Whether it’s a garden makeover, boundary wall building, or a more general landscaping project, one of the first and vital things to establish early on is how much bricklayers charge per day.
When hiring the right professional to carry out your project, it is important to understand costs, timescales, and what you are paying for. In this blog, we cover everything from the average day rate to the cost of brickwork per square metre, providing UK homeowners with better planning and surprises.
What Do Bricklayers Charge Per Day?
When you are hiring a tradesperson, knowing what bricklayers charge per day gives you a baseline figure for putting together a realistic budget. The average daily rate for a qualified bricklayer in the UK is between £150 and £250.
However, this is not a fixed rate. In London and the South East, the daily rate is nearer to £220–£250, while in some of the northern regions you might find competitive rates in the region of £150–£180. Prices also depend on factors such as whether the work is complex or has specialist work involved and the level of experience of the bricklayer.
For a simple garden wall or small repair job, the price may be on the lower end. However, extra detailing, strict deadlines, or structural walls can raise the rates.
What Influences Bricklayers’ Daily Rates?
Knowing how much bricklayers charge per day takes a lot of consideration, not only the location. Here are some important cost considerations:
- Experience – Master bricklayers or those who perform a niche speciality will command higher rates.
- Scope of Work – Structural builds that require decorative features or complex layouts will take more time and care.
- Access – Limited or difficult access to the site can slow down work and cost more money.
- Materials – Are bricks and mortar supplied, or will the bricklayer source them?
- Timing —urgent jobs or weekend work normally have a premium.
Discussing these variables upfront will allow you to avoid any surprises when you get the bill.
Brickwork Cost Per Square Metre
Occasionally, clients prefer to quote projects by area rather than by labour unit. In these cases, it is useful to have an understanding of brickwork per m².
In the case of the UK standard, brickwork labour costs typically range between £50 and £120 per m2. This sum includes labour costs and basic materials. If you consider a fancy or unusual brick on a wall design, then there may be an increase in the price.
For example:
– Plain facing bricks with stretcher bond: ~£60/m²
– Decorative bonds or reclaimed bricks: ~£90-120/m².
So, if you know the area and wall type, you can calculate the cost using the brick wall cost per m² method. This strategy works well for identifying larger builds and comparing prices.
Estimating Materials: How Many Bricks Per Square Metre?
Before ordering supplies, you’ll need to know how many bricks per square meter are needed. A typical UK wall uses around 60-75 bricks per m2, assuming standard-sized bricks and allowing for mortar gaps.
Having knowledge of how many bricks will make up a square meter will help clients assess supply and avoid costly oversupply or undersupply. Always add around 5% for waste.
Typical Projects: What Do They Cost?
Let’s look at some reference costs to go alongside what bricklayers charge per day:
1. Garden Wall
Your low decorative garden wall (e.g., 1m high by 5 m long) might cost somewhere around £1,200, which includes labour and materials. Using simple designs and sites with straightforward access would reduce costs. Use an online cost calculator to obtain more accurate estimates for building a garden wall based on your specific requirements.
2. Interior Wall
For a single brick on a wall partition internally in the home, you can expect to pay approximately £70–£100 per m², depending on access and finish.
3. Retaining Wall or Foundation Wall
This is harder work with groundwork, and it could be a structural wall that is £150-200 per m².
So when you ask for a quote, don’t just ask, how much does brickwork cost
On the day, make sure you review the inclusions: preparation, materials, finishing, and conservative cleanup.
Should You Pay Per Day or Project?
However, for projects that may take a long time to finish or require flexibility, such as a half-day brick and wall job, agreeing on the bricklayers charge per day provides a fair basis for both parties.
Just be certain:
- You get an estimation of the days the job will take.
- The scope is clear and in writing
- Anything that delays completion (e.g. whether, supply, etc.) has been factored in beforehand.
Cost to Build a Brick Wall
Now, how much does it cost to build a wall in the UK?
If we take a standard 1m x 5m wall and use new facing bricks:
- Labour: ~£600–£1,000 (based on the cost to hire a bricklayer per day)
- Bricks + mortar: ~£200–£400
- Total: £800–£1,400, depending on finish and location.
This provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the costs associated with brick walls. Remember to factor in the groundwork or foundation costs if the wall is intended to be load-bearing.
Planning: Tips to Save on Bricklaying Costs
Here are a few measures to manage and control the costs while maintaining quality.
- Get at least two (2) to three (3) quotes. Ask the contractor how much bricklayers charge per day and if they can quote a fixed price.
- Do as much budgeting as possible early, using a building a garden wall cost calculator.
- Confirm who is sourcing the materials and how it is priced.
- Understand the time involved. For example, if a job is to take 3 days, ask the contractor to clearly outline what each day consists of.
- Check for extras, like VAT, scaffolding, or site clearance.
Conclusion:
The 2025 average in the UK indicates that bricklayers charge per day between £250 per day. There is a tendency for higher rates in London and the southern counties. So, for budgeting purposes, a 3-day project on a small wall may be expected to cost somewhere between £450 and £750, excluding materials.
With a more complex project or where the design is more prominent, you can expect higher rates and possibly longer timeframes. This all highlights how vital it is to balance skill, cost, and clarity of scope.
Irrespective of whether you use a cost to build a brick wall calculator, estimate brickwork per m2, or buy materials, make sure to get as much information up front as possible. The data will only help your decision.