Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Cinder block retaining wall

I want to build a 4' high retaining wall to level out my yard. I will be using 8x16 blocks.
I need to know how deep and wide the concrete footing should be. I have good compactable dirt. Also should the blocks be place closer to the down hill edge of the footing, so the dirt will hold the footing down to prevent the wall from tipping as the years go by. I will be adding re-bar too.

Thanks

Unless you live where codes are exempt retaining walls must be designed by an engineer. Sorry, but it's just the way it is.

Your footing is going to a minium of 16" wide and a minium of 8 " thick. The rule of thumb is 2 x the width of block and thickness is same as height of block (you can go thicker). You should put re-bar into the footing horozontal, about center of footing and run vertical rods uot every 2 feet, so that they fit into the cores of the block so that later on after the wall is built you can concrete those cores for the strength. Make sure you put a 4" drain tile at the bottom, and on the back side of the wall. You also have to have weep tubes coming through the wall from the drain tile this will let the water out from behine the wall. If not the water will destroy your wall. You must cover the drain tile with washed number 1 stone. Number 1 stone will let the water through the best. Fill all the way up except the last 8". Then cover with a landscape fabric and top of with soil. The Landscape fabric does not let the soil through onl water, and keeps the drain tile clean. The last course of block witch would be th 6th course for 4', should be a bound beam course. This way you can fill last course with concrete and re-bar and it will be solid. If you need a drawing or help please e-mail me at bricklayer569@aol.com.
thanks jeff ......Wisconsin union bricklayer.