How much does a brick or stone wall cost?

Cost to build a brick or stone wall

The average cost to build a brick a stone wall is $3,000 to $9,000 or $80 to $480 per linear foot. A brick wall or fence costs $15 to $45 per square foot, depending on the thickness and style. A stone wall costs $20 to $75 per square foot.

• An interior stone accent wall costs $10 to $45 per square foot.
• A brick pillar or column costs $500 to $1,800.
• A stone driveway pillar costs $1,300 to $3,000.

*Total installed cost.

Stone or brick wall cost calculator

The following table shows the average cost to build a 25' long brick or stone wall that’s 4’ to 8’ tall.

Cost data is from research and project costs reported by HomeGuide members.

Brick wall cost

Building a new brick wall costs $1,500 to $6,000 per 100 square feet of wall face on average, or $15 to $60 per square foot. Brick wall prices depend on the wall dimensions, style, and design type.

*Installed costs for 100-square feet of wall surface.

Cost of brick wall per square foot

A brick wall costs $15 to $40 per square foot of wall face installed, depending on the type, wall thickness, and size.

*Total installed costs on an existing foundation.

Brick fence cost

Building a brick fence costs $60 to $240 per linear foot for 3’ to 6’ tall walls or $20 to $40 per square foot of wall face. Brick wall fencing costs depend on the design when adding posts, wrought-iron, gates, or stone caps.

Masons can mix and match brick with other fence materials:

• A wood fence costs $12 to $27 per linear foot.
• A vinyl fence costs $15 to $30 per linear foot.
• A chain-link fence costs $9 to $10 per linear foot.

Brick garden wall cost to build

Building a brick garden wall costs $15 to $40 per linear foot for 1’ to 2’ tall walls or $15 to $20 per square foot of wall surface. A 10' to 25' brick garden wall costs $150 to $1,000 installed. Most garden walls are one brick thick without a foundation.

*Total installed costs for 1’ to 2’ tall walls.

Additional costs may include:

• Installing landscaping costs $4 to $12 per square foot.
• The cost of landscaping rocks is $45 to $130 per ton.

Brick privacy wall cost around house perimeter

Building a brick privacy wall costs $10,500 to $36,000 on average for around a house perimeter. A brick privacy wall costs $210 to $360 per linear foot for 6’ to 8’ tall walls or $35 to $45 per square foot. Perimeter walls often have brick columns in the design for reinforcement.

*Total installed prices for 6’ to 8’ tall walls.

Brick retaining wall cost

Building a brick retaining wall costs $30 to $60 per square foot or $3,000 to $12,000 for a 50’ long wall that’s 2’ to 4’ tall. Installers typically build a concrete cinder-block retaining wall and then add a single layer of face-brick veneer on the outside.

Interior brick wall cost

Interior brick wall installation costs $1,000 to $2,500 on average or $8 to $18 per square foot, depending on the brick type and install method. Contractors typically adhere thin-brick veneer to existing walls or install a single layer of non-loadbearing face bricks.

*Total installed cost.

Average cost to build a brick column or pillar

The average cost to build a brick column is $500 to $1,800 per pillar, depending on the size and whether they’re ornamental or structural. Skilled masons will match the pillars to the existing home’s appearance.

*Total installed cost.

• A brick mailbox costs $600 to $1,500 on average.
• Adding lights costs $150 to $450 per pillar, including new wiring to the home.

Labor cost to build a brick wall

The labor cost to build a brick wall is $40 to $100 per hour. Brick masonry labor rates are $7 to $17 per square foot on average. The total labor charge for brickwork depends on the wall thickness, location, wall design, supplies needed, and the mason’s skill level.

*Labor costs only.

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Stone wall cost

A stone wall costs $10 to $75 per square foot for most masonry types, or $1,000 to $7,500 per 100-SF on average. Prices vary according to the stone type, wall size, design, and site conditions at the location.

A stone retaining wall costs $10 to $85 per square foot for stronger and deeper foundations with more reinforcements.

*For 100-square feet of wall surface.

Rock wall cost per square foot

Installing a rock wall costs $25 to $75 per square foot, depending on the stone finish. Contractors typically install a cinder block wall first and then finish it with natural stone or manufactured stone veneer.

*Total installed cost.

Masonry or stone fence cost

A 50’ long stone fence costs $3,800 to $8,800 on average. A masonry fence costs $25 to $35 per square foot installed, depending on the size, stone type, and installation method.

*Total installed cost for 3’ to 5’ tall walls.

Fieldstone or dry-stack stone cost per square foot

A dry-stack stone wall costs $20 to $60 per square foot installed for freestanding structures, depending on the size, stone type, and local availability. Contractors typically stack these natural and irregular-shaped stones on a compacted base without using mortar.

Interior stone accent wall cost

Installing an interior stone accent wall costs $1,000 to $4,500 on average or $10 to $45 per square foot, for manufactured, faux, or natural stone veneers. Installers adhere the stone veneer to the existing wall. Total costs depend on the size, layout, and design complexity.

*Prices include materials & installation.

Stone masonry driveway pillars cost

Building a stone driveway pillar costs $1,300 to $3,000 per pillar on average. Solid natural stone pillars cost up to $5,000. Total costs depend on the stone and frame type, the level of integration with nearby structures, and the size.

Stone wall construction labor cost

The labor cost to build a stone wall is $40 to $100 per hour, excluding materials. The labor cost to lay a stone wall is $13 to $26 per square foot. Stone mason labor costs depend on the location, skill level, and installation complexity.

*Labor cost only.

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Brick and stone masonry cost factors

Cost factors in building a brick or stone masonry wall may include:

• Bricks – Brick prices are $350 to $900 per 1,000 bricks.
• Foundation – Concrete footers cost $15 to $35 per linear foot for most masonry walls. Footers for retaining walls more than 4’ tall cost up to $55 per linear foot according to the frost-line depth.
• Excavation – Trenching costs $10 to $20+ per square foot for rocky soil or digging deeper to set a foundation below the frost line. Some wall foundations need to be 3’ to 4’+ deep in the Northern United States.
• Delivery – Suppliers charge $60 to $200 more per pallet for orders within 20 to 50 miles.
• Size and design – Double-layer walls, curves, complex designs, and extra-tall walls take more labor and planning time.
• Permits – A permit costs $50 to $450 on average, depending on the wall type, length, and location.
• Drainage – Installing a French drain costs $10 to $25 per linear foot and helps prevent flooding and erosion. Proper drainage is necessary for all retaining walls.
• Land survey – A property line survey costs $380 to $540 on average for building new fence walls on a land boundary.
• Engineering plans – A structural engineer charges $100 to $220 per hour for designing walls more than 3’ to 4’ tall.
• Painting – The cost to paint brick is $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot.
• Waterproofing – Moisture-blocking sealant costs $2 to $10 per square foot to apply.
• Site prep – Land clearing costs $1,500 to $3,000 per acre for difficult terrain. Tree stump removal costs $60 to $300 per stump.
• Leveling a yard – Land grading costs $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot.

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Block and retaining walls

• A concrete block wall costs $60 to $240 per linear foot for 4’ to 8’ tall walls or $15 to $30 per square foot.
• A concrete retaining wall costs $15 to $45 per square foot, depending on the size and construction method.

Additional finishing options include:

• Stucco costs $3 to $9 per square foot.
• Wooden panel siding costs $2 to $6 per square foot.
• Thin-brick siding costs $8 to $18 per square foot.
• Stone veneer siding costs $10 to $45 per square foot.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to build a brick wall?

Building an average 8’ tall by 15’ long single-layer brick wall takes 25 to 50 hours for two masons. The total time required varies according to the wall’s foundation type and site conditions.

Where can you use a brick or stone wall?

Use brick or stone walls for a variety of design and landscaping features, including:

• Yard fencing or perimeter wall
• Driveway pillars, borders, and entrance gates
• Gate posts
• Outdoor-kitchen surrounds
• Fire pits
• Interior accent walls
• Pool fences
• Garden-bed retaining walls
• Backyard patio seating walls

How many bricks will I need to build a wall?

Building a single-layer brick wall needs 6 to 7 bricks per square foot. An 8’ tall wall has 48 to 56 bricks per linear foot, depending on the brick size. A 10’x10’ wall needs 575 to 1,400 bricks depending on if it’s a single- or double-layer brick wall.

*Sizes include space for mortar allowance.

How high can I build a brick wall?

• Masons can build a freestanding brick wall from 6 to 8 feet high with a single-brick thickness.
• Front-yard fence walls can only be 3.5 to 4.0 feet tall, according to most building codes.
• Taller brick walls need a double-brick thickness and structural reinforcements.

Are brick walls soundproof?

Solid brick walls are more soundproof than standard home drywall. The thickness of brick walls blocks out most outside sounds. A fully soundproof room also needs sound-absorbent materials like:

• Acoustic foam
• Curtains
• Carpeting
• Rubber-based urethane floors
• An extra drywall layer over the bricks

How much does it cost to brick a house?

The cost to brick a house is $8,000 to $27,000 on average or $8 to $18 per square foot for face-brick veneer walls or thin-brick veneer siding on the exterior. Total costs depend on the home’s size, brick type, and design complexity.

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Hiring a brick and stone wall construction pro

When hiring a masonry contractor near you, use this checklist:

• Choose masons certified by:
  • Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA)
  • American Concrete Institute (ACI)
  • International Masonry Institute (IMI)
  • National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA)
  • C-29 masonry contractor’s license in California
  • Local masonry and bricklaying unions
• Compare at least three different estimates.
• Watch out for the cheapest estimates that often mean lower-quality work.
• Look at their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
• Verify company licenses, liability insurance, and bond guarantees.
• Get copies of the estimate, contract, and warranty before work starts.
• Use a payment plan instead of paying in full upfront.

Questions to ask

• Which materials do you suggest for building this wall and why?
• Can I see photos of your past walls and a list of references?
• How long have you been building masonry walls?
• Can I see a scaled wall design and brick samples before you begin?
• What types of brick or stone walls do you specialize in?
• How will you build the wall foundation?
• Can you match the bricks and mortar to my home?
• How do you deal with unexpected project delays or accidents?
• Does your crew clean the site afterward, and is that an extra fee?
• If you hire subcontractors, do you charge extra for managing them?
• Will you pull all necessary permits and manage inspections?
• Do I need to make space for the crew?
• How can I call the project manager?
• What’s in your labor warranty?
• How long will this wall take to build?
• Does your estimate list all materials and labor fees? What extra fees can I expect?
• How do you schedule payments?
• Will I get a contract copy before you start?

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