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What changes the price of a brick?
The price of a brick depends on the type, how it was made, the colour and texture, how many you buy, and delivery. For most projects the labour to lay them, plus mortar and waste, matters as much as the bricks, so this guide prints no single brick price and explains what to compare.
Last reviewed:Why is "how much is a brick" a hard question?
Bricks are sold singly, by the pack and by the thousand, and the price of one brick can vary a lot between types and makers. A plain common brick for a hidden wall and a handmade facing brick for a listed house front are both "a brick", but they are not the same product.
The other reason is that the brick is often not the biggest part of the bill. Laying it takes skill and time. Mortar, ties, delivery, scaffolding and waste all add up. When you ask "how much is a brick?" the real question is usually "how much will this brickwork cost?"
This guide does not print a price for a single brick or a price per thousand. It explains what changes the price of the bricks themselves, and what a builder's quote for brickwork should show, so you can compare like with like.
QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach first, and anyone in the UK can post a brickwork job.
What types of brick are there?
Common bricks. Made for walls that will be hidden or rendered, where looks don't matter.
Facing bricks. Made to be seen, with a consistent colour and finished face. Most house fronts and extensions use these.
Engineering bricks. Dense, strong and resistant to water. Often used below the damp-proof course, in manholes and in retaining walls.
Stock bricks and handmade bricks. Often softer in look, with more variation in colour and texture. Usually priced higher because they take more work to make.
Reclaimed bricks. Taken from old buildings, cleaned and sold on. Useful for matching older houses, but quality and quantity vary.
Special shapes. Bricks with rounded edges, angles or splays for sills, copings and corners. Made in smaller runs and usually priced well above plain bricks.
The shape inside the brick matters too. Some bricks are solid, some have a shallow hollow called a frog, and some have holes right through. Frogged bricks explains the differences and which way up they go.
What changes the price of the bricks?
| Factor | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Facing, engineering and handmade bricks cost more than commons | Which type is named on the quote? |
| Maker and range | Two bricks of the same colour can be priced very differently | Is there a similar brick that still matches? |
| Colour and texture | Unusual or blended finishes are made in smaller runs | Can I see a sample panel first? |
| Quantity | Packs and full loads are usually priced better than odd numbers | How many, and how many spare? |
| Batch | Colour varies between batches | Will all bricks come from one batch? |
| Delivery | Distance, crane offload and part loads all change the price | Is delivery included, and where will they be put? |
| Reclaimed stock | Cleaning, sorting and breakages | What waste allowance is included? |
| Specials | Shaped bricks are made in small runs | Are any specials needed for sills, copings or corners? |
Prices for building materials move over time. The government publishes monthly building materials statistics, including price indices and data on bricks and concrete blocks [S1]. Ask how long any quote is valid for, especially if your project starts months later.
What does it cost to have bricks laid?
For most jobs, the labour to lay the bricks matters as much as the bricks. A quote for brickwork usually includes:
- Labour. Bricklayers often price by the number of bricks laid or by the day. Detailed work, such as corners, arches, decorative bonds or cutting round windows, takes longer.
- Mortar. Sand, cement and lime, mixed to suit the brick and the job. Matching old mortar colour can take extra trials.
- Ties and fixings. Cavity wall ties, bed-joint reinforcement and lintels where needed.
- Access. Scaffolding above a certain height, or for a whole elevation.
- Waste and clearing up. GOV.UK's waste code says a tradesperson who carries out work on your property is responsible for the waste they produce, and that the cost of its disposal should be included in what they charge [S6].
- Weather. Brickwork can stall in cold weather. The Federation of Master Builders has reported firms saying freezing temperatures meant it was too cold to lay bricks [S7]. A winter start can stretch the timetable.
Ask whether the price is for supplying and laying bricks, or for laying bricks you supply. Some customers buy the bricks themselves to control the choice. If you do, check with the builder which brick and how many before you order.
Does the brick need to match the house?
On many jobs, yes, for planning and for looks.
Extensions under permitted development. The Planning Portal says the materials used in any exterior work must be of a similar appearance to those on the exterior of the existing house [S5]. That covers bricks, and the builder should help you choose a close match.
Listed buildings. GOV.UK guidance says that carrying out works to a listed building that would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest, without first getting listed building consent, is a criminal offence [S8]. Matching bricks and mortar on a listed building is a job to agree with the local planning authority before anything is ordered.
Repairs. A patch of new bricks in an old wall stands out unless the colour, size and texture are close. Brick sizes have changed over the centuries, so an old wall may not take a modern brick without cutting.
Bond. The pattern in which bricks are laid shows the long sides, called stretchers, and the ends, called headers [S9]. A repair or extension should follow the same bond as the existing wall unless there is a reason not to. Flemish bond and stretcher bond explain two common patterns.
How do VAT and quotes affect the total?
Check whether a merchant's brick price includes VAT and delivery. For building work, GOV.UK says VAT is charged at the standard rate of 20% for most work on houses and flats by builders and similar trades, with some exceptions [S2]. Some smaller builders are not registered. GOV.UK says a business must register for VAT if its taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000 [S3]. Check every quote says whether VAT is included.
Citizens Advice says a quote is a fixed price, while an estimate is just a rough guess, and that a quote should include a breakdown of the work and materials and how long the price is valid [S4]. It suggests getting written quotes from at least 3 different traders, and being cautious if a price is a lot lower than the others, because it might not be for exactly the same work [S4].
How can you keep brickwork costs under control?
There are honest ways to keep a brickwork budget in check without choosing the wrong brick:
- Decide the brick early. Changing brick after the quote can change the price and the delivery date.
- Order from one batch. Topping up later from a different batch can mean a colour change mid-wall.
- Ask for a sample panel. Seeing a small section with the chosen mortar avoids costly changes once the wall is built.
- Keep the design simple where it isn't seen. Decorative bonds, arches and special shapes take longer to lay.
- Plan access. Clear space for the delivery and for scaffolding saves time on site.
- Keep the spares. A few leftover bricks from the same batch make future repairs easier to match.
Cutting corners on the foundation, the damp-proof course or the ties is never a saving. Those parts are hidden once the wall is up and are costly to put right later.
Which brickwork jobs are most common?
Garden walls. Often a short run of facing brick on a concrete footing, with a coping on top. Ask about the foundation and the coping.
Extensions. The outer skin of brick is only part of the wall. House extension costs covers the bigger picture.
Brick sheds and outbuildings. Brick shed costs explains the extras.
Repairs and repointing. Replacing damaged bricks or raking out and refilling mortar joints. Repointing brickwork covers that job, and brick spalling explains why brick faces flake.
Filling openings. Bricking up an old door or window. Bricking up explains what to check first.
Our builders page covers the trade.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Low front garden wall needs rebuilding. Would like a quote to supply matching facing bricks and a coping."
- "Single-storey rear extension. Need a bricklayer to quote for the outer skin only, bricks to match the 1930s house."
- "Have a pallet of reclaimed bricks. Looking for a bricklayer to build a raised bed wall with them."
Posting a brickwork job
A photo of the existing bricks in daylight, the length and height of the wall, and whether you already have bricks, are the most useful things to add. Your job goes to up to five matched local businesses [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
Questions about brick prices
How much is a single brick?
This guide does not print a price. Bricks vary widely by type, finish and maker, and merchants price them by the pack or by the thousand as well as singly. Ask the merchant or your builder for the price of the exact brick named in your quote, including delivery.
Are reclaimed bricks cheaper than new ones?
Not always. Reclaimed bricks can cost more than new ones when they are in demand for matching older houses. Cleaning, sorting and waste from broken bricks also add to the real cost. Ask for a sample before you order.
Why do some bricks cost much more than others?
Handmade and stock bricks, special shapes, and bricks with unusual colours or textures take more work to make. Engineering bricks, made for strength and low water absorption, are priced differently again. The right brick for the job matters more than the cheaper one.
How many spare bricks should I order?
Ask your builder. Some bricks break in delivery or cutting, and buying more of the same batch later can be hard. Keeping a few spare from the same batch also helps with future repairs.
Do brick prices change over time?
They can. The government publishes monthly statistics on building materials, including price indices and figures on bricks. A quote should say how long its price is valid, so ask about that if your job starts later.
Does the brick need to match my house?
For an extension built under permitted development, the Planning Portal says exterior materials must be of a similar appearance to those on the existing house. For listed buildings, stricter rules apply, so check with your local planning authority first.
Does QuoteZila check builders?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
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- Brick Shed Cost: What Changes the Price to Build One. What changes the cost of a brick shed in Cheshire: size, footings, walls and bricks, the roof, doors and windows, power, and the planning and building limits.
- Building a Garage: What the Rules Turn On. Building a garage in Cheshire turns on height, position and whether it is attached. This guide prints no build price. It sets out the permission tests.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and FAQ copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
- S1: Building materials and components statistics: September 2026, GOV.UK (Department for Business and Trade). Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-september-2026
- S2: VAT for builders, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/vat-builders
- S3: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat
- S4: Before you get building work done, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S5: Extensions: planning permission, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/extensions/planning-permission/
- S6: Waste duty of care: code of practice, GOV.UK (Defra). Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice
- S7: Too cold to lay bricks, Federation of Master Builders. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.fmb.org.uk/resource/too-cold-to-lay-bricks.html
- S8: Historic environment guidance, GOV.UK (MHCLG). Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/conserving-and-enhancing-the-historic-environment
- S9: Brick Bonds, Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record (Nottinghamshire County Council). Accessed 2026-11-02. https://her.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/whats-new/brick-bonds