A limit equilibrium method for determining the safety of blockwork walls has been developed and automated by means of an “intelligent” spreadsheet solution. Through the definition of a “virtual backface” and volumes of “backfill behind” the wall and “backfill carried” by the wall, the method takes into account the volume of backfill acting together with the wall, and thus considers the typical irregular backface of such walls, as well as individual block dimensions. The method cannot replace detailed analysis of displacements and settlements when such are needed, e.g. by finite element analysis, but the method represents a rational and cost-effective limit equilibrium tool for design – or design check – of blockwork walls and conventional cantilever type retaining walls.