gabions can be stacked in courses to build taller retaining walls, with each course stepped back for stability. For gabion retaining walls over 1m high or carrying significant surcharge loads, a structural engineer should confirm the wall design.

Gabion Garden Wall Ideas

Gabion walls are increasingly popular in garden design. Common gabion garden wall ideas include low boundary or privacy walls, raised gabion planters with soil behind the stone face, built-in gabion bench seats with a timber or stone slab on top, stepped retaining walls on sloped gardens, gabion fencing for privacy and security, fire pit surrounds and water feature walls. Filling gabions with coloured stone, slate, glass or reclaimed brick creates a decorative finish that suits contemporary and rustic gardens alike. Small gabion baskets work well as standalone garden features, planters and furniture bases.

Gabion Fencing and Boundaries

Gabion fencing uses stacked cages to form a solid, heavy boundary wall without the need for deep foundations. A single row of 0.5m-deep cages at 1m or 1.5m high creates an effective boundary, privacy screen or noise barrier. Gabion fencing is durable, virtually maintenance-free and cannot be blown over by wind. It also provides a visual feature that blends with the landscape.

How to Fill Gabion Baskets

Assemble the cage using the supplied corner spirals, position it on firm, level ground and begin filling. Place the face stones neatly by hand for a clean, tight finish and pack the centre with loose stone, rubble or aggregate. Fill in 300mm layers and compact each layer before adding the next. Overfill the top by 25-50mm to allow for settlement. The 3 x 3 inch mesh aperture accepts most standard aggregates, cobbles, slate and rockery stone — the fill material must be larger than the mesh opening to stay contained.

Assembly

Each gabion basket kit is supplied flat-packed with welded mesh panels and spiral connectors. Fold the panels into a box shape and thread the spirals through the adjoining edges to lock the corners. No specialist tools are required — pliers or a spiral winding bar are sufficient. Place any internal bracing panels as you fill to prevent the sides bowing under load. Secure the lid with the remaining spirals once the cage is filled.

Bulk Orders

Volume and project pricing is available on multi-cage orders. Contact us with the gabion cage sizes, quantities and any specific requirements for a quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are gabion baskets and what are they used for?
A gabion is a welded wire mesh cage filled on site with stone, rock or rubble to form a solid, free-draining structure. Gabion baskets are used for retaining walls, garden walls, gabion fencing, boundary walls, planters, bench seats, raised beds, erosion control, flood defences and decorative landscaping features. The weight of the stone fill provides stability without foundations or mortar.

What sizes do gabion baskets come in?
Our gabion cage sizes range from 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5m up to 2 x 1 x 1m. Smaller gabion baskets suit garden planters, bench seats and decorative features. Larger cages are used for gabion retaining walls, boundary fencing and landscaping. Gabions can be stacked in courses to build taller walls.

How do you fill gabion baskets?
Assemble the flat-packed cage using the supplied corner spirals, place it in position, then fill with stone, rock, cobbles, slate, brick or reclaimed material. Pack the face stones neatly by hand for a clean finish and fill the centre with loose material. Overfill by roughly 25-50mm to allow for settlement. No specialist tools or mortar are needed.

Can gabion baskets be used for retaining walls?
Yes. Gabion retaining walls are one of the most common applications. The mass of the stone fill resists the soil pressure behind the wall, and the open mesh allows water to drain straight through, which prevents the hydrostatic pressure build-up that undermines solid retaining walls. For walls over 1m high or with significant loads, get a structural engineer to confirm the design.

What gabion wall ideas work in a garden?
Popular gabion garden wall ideas include low boundary walls, raised planters filled with soil behind the stone, built-in gabion bench seats using a timber or stone top, stepped retaining walls on sloped gardens, gabion fencing for privacy, fire pit surrounds and water feature walls. Gabions filled with coloured stone, slate or glass can be used as decorative features.