A brick wall cost calculator prices a garden wall, screen wall or low boundary wall from its length, height and brick size. This one counts the bricks with the same Brick Industry Association rates used by the site’s Brick Calculator, doubles them for a wall two bricks thick and adds premixed mortar by the bag. In DIY mode it prices those materials. In mason mode it prices the finished wall per square foot of face, with the material share shown alongside. Each figure is a Low, Typical and High range, adjusted for the region chosen, and the brick count includes the waste allowance picked in the menu.
Estimated brick wall cost
$2,800 to $8,000
Typical $4,800
| Wall face area | 80 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Bricks per sq ft of face, per wythe | 6.75 |
| Wythes | 1 |
| Bricks laid | 540 bricks |
| Bricks to order, with waste | 594 bricks |
| Premixed mortar, 80 lb bags | 15 bags |
| Item | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bricks and mortar, material only | $462 | $596 | $760 |
| Installed wall (material and labor) | $2,800 | $4,800 | $8,000 |
Planning estimate only, not a contractor quote. Prices are United States national ranges, updated October 2026. How these estimates are built
Brick wall cost for a 20 by 4 foot wall
| Wall | Bricks to order | Mortar bags | DIY materials | Mason installed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single wythe, modular | 594 | 15 | $462 to $760 | $2,800 to $8,000 |
| Double wythe, modular | 1,188 | 30 | $924 to $1,520 | $2,800 to $8,000* |
The wall face is 80 square feet. *The installed range uses the single wythe rate of $35, $60 and $100 per square foot of face for both rows. A double wythe wall doubles the bricks and mortar, and a mason’s quote will price the extra labor; no sourced double wythe installed rate is in the rate set yet.
DIY or mason: what each mode prices
DIY mode lists bricks, mortar and their material total, the bill at the supply yard for an owner who lays the wall. Mason mode lists the finished wall, material and labor together, at the installed rate per square foot of wall face, and shows the brick and mortar material under it for reference. The brick count, the mortar bags and the face area appear in both modes, so the quantities can be checked whichever route is chosen.
How the count and price are worked out
- Wall face = length × height.
- Bricks laid = face × bricks per square foot for the size × wythes, rounded up. Modular brick runs 6.75 per square foot per wythe, from BIA Technical Note 10 at 3/8 inch joints.
- Bricks to order = bricks laid × (1 + waste), rounded up.
- Mortar = bricks laid ÷ 37 bricks for each 80 lb bag of premixed mortar, rounded up.
- DIY materials = bricks to order × the brick price + mortar bags × the bag price.
- Mason installed = face × the installed rate per square foot, times the region factor.
Brick size and the count
Larger bricks cover more face each, so fewer are needed. The table runs every size in the rate set on the same 80 square foot, single wythe wall with 10 percent waste.
| Brick size | Per sq ft | Bricks to order | DIY material range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modular, 2 1/4 × 7 5/8 in face | 6.75 | 594 | $462 to $760 |
| Queen, 2 3/4 × 7 5/8 to 8 in face | 5.50 | 484 | $350 to $591 |
| King, 2 5/8 to 2 3/4 × 9 5/8 to 9 3/4 in face | 4.55 | 401 | $371 to $611 |
| Roman, 2 × 12 in nominal face | 6.00 | 528 | $565 to $1,010 |
| Norman, 2 1/4 × 11 5/8 in face | 4.50 | 396 | $387 to $685 |
A lower count does not always mean a cheaper wall, since larger and specialty bricks cost more apiece. Queen, king, Roman and Norman prices are planning ranges rather than verified retail listings, so a supplier quote is the better guide for those sizes.
Worked example: a double wythe garden wall
A freestanding garden wall runs 36 feet at 3.5 feet tall, two queen bricks thick, built by the owner with 10 percent waste.
- Face: 36 × 3.5 = 126 square feet.
- Bricks laid: 126 × 5.50 × 2 = 1,386.0, so 1,386.
- Bricks to order with waste: 1,525.
- Mortar: 1,386 ÷ 37, rounded up, = 38 bags.
- DIY materials: $1,100 to $1,870, typical $1,450.
- Mason installed, single wythe rate: $4,410 to $12,600, with the double wythe note shown under the result.
The gap between the two modes is mostly labor, scaffolding and the mason’s overhead, along with the skill that keeps long courses straight and level. For a wall this size, the materials alone come to roughly a fifth of the installed typical figure.
Mortar, joints and the look of the wall
Mortar is a small share of the material bill but a large share of how a wall looks and lasts. The count here assumes premixed mortar mix in 80 lb bags at the coverage printed on the maker’s data sheet, which suits most garden walls. Joint profile changes both appearance and weather resistance: concave and V joints shed water well, while raked joints cast deeper shadows but hold more water against the brick. Colored mortar costs more per bag and needs consistent mixing so the color stays even between batches. A test panel laid before the main wall shows the brick and mortar together and settles the choice cheaply.
Brick choice matters for outdoor walls too. Bricks graded for severe weathering resist freeze and thaw damage in cold climates, and the grade is printed on the supplier’s product sheet. Reclaimed brick gives an older look, but it varies in size and strength, often needs cleaning before use and can raise the waste allowance well above the default.
Single or double wythe
A wythe is one vertical layer of brick. A single wythe is the usual veneer over a framed or block backing, or a short decorative edge. A freestanding wall that has to stand on its own is often built two wythes thick, tied together with header bricks or metal ties, or built as a brick face over a concrete block core. The right section depends on height, wind exposure and soil, and taller freestanding walls need a design that accounts for all three.
Region and the price
The region menu scales every money line. The default modular wall, single wythe and installed, comes to $3,500 to $10,000 where costs run 25 percent above the national level and $2,380 to $6,800 where they run 15 percent below it. Brick prices follow freight distance from the plant too, so specialty colors trucked a long way price higher than local stock.
Three walls compared: Basic, Standard and Premium
| Case | Wall | Builder | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 12 × 2.5 ft planter edge, modular, single | DIY | $230 | $178 to $292 |
| Standard | 24 × 4 ft screen wall, king, single | Mason | $5,760 | $3,360 to $9,600 |
| Premium | 60 × 6 ft boundary wall, Norman, double | Mason* | $21,600 | $12,600 to $36,000 |
*Single wythe installed rate; the double wythe labor is not in the range.
Costs outside the brick wall estimate
- The concrete footing, which the Concrete Footing Calculator sizes and prices.
- Excavation, gravel base and any drainage behind or under the wall.
- Wall ties, reinforcement, flashing and weep vents where the design calls for them.
- Cap or coping stones along the top of the wall.
- Scaffolding, equipment rental and delivery of bricks and sand.
- Permits and engineering for tall or retaining walls.
Quote checklist for a brick wall
- The brick size, color, maker and the number of bricks the mason will order.
- Single or double wythe, and how the wythes are tied together.
- Footing size and depth, and whether the footing is included.
- Mortar type, joint finish and color.
- Cap or coping detail and any expansion joints along a long wall.
- Drainage, weep holes and any reinforcement.
- Site protection, cleanup of mortar smears and the workmanship warranty.
When a mason or engineer belongs on the job
Low garden walls and planter edges are reasonable owner projects with patience, a mason’s line and a good level. Taller freestanding walls, any wall retaining soil and walls along a property line or a public sidewalk deserve a mason, and local codes often require a permit and an engineered design once a wall passes a set height. Dry cutting brick throws off fine silica dust; a wet saw and a fitted respirator keep it out of the lungs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a brick wall cost per square foot?
Installed by a mason, the national range is $35 to $100 per square foot of wall face, with $60 as the typical figure for a single wythe wall.
How many bricks are in a 20 by 4 foot wall?
A single wythe of modular brick needs 540 bricks laid and 594 with 10 percent waste, plus 15 bags of 80 lb mortar mix.
Why is the double wythe installed price the same as single wythe?
The rate set holds only a single wythe installed rate. The calculator doubles the bricks and mortar for a double wythe wall and flags that the labor for the second layer is not in the installed range.
Does the calculator include the footing?
No. The footing is a separate concrete pour, and the concrete footing calculator gives its volume and cost.
Which brick sizes are supported?
Modular, queen, king, Roman and Norman, with counts per square foot from BIA Technical Note 10 at 3/8 inch mortar joints.
Related calculators
The Brick Calculator counts bricks for walls with doors and windows, and the Mortar Calculator compares premixed bags with site mixed mortar. Walls that hold back soil belong on the Retaining Wall Cost Calculator, and the masonry calculators hub lists every brick and block tool.