Building a brick fence typically costs $90-$350 per linear foot installed, with many standard projects averaging about $175 per linear foot. Total price depends chiefly on fence height and length, brick type, foundation needs, site access, and local mason rates.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installed brick fence | $90 per linear ft | $175 per linear ft | $350 per linear ft | Typical masonry wall, excluding major site work |
| 100-linear-foot project | $9,000 | $17,500 | $35,000 | Price changes with height, design, and access |
| Brick wall by face area | $25 per sq ft | $40 per sq ft | $65 per sq ft | Useful for comparing different wall heights |
What a standard brick fence costs per linear foot
A basic 3- to 4-foot-high brick wall on level ground often falls near $90-$150 per linear foot. A 5- to 6-foot wall with a reinforced footing, standard face brick, and a finished cap commonly costs $150-$250 per linear foot. Custom patterns, premium brick, columns, or difficult excavation can push a quote to $250-$350 or more per linear foot.
For a straightforward 100-foot run, a practical planning budget is about $12,000-$25,000. That assumes ordinary access, standard brick, and no major retaining-wall work. A short project may cost more per foot because mobilization and setup charges are spread over fewer feet.
Quotes may describe a solid masonry wall or a brick-veneer fence built over a concrete-block or structural core. Those are not identical assemblies; compare the wall structure, reinforcement, footing, and finish rather than relying on the word “brick” alone.
How brick, footing, and mason labor shape the quote
The following ranges are approximate cost components per linear foot for a typical 4- to 5-foot wall. Actual bids may package materials, labor, and contractor overhead differently, so the rows should not be added mechanically.
| Cost component | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brick and mortar | $20 | $38 | $70 |
| Footing, concrete, and reinforcement | $15 | $30 | $55 |
| Mason labor | $35 | $70 | $130 |
| Equipment and site preparation | $5 | $15 | $35 |
| Caps, cleanup, and overhead | $10 | $22 | $45 |
Labor and foundation work are often as important as the brick itself. For budgeting, a crew estimate may use 20-40 mason and helper hours per 100 linear feet for a simple low wall, with more time for tall walls, columns, steps, or detailed patterns. Masons and masonry contractors may bill labor at roughly $50-$100 per worker-hour, though many provide a fixed project quote.
Wall height, soil, and brick choice can change the rate
Height has a direct effect because taller walls require more brick and may need a wider or reinforced footing. Moving from a 3-foot garden wall to a 6-foot privacy wall can add roughly 30%-70% per linear foot, depending on engineering and local wind or soil conditions. Walls over about 4 feet may trigger additional structural requirements or local review.
Foundation conditions matter too. Level, firm soil is less expensive to excavate than rocky ground, steep slopes, expansive clay, or areas with drainage problems. A site that needs grading, a retaining design, or a deeper footing can add $15-$60 or more per linear foot.
Standard locally stocked brick generally costs less than reclaimed, handmade, or specialty-colored brick. A premium brick selection can add about $10-$35 per square foot of wall face. Columns, pilasters, decorative bonds, and stone caps also raise both material waste and installation time.
Ask whether the quote includes reinforcement, footing dimensions, drainage, and the finished cap. Those details help distinguish a complete bid from a low estimate that leaves structural or finish work outside the contract.
How long a 100-foot masonry fence takes to build
A straightforward 100-foot wall may take a crew of two or three about 1-2 weeks of on-site work, including excavation, footing placement, masonry, and cleanup. Concrete often needs time to cure before brickwork proceeds. Columns, gates, complex patterns, inspections, or bad weather can extend the schedule.
Ask contractors to state crew size, estimated working days, and what delays are excluded from the schedule. A low quote based on a very small crew may take longer, while a larger crew may not shorten work if access or curing time is the bottleneck.
Regional brick fence prices from city to rural sites
Labor costs and permitting can make the same design cost about 15%-30% more in high-cost metro areas than in lower-cost rural markets. In areas with limited masonry contractors or high demand, bids may run 10%-20% above nearby regional averages. Material delivery distance can also matter, especially for specialty brick or remote properties.
Local climate and soil affect specifications as well as labor. Freeze-thaw regions may require suitable brick, mortar, footing depth, and drainage, while windy locations may require stronger structural design for taller walls. Assumptions: standard materials, accessible residential site, and no major grading or retaining work.
Gates, columns, removal, and other likely add-ons
Brick columns commonly cost $500-$1,500 each, depending on height, dimensions, cap, and reinforcement. A pedestrian gate and its hardware may add $300-$1,200, while a driveway gate can cost substantially more once posts, hardware, and installation are included. Confirm whether gate openings are included in the measured fence length.
Removing and hauling away an existing fence may add $5-$20 per linear foot for a light fence, or more for old masonry and difficult disposal. Surveying, utility locating, drainage changes, and tree-root removal can also appear as separate charges. Permit fees vary widely; budget roughly $50-$500 where a permit is required, plus any plan or engineering costs.
Three sample quotes for different brick fence scopes
| Project scope | Approximate work | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|
| Low garden wall | 60 ft × 3 ft; standard brick; level access | $5,400-$9,000 |
| Privacy boundary wall | 100 ft × 5 ft; reinforced footing; simple cap | $15,000-$25,000 |
| Detailed street frontage | 80 ft × 6 ft; premium brick, four columns, gate opening | $24,000-$40,000 |
These examples illustrate scope, not guaranteed local prices. A quote should identify wall height, brick type, structural core, footing, caps, columns, gate work, cleanup, and exclusions to make bids comparable.
Ways to reduce a brick fence estimate without cutting corners
Keeping the wall at the minimum useful height, choosing a standard brick stocked nearby, and using a simple running-bond pattern can reduce material and labor costs. Limiting columns to corners or gate locations also avoids decorative masonry charges along the entire run.
Prepare the route by clearing movable items and confirming property lines, but leave excavation and utility locating to qualified parties. Obtain at least three itemized quotes for the same dimensions and specifications. If a full brick wall exceeds the budget, compare a shorter brick wall with a less expensive fence section rather than reducing footing or reinforcement below code or the contractor’s design.
Compare complete installed scopes, not just the per-foot price. A lower bid that excludes demolition, caps, permits, or drainage may cost more after required work is added.