Cost to build a brick wall

Adding a wall to your garden can add charm, privacy and provide effective zoning to make the most of your outdoor space. If you’re considering building a wall, you’ll want to know the cost of a new brick wall so you can plan your budget.

If it’s a cavity wall you’re building, you’ll be creating an important layer of thermal insulation and protection for your home.

If you’re planning to install a retaining wall, check out our retaining wall installation cost guide.

How much does it cost to build a brick wall?

For a standard garden brick wall the average cost will depend on the length and thickness of the wall itself. To build a single skin 1m x 4m brick wall the cost is around £825. For a single skin 1m x 12m brick wall you’ll be looking at a cost of about £1,450 to build the new wall.

If you’re planning to build a double skin wall then the prices are higher. On average, a double skin 1m x 4m brick wall costs about £1,200. Building a new double skin 1m x 12m brick wall will cost around £1,850.

Factors affecting the cost of brick wall construction

When planning a new brick wall it’s important to understand the factors that will affect the total cost. The main influencing factors include:

• Height and length of the wall
• Type of bricks
• Quality of materials
• Shape of the wall (curves and corners can add cost)
• Any prep work, such as additional excavating or levelling ground
• Where you live

What’s included in the new brick wall cost?

Each brick wall project is different, so you should confirm the details of what’s included in the price of the project when you speak to local tradespeople. That said, as a general rule the following elements are usually included in the cost:

• Supply of all materials (bricks, sand, cement, etc)
• Removing existing fence panels and posts
• Preparing the ground and digging all footings (the wall foundations)
• Filling footings with concrete
• Laying bricks
• Removal and disposal of all waste material

As with any home improvement project, it’s important to discuss the details of the project with local professionals before starting any work together. Make sure they provide a detailed quote with a breakdown of all the costs so that you know what you’re paying for.

Cost to build a brick and block cavity wall per m2

A cavity wall is basically two separate walls with a gap (or ‘cavity’) in between. The outer wall is usually built with brick and the inner wall is often made of breeze blocks. Cavity walls provide increased thermal insulation and the outer wall stops moisture penetrating through. Here’s more about cavity insulation costs.

The average cost for building an uninsulated brick and block cavity wall is around £215 per m2. The average cost for an insulated brick and block cavity wall is around £230 per m2. Both costs include all materials, labour and internal plastering and skirting finishes.

The exact price of constructing a brick and block cavity wall can vary, so it’s important to discuss the details of your project with a local construction expert to get an accurate quote.

Single vs double skin brick walls

One of the decisions you need to make that will affect the cost of building a new brick wall is the thickness. Single skin brick walls are a single brick thick. Double skin walls, as you may have guessed, are twice as thick as they use two layers of brick.

The construction of a single skin brick wall will cost less, but structurally it will be weaker. To add stability to the new brick wall, piers (brick columns) should be built into the structure. Single skin walls are suitable for walls 500mm in height or lower.

If you’re building a wall that’s going to have a height above 500mm you’ll need to build a double skin brick wall – with piers to provide added strength.

For walls over 1200mm you’ll need to get a structural engineer to design the wall to ensure it meets safety standards. Due to the height of the wall they’ll need to take into consideration the location of the wall, potential usage and the wind conditions.

Cost of an English Bond wall

There are a number of ‘bonds’, or brick patterns, you can use when laying a brick wall. Some are stronger than others, and each has a slightly different look.

English Bond is one of the most popular and you can expect to pay £400 per m2, including labour, for a professional to build one in this style.

How much does it cost to build a brick garden wall?

The average cost of building a brick garden wall cost will depend on the material being used, length, height and number of skins (if using bricks).

Single skin garden wall cost

For a single skin brick garden wall, you can expect to cost to be around £825 - £1,450. If you need a per m2 cost, then expect to pay around £150 per m2 for a single skin brick wall, including labour.

Double skin garden wall cost

If you’re looking to build a garden wall with a double skin of bricks then the average costs range from £1,200 - £1,850.

Cost of building a stone garden wall

For some gardens or homeowner tastes, natural stone is a more suitable choice for a garden wall than traditional brick.

If that’s you, then you’ll be interested to know that the average cost of building a stone garden wall is ranges from £240 - £520 for a 1m x 4m wall, £830 - £1540, for a 1m x 8m wall, and £1140 - £2,160 for a 1m x 12m wall.

As a m2 cost, you should expect to pay around £214 - £428 per m2, including labour, to build a stone garden wall.

Garden wall cost per square metre

The cost per square metre of building a garden wall mainly depends on the materials being used. Here are average costs per square metre for the most popular garden wall materials in the UK:

• Bricks – £60 - £100+ per m²
• Natural stone – £70 - £100+ per m²
• Concrete – £50 - £65 per m²
• Facing bricks – £60 - £100+ per m²
• Flint – £100 - £120 per m²
• Sandstone – £70 - £130 per m²
• Slate – £100 - £150 per m²

Brick layer hourly and day rate

Brick laying is a highly skilled trade, taking many years to learn and perfect. When you hire a professional to build your wall to the highest standard, you should expect to pay an average brick layer hourly rate of £32.50 - £37.50 and an average day rate of £260 - £300.

How high can you build a garden wall without planning permission?

When planning to build a garden wall, you will need planning permission if:

• The wall is higher than 2 metres.
• The wall is higher than 1 metre and adjacent to a highway used by motor vehicles.
• Your home is restricted by an article 4 direction or other planning conditions.
• Your house is a listed building, is within the grounds of a listed building, or the garden wall forms a boundary with a neighbouring listed building

For inspiration for your garden wall, we’ve put together a collection of great garden wall ideas.

Cost of building a garden retaining wall

The average cost of building a garden retaining wall is around £9,870 for a 6ft high wall. For more details about prices, check out our retaining wall installation cost guide.

Useful checklist to build a brick wall

• Decide where you want the new brick wall built and whether it needs to be single or double skin – single skin is only suitable for walls up to 500mm in height.
• For walls about 1200mm in height, you’ll need a structural engineer to design or approve the wall plans before starting any building work.
• If the ground is very uneven, make sure you discuss the cost of levelling the ground so it’s included as part of any quotes you get.
• Speak to local brick wall experts for professional advice and accurate costs.
• Always shop around for fair and competitive prices for your brick wall.
• When hiring a tradesperson, choose a professional with experience in building brick walls and with relevant qualifications or accreditations (such as being a member of the FMB – Federation of Master Builders).