Written by

Sarah Noel

October 10, 2023

Fact-checked by

Tom Grupa

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.

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.

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.

Cost of brick wall per square foot

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

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 increase when adding posts, wrought-iron, gates, or stone caps.

Masons can mix and match brick with other fence materials:

• A wood fence costs $20 to $50 per linear foot.

• A vinyl fence costs $30 to $60 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.

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 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.

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 top.

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-load-bearing face bricks.

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.

• 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.

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 square feet. Prices vary according to the stone type, wall size, design, and site conditions.

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

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.

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 building method.

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. A well-designed dry-stack wall doesn't need 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.

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 vary by the installer's skill level and project design.

Brick and stone masonry cost factors

Cost factors in building a brick or stone masonry wall 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 $35 per linear foot and helps prevent flooding and erosion. Proper drainage is necessary for all retaining walls.

• Land survey – A property line survey costs $200 to $1,200 on average for building new walls or fences 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.

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 $7 to $17 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.

Brick or stone wall FAQs

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 2 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?

You need 6 to 7 bricks per square foot to build a single-layer brick wall. 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.

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.

Hiring a brick and stone wall construction pro

Before hiring a masonry contractor near you, be sure to:

• 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?