In short: in 2026 UK bricklayers typically charge £250–£320 a day (labour only), higher in London and the South East. On price work, extension brickwork is often around £700 per 1,000 bricks laid, or roughly £0.50–£1.00 per brick. A skilled bricklayer lays about 400–600 bricks a day. Materials are supplied separately by the client.
When you get a quote for extension brickwork, it helps to know how bricklayers actually price the work — and what is and is not included. Here are the 2026 UK figures and how it fits together.
The three ways bricklayers price
Day rate
A flat rate per bricklayer per day, typically £250–£320 in 2026, more in London, the South East and for heritage or specialist work. Day rate suits fiddly, detailed or hard-to-measure jobs where output varies day to day.
Price per 1,000 bricks
A set price for every thousand bricks laid — commonly around £700 per 1,000 for straightforward domestic work, within a range of roughly £500–£800. This rewards steady, measurable runs of walling.
Price work (per brick / per m²)
On bigger jobs, brickwork is sometimes priced per brick (about £0.50–£1.00) or per square metre of walling. Common on new-build sites and larger schemes.
How many bricks a bricklayer lays in a day
A skilled bricklayer lays roughly 400–600 bricks a day. That drops on anything intricate — brick matching, cut work, arches, corbelling, flint, or tight access — because those take skill and time rather than speed. As a rough guide there are about 60 facing bricks per square metre of single-skin wall, which helps when you are estimating a job.
What "labour only" means
A bricklayer's rate covers the laying — not the materials. The bricks, blocks, sand, cement and wall ties are bought separately. On our jobs, materials are purchased directly by the client or main contractor, with us advising exactly what is needed and where best to source it, so you keep full visibility over what goes into the work. It also means the material price rises of the last couple of years sit on the merchant's bill, not hidden inside a lump sum.
Labour-only vs supply-and-fit
Some trades quote supply-and-fit, where the price includes materials. Most extension brickwork is labour-only, which keeps the material costs transparent and in your hands. Neither is wrong — just make sure you know which one a quote is, or you will not be comparing like with like.
A rough worked example
Say the outer skin of a small extension needs around 3,000 facing bricks. At a laying rate of about £700 per 1,000, that is roughly £2,100 of bricklaying labour for the facing work, plus the inner blockwork, before materials. It is only an illustration — real jobs vary with detailing, access and matching — but it shows how the per-1,000 figure turns into a number.
Why extensions cost more per brick than a plain wall
A long straight garden wall is the fastest kind of brickwork. An extension is not: it needs tying into the existing house, matching the existing brick, forming openings for windows and doors, and often working in a confined side space. More skill and less speed means a higher rate per brick — but a result that looks like it was always part of the house.
Getting a real figure
Because brick counts, access and detailing vary so much, nobody can give a firm brickwork price without seeing the job. For how the bricklaying fits the wider budget, see single-storey extension cost and our general bricklaying costs guide.
Figures are 2026 UK market guides drawn from published cost data and our own experience; treat them as ballpark. Your real price depends on your site, spec and where you are.
Frequently asked questions
What does a bricklayer charge per day in the UK?
In 2026 most UK bricklayers charge £250 to £320 a day for labour only, with London, the South East and specialist heritage work higher. A skilled bricklayer typically lays 400 to 600 bricks a day depending on the work.
How much do bricklayers charge per 1,000 bricks?
On price work, laying is commonly around £700 per 1,000 bricks for straightforward domestic runs in 2026, within a broad range of about £500 to £800. That is labour only — bricks, blocks, sand and cement are bought separately.
How many bricks does a bricklayer lay in a day?
A skilled bricklayer lays roughly 400 to 600 bricks a day. It drops on anything intricate such as brick matching, cut work, arches, corbelling, flint or tight access, where skill and care matter more than speed.
Do bricklayers supply the bricks and materials?
Usually not. A bricklayer's rate is labour only. On our jobs the materials are bought directly by the client or main contractor, with us advising exactly what is needed and where best to source it.
What is the difference between labour-only and supply-and-fit?
Labour-only means the bricklayer charges just for laying, and you or your main contractor buy the materials. Supply-and-fit means the price includes materials too. Most extension brickwork is labour-only, which keeps material costs transparent and in your control.
How do you work out the cost of brickwork?
Estimate the number of bricks (about 60 facing bricks per square metre of single-skin wall), then apply a laying rate of around £700 per 1,000, or price by the day at £250 to £320. Add the materials separately. A site visit is the only way to get a firm figure.
Why does extension brickwork cost more per brick than a plain wall?
Extensions involve brick matching, tying into the existing house, openings for windows and doors, arches or detailing, and often tight access. All of that is slower and more skilled than a long straight run, so the rate per brick is higher.
Getting a price for your extension
Every extension is different, so the brickwork is priced after we have seen the job. If you are planning an extension in Hampshire, Berkshire or Surrey, see our extension work or send us the details and we will come and look.