Bricklaying Cost Australia 2026
Bricklaying costs depend on whether materials are included, the type of work (fence, extension, repairs), access conditions, and whether scaffolding and permits are required.
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National Pricing Overview
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bricklaying (hourly rate) | $45/hr | $75 | $120 |
| Bricklaying (per 1,000 bricks, labour) | $1,000/1000 bricks | $1,600 | $2,200 |
| Bricklaying (per sqm, standard) | $55/sqm | $80 | $120 |
| Garden feature wall, installed (per sqm) | $140/sqm | $260 | $450 |
| Brick retaining wall, installed (per sqm) | $250/sqm | $450 | $650 |
| Brick veneer (new home, per sqm) | $50/sqm | $70 | $100 |
| Brick pointing / repointing (per sqm) | $40/sqm | $70 | $150 |
| Brick repair (per brick) | $25per brick | $65 | $140 |
| Brick letterbox (supply & lay) | $400total | $800 | $1,500 |
| Brick BBQ or simple fireplace (built, installed) | $2,000total | $3,500 | $6,500 |
| Damp-proof course, whole-house retrofit | $1,000total | $3,500 | $6,000 |
| Full-day bricklaying | $450per day | $650 | $900 |
| Damp-proof course injection (per metre) | $70/m | $110 | $250 |
How bricklaying prices compare across 17 cities, the $45–$120 hourly band against every other trade and how they move month to month: Tradie Price Index, October 2026 →
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Bricklaying in Australia costs $45–$120/hr for labour, or $1,000–$2,200 per 1,000 bricks laid. Common residential projects include brick fences ($55–$120/sqm), brick extensions and garages (about $2,200–$7,200 of bricklaying for a 40–60 sqm garage), and retaining walls ($250–$650/sqm). Bricks are supplied separately; the per-1,000 rate is for laying them.
What Affects Bricklaying Costs in Australia
Labour vs supply
Most Australian bricklayers quote labour only — bricks, mortar, and materials are additional. A full supply-and-lay quote is easier to compare but less flexible on brick choice.
Brick type & pattern
Standard clay bricks in a running bond pattern are cheapest. Feature bricks, face bricks, and complex patterns (stacked, herringbone, soldier course) take longer and cost more in Australia.
Wall height & size
Low boundary walls in Australia are straightforward. Taller walls need engineering certification. Larger projects (extensions, garages) need footings and may require a building permit.
Site access & scaffolding
Bricklaying above single-storey height in Australia usually needs scaffolding, because safety laws require fall protection, such as scaffolding, when work cannot be done from the ground. Easy ground-level access with room to stack pallets is the cheapest scenario.
Demolition
Removing old brickwork before new construction in Australia adds demolition and disposal to the job. Always get a separate demolition quote.
Permits & engineering
The height at which a brick wall needs a building permit or approval varies by state, so check before you build. Structural walls and extensions always need engineering plans and certification.
How to Save Money on Bricklaying Cost in Australia
Bricklaying Cost in Australia by Wall Area
Say the wall is 12 square metres, the example's own assumption. At $55–$120 a square metre that is $660–$1,440 for labour. The same 12 square metres built as a garden feature wall, installed, at $140–$450 a square metre is $1,680–$5,400, and a brick letterbox at $400–$1,500 is a whole-job row rather than an area one.
What moves a wall of that size is height, pattern and access more than length alone. A tall wall needs scaffold for its upper courses, a stacked or herringbone bond takes longer than plain running bond, and pallets that cannot be dropped near the work add barrowing hours at $45–$120 an hour. Whether the bricks are in the price is the first thing to settle.
Bricklaying Cost in Australia: What the Quote Should Include
A bricklaying quote anywhere in Australia reads best when the wall is described in the same unit the rate is written in. Area, brick count and hours each give a different total, so a quote that shows its quantity and its materials on separate lines lets two bricklayers price the same job.
- The wall in square metres, length multiplied by height, or the brick count taken from the plans, with the unit the price uses written next to it.
- Labour only or supply and lay, stated plainly: laying labour is $1,000–$2,200 per 1,000 bricks, and bricks, sand and cement are then bought on top.
- The brick named by kind, clay, face or feature, and the bond it is laid in, since stacked and herringbone patterns are priced apart from plain running bond.
- Mortar colour and joint finish, flush, raked or struck, written down so the finished wall matches what was agreed.
- Footings or a slab shown on their own line, separate from the standard laying rate of $55–$120 a square metre.
- Repairs and repointing kept apart from new work, with a damaged brick at $25–$140 a brick and repointing at $40–$150 a square metre.
- Scaffold or other access for upper courses, a mixer on site, waste removal and any old brickwork taken down, each listed with who supplies it.
- A letterbox at $400–$1,500 or a barbecue or simple fireplace at $2,000–$6,500 quoted as a whole job, with the footing and capping named.
- Start and finish dates, payment stages and GST in writing, and ask for their licence number and insurance.