Gabion Baskets

Product Information: BBA Certified Gabion Baskets & Walls

All our gabion baskets are manufactured in-house at our Burton-on-Trent warehouse. Built to the highest industry standards, our premium wire mesh and protective coatings deliver a 50-to-120-year lifespan. Fully BBA tested, certified, and ISO-compliant, they provide long structural reliability for retaining wall applications.  Please read below for detailed product information.

Customer Images

Videos

How to assemble (WITH HELICALS)

How to assemble (WITH TYING WIRE)

Rigidity test (COMPARING DIAMETERS)

PVC rigidity test (COMPARING DIAMETERS)

How to use corner ties

How to use stone separating panels

How to brace using tying wire

How to cut

Wire diameter guide

How likely will the cage bulge?

How to build a freestanding wall

How to build a retaining wall

How to join the cages together with helicals

How to assemble ( In 3 MINUTES)

Deflection test

PVC deflection test

How to make a planter

How to attach wood top

How to make a raised bed

How to make steps

Comparing 3 assembly methods

How our cages are manufactured (behind the scenes)

Tour of our warehouse

Which Wire Thickness?  Video

Gabion Applications & Uses

Gabion Wall Design

Calculate Stone Qty

• Use the guide below to calculate the amount of gabion stone that you need to fill your gabion baskets.  Alternatively, you can also use the Gabion Stone Calculator
• You can use partitions/stone separating panels to reduce the amount of decorative rocks required by at least half. You can also save money by filling the middle of your cage with rubble bags

Questions & Answers

The following questions have been carefully curated and answered by our customer service team members, Joy and Erno. They have also been checked by our founder John.  They are the most commonly asked questions by our customers.  We hope they are useful, but please get in touch if you need further assistance – we are more than happy to help.

You may also find our gabion learning hub useful.  It is packed full of videos to help you understand everything you need to know about gabions.

How many helicals do I need?

Watch Video

You will need x4 helicals so that you can connect the corners of your gabion basket. Select x5 if you wish to use a helical to close the lid. However, most people use the free tying wire included with every order to close the lid.

Helicals are sold in lengths of 1m or 67.5cm. If the height of your cage does not match, you will need to cut the helical to size so that it fits correctly.

What accessories do I need for my gabions?

On every product page, we have added a ‘Frequently Bought Together’ section outlining the accessories that you might want to accompany your basket. They include the following:

• Assembly : Every order includes tying wire so that you can attach the corners and the lid. Many of our customers opt to use helicals or clips instead of the tying wire as they speed up the installation process.
• Filling: The most common option is 6G gabion stone. 6G stone is suitable for projects that require drainage, such as retaining walls. If your project does not require drainage, it is possible to fill with many types of material, including bricks, wood, glass and recycled bottles.
• Drainage: If you are retaining earth, you should place a layer of geotextile between the gabion basket and the earth. This will help prevent the soil from clogging up inside the cage.
• Bulging: If your cages have a wire diameter of 3mm or 4mm and you would like to maintain a straight edge, you will need to carefully fill your basket with interlocking stones and select one or more of the following options:

1. Stone separating panel – inserted into the middle of the cage. It will reduce the pressure against the external wall caused by the stone. Separating panels can also help to save money by backfilling the basket with non-decorative material such as rubble.
2. Corner ties – will brace the corners together, reducing bulging caused by stone putting pressure against the outer wall.
3. Internal bracing – will brace the front and back, reducing bulging caused by the stone putting pressure from the inside. Internal braces can be made using the free tying wire that is included with each order.

How are gabion baskets delivered?

They are delivered flat-packed and shrink-wrapped. In order to install them, simply remove the shrink wrapping, unfold and connect the corners together.

How much stone do I need to fill the gabions?

To calculate the exact amount of stone you need, please visit our gabion stone calculator.

What wire thickness do I need?

Watch Video

• 3mm: Standard for the construction of gabion walls up to 5m. Budget-friendly. Expect minor bulging; best where a perfectly straight, architectural edge isn’t a priority.
• 4mm: Required for 5m+ or freestanding gabion walls, seating, and walkways. Provides a sharp, architectural finish when hand-filled with interlocking rocks.
• 5mm: Premium choice for high/freestanding gabion walls and public spaces. Offers maximum precision and uniformity. Ideal for rounded stone or high-traffic seating.

How do I assemble a gabion cage?

Watch Video

Very easy.  No DIY experience is necessary.  The cages are delivered flat-packed.  To put them together, simply lift up the corners and attach them using helicals.  It takes approx 2-5 mins to complete.  Watch the video above, or we have a blog showing you how to assemble a gabion.

What is Galfan-coated wire?

Galfan wire mesh is often referred to as ‘triple life’.  This refers to the corrosion and abrasion resistance of the coating being approximately three times the strength of standard galvanised coating.  Our entire range of cages have been Galfan-coated to BS EN standards, ensuring a long lifespan.

How long will your range of gabion baskets last?

In normal environmental conditions, you can expect 50 to 100 years if the gabion meets the British Manufacturing standards for abrasion (EN 60229:2008) and corrosion protection (BS EN 10244-2:2009). There are a lot of cheaper products entering the market which are made with inferior materials, offering far less corrosion resistance and a much shorter lifespan. They would not be suited to larger and more critical construction jobs, such as retaining walls and preventing erosion.

How do I fill my gabion basket?

Do I need a Civil Engineer for my gabion wall?

If your gabion wall construction meets the following criteria, you will not require civil engineering:

• The structure is lower than 1.5m tall
• The structure is retaining flat earth
• The structure is not retaining heavy loads such as roads or buildings
• The ground does not have a lot of groundwater

You will need a Civil Engineer’s calculations if your structure meets the following criteria:

• The structure is taller than 1.5m
• The structure is retaining sloped earth
• The structure is retaining heavy loads such as roads or buildings
• The ground has a lot of groundwater

If in doubt, we recommend that you double-check your project with a Civil Engineer.

How do I construct a curved gabion wall or bench?

Watch Video

Simply place the gabions at an angle to each other and use a panel to fill the gap between them.  Watch the video above or read these step-by-step instructions.  It is possible to make any curved shape you want.  Take a look at the following example case studies

• Circular planter – one of our regular customers constructed a circular planter surrounding a tree.
• S shaped bench – another customer created an S shaped bench in Birmingham’s Pocket Park

What is a gabion?

A gabion is a square or rectangular metal cage manufactured using steel wire.  Often referred to as a gabion basket or gabion cage, they are traditionally used by landscapers and to stop erosion.

Almost a decade of selling gabions

We have been supplying gabions to the market since 2018, and we know our stuff.  The product information on this page is based on almost a decade of hands-on experience.  When we write a ‘how-to’ article or produce a video, it is always based on real-world experience.  We don’t just write from behind a desk without actually using the products. You can find examples of this on our gabion blog, video hub and gabion playlist on our YouTube channel.  We do this so that you can be sure the product information is accurate and reliable.

Customer projects

Please also find our customer case studies. You will find everything from customers who have built retaining walls to residential landscaping projects, public seating areas. outdoor classrooms, decking areas, and even a backdrop to Dezeen’s annual award ceremony.

Our gabions have appeared on TV

Our gabions have also been featured on ITV’s Love Your Garden, hosted by Alan Titchmarsh in 2021 and 2023, as well as last year’s BBC Gardens World Spring Fair. helping Plumpton College win the Visitors’ Choice Best Showcase Garden Award.