How Much Does a Bricklayer Earn Per Brick?

 People in the UK hear all sorts of stories about bricklayer pay, especially when trying to pin down how much does a bricklayer earn per brick. Some say day rate pays best, others swear by price work, and plenty argue that weather, access, or tricky corners make all the difference.

So here’s the clear answer: most bricklayers earn £0.50–£1.00 per brick in the UK. The exact rate shifts with location, speed, job type, site setup, and experience. Price work sits alongside day rates and salaries, and bricklayers often switch between them depending on the job. Some days fly, some days drag — that’s the reality.

This guide breaks it all down so you can see how “per brick” pay connects to real daily earnings, without relying on rumours or guesswork.

What Does a Bricklayer Do During a Normal Day?

Many people outside the trade think bricklaying is simple: you pick up a brick, use some mortar, and put it in place. But bricklayers handle far more than this. They follow drawings, deal with tight deadlines, work around other trades, keep the site tidy, fix problems, and keep their area safe.

Bricklayers work on houses, extensions, garages, walls, steps, blockwork, and commercial buildings. Every structure needs strong work, and the bricklayer controls the front line.

Here’s what bricklayers handle most days:

They start early, usually before breakfast. They review the drawings, check the line and level, and visualise the plan. After that, they mix mortar, set up the area, and organise their tools. Once they start laying, they manage speed and accuracy at the same time. They move quickly but never at the cost of quality. Every course gets a check, faces stay clean, joints line up, and small mistakes are corrected before they grow.

Bricklayers also talk with site managers, labourers, scaffolders, electricians, plumbers, and homeowners. They solve problems when the weather changes things. They deal with deliveries, missing materials, or incorrect bricks. On bigger sites, they think about health and safety rules as they move.

The job mixes skill, strength, planning, and patience. That’s why bricklayers earn good money when they perform well and stay consistent.

How Much Does a Bricklayer Earn Per Brick in the UK?

Bricklayers don’t always get paid per brick. Some bricklayers go on a day rate, others prefer a salary, and many choose to work only when the job suits it. But when the job uses price work, the number stays fairly steady across the country.

Most bricklayers earn between £0.50 and £1.00 per brick on price work.

Why such a wide range? Because of how different jobs feel in real life. Some walls move quickly; others slow you down. Corners take extra time, features add fuss, wide driveways help, and small gardens make every barrow trip harder.

Here’s a simple breakdown of how the rate shifts:

• £0.50–£0.60 per brick for big, clean, straight runs
• £0.70–£0.90 per brick for most standard work
• £1.00+ per brick for awkward jobs, pillars, tight corners, face brick features, or small fiddly areas

That range helps both the bricklayer and the client understand fair pay for the type of work involved. Remember: the price usually covers your own time and your labourer’s time, so the rate needs to protect your daily income.

How Are Bricklayers Paid in the UK?

Bricklayers in the UK use three main pay systems. Many tradespeople move between them depending on the type of job, the season, or the site rules.

1. Price work (per brick or per 1,000 bricks)

This system encourages speed and rewards bricklayers who work fast and neatly.

2. Day rate (common for most self-employed bricklayers)

A good bricklayer charges around £240–£320 per day on straightforward jobs.

3. Salary (employed roles)

Employed bricklayers usually earn £31,000–£36,000, sometimes higher for experienced workers.

Each system has strengths. Price work pays more when conditions are smooth. Day rate helps when the weather slows everything down. Salary gives stability and steady money.

Many people who want to understand “per brick pay” also ask how the rest of bricklaying pay works — day rates, yearly totals, London rates, and more. If you want a deeper look at this side of the trade, the “Average Wage for a Bricklayer UK” blog gives a clear breakdown of real earnings across the country and shows how self-employment changes the numbers. You can read it here:

How Many Bricks a Bricklayer Lays in a Day?

This question matters because the more bricks you lay, the higher your income from price work. But the number changes from day to day because the job never stays the same.

On a clean run, a bricklayer with a labourer and a good setup can often hit: 400 to 600 bricks a day

On some days, a fast worker reaches even more, but that requires perfect conditions — good weather, easy access, fast loading of materials, and no fiddly corners. To see how this affects income, let’s use the middle rate of £0.70 per brick:

500 bricks × £0.70 = £350 gross income for the day

That amount explains why a price work can beat a day rate when the job runs smoothly. But a slow or awkward job can drop the total fast, so many bricklayers switch to a day rate on tricky builds.

Do Bricklayers Earn More on Price Work or Day Rate?

It depends on the job. No single answer works for every situation. Price work pays more when:

• The job runs straight and simple
• Bricks and mortar sit close to the wall
• Scaffolding feels safe and easy to move around
• The weather stays dry
• You have a good labourer

Day rate pays more when:

• The work looks slow, detailed, or awkward
• The weather gets bad
• The scaffold sits too low or too high
• Materials sit far away
• You expect endless stops and starts

Many bricklayers watch the site conditions, pick the right pay style, and switch when needed. This smart approach protects income across the year.

What Affects How Much Bricklayers Earn Per Brick?

Price per brick changes in many ways because every job feels different. Knowing these factors helps bricklayers set fair rates and protect their earnings. Here are the biggest influences:

• Location: London and the South East pay more than many other regions
• Brick type: Facing bricks, special bricks, and decorative patterns take more time
• Job design: Corners, pillars, arches, and tight spaces slow speed
• Access: Distance from materials affects daily output
• Labour: A good labourer increases your brick count
• Weather: Rain and cold mortar slow the process
• Reputation: A strong name helps you charge the upper end of the range

Every bricklayer learns how these factors mix together and shape their daily income.

Do Self-Employed Bricklayers Make More Money?

Often yes. Self-employed bricklayers choose their jobs, set their prices, and keep more of the profit. They can negotiate per-brick pay, charge extra for difficult work, and plan their year to maximise income.

Many bricklayers who stay busy report £56,000–£60,000+ per year once they settle into self-employment. Some earn even more during busy seasons when building sites run at full speed. Self-employed workers also decide which clients they take on. If a job feels too slow or too awkward, they can choose a day rate or even walk away. That freedom helps protect both income and time.

Do Bricklayers in London Get Paid More Per Brick?

Yes, London and the South East almost always sit at the top of the UK pay scale. Every day costs are higher, house prices are higher, and construction demand stays busy. Because of this, per-brick rates often rise along with day rates. A job that pays £0.70 per brick in one region may pay £0.90–£1.10 in London. This difference adds up fast, especially for fast workers.

What Is the Average Rate Per Brick Across the UK?

When you look at the full range, the middle number stays close to £0.70 per brick. That number lines up with the day rates that most bricklayers charge.

Here’s why: If you work on price and hit 500 bricks at £0.70, you earn £350. Many bricklayers charge £240–£320 per day on a day rate, so you can see how price work reaches the same level or higher.

Real Examples of “Rate Per Brick × Bricks Per Day”

Let’s look at a few real-life examples to see how the maths works in simple terms.

Example 1 — A steady, simple job

450 bricks × £0.70 = £315

Example 2 — A strong day with good access

550 bricks × £0.70 = £385

Example 3 — A hard day with awkward corners

300 bricks × £0.85 = £255

Example 4 — A London job

500 bricks × £1.00 = £500

These examples show why bricklayers choose to charge by price on some jobs and by day rate on others.

How Training Helps Bricklayers Increase Their Pay

Bricklaying rewards skill. The faster you work while still keeping quality high, the more money you can earn. But speed only grows when technique improves.

New workers often start with slow days because they need time to understand joints, level, gauge, and correct mortar handling. When technique improves, daily output increases — and income grows with it. Good training gives new bricklayers the right habits from day one. Instead of learning by trial and error, they learn the tools, the setup, the layout, and the safety rules in a clear, structured way.

If someone wants a strong start, a CPD-accredited Bricklaying Course from Open Learning Academy can give them the foundation they need to build clean, fast, confident brickwork. This kind of training also helps beginners understand price work, day rates, quoting, and real site expectations.

Why Some Bricklayers Switch Between Price Work and Day Rate

Most bricklayers don’t stick to only one pay style. They move between price work and day rate depending on the job. This mix keeps their income steady through winter, rainy weeks, complex builds, or times when the site slows down.

Here’s how the thinking usually goes:

If a bricklayer sees long straight runs, clean access, good scaffolding, and a helpful labourer, price work makes sense because they know they can hit big numbers.

But if the job looks slow or awkward, the day rate protects their income. Tight gardens, detailed face brickwork, bad weather, blocked access or missing materials can all break the flow of the day. In these cases, a fixed rate per day keeps things safe. Learning when to switch between the two becomes one of the key skills of self-employment.

How Region, Experience and Speed Shape Per-Brick Pay

Income changes across the UK because every area has a different market. Some regions have more new builds while some have old houses with lots of repair work. Some areas have a high cost of living and some areas stay quiet for months.

Bricklayers in larger cities earn more because there is more work and more competition among developers. Bricklayers in small towns often earn good money as well, but they may rely more on extensions and walls rather than full new builds.

Experience matters just as much. A bricklayer with ten years behind them works faster, sets out better, and often gets hired again and again. When clients trust your work, you get stronger rates. Speed matters too. But speed without quality does not work. A fast bricklayer with rough work won’t last. A slow bricklayer with perfect work won’t earn much by price. The best earners balance both at the same time.

How Bricklayers Protect Their Income on Price Work

Bricklayers who want steady money for price work learn simple habits that keep their income safe. Here are a few:

• Plan the day early
• Keep materials close to the wall
• Work with a reliable labourer
• Keep tools clean
• Start with a clean line and tight joints
• Avoid overworking the mortar
• Keep the wall tidy
• Work at a steady rhythm

These habits stop delays and keep the flow of the day smooth. When the flow stays smooth, the income grows.

Final Thoughts

Price work sounds confusing on paper, but it becomes simple when you break it down. The key idea is this:

Rate per brick × bricks per day = your daily income.

If the rate stays around £0.70–£1.00 and you lay 400–600 bricks on a normal day, your earnings match or beat most UK day rates. Price work rewards fast, clean, confident bricklaying. Day rate protects you on slow or awkward jobs. Self-employment gives you the freedom to choose both depending on the day.

For anyone starting out, the right training helps build good habits early. A CPD-accredited Bricklaying Course from Open Learning Academy gives beginners a clear path into the trade and helps them build skill, confidence and earning power.

Bricklaying will always stay in demand across the UK. With the right approach, bricklayers can build a strong, steady income that lasts for years.

FAQs

Do bricklayers get paid £1 per brick?

Sometimes. UK price work usually ranges from £0.50 to £1.00 per brick, depending on job type, region, and difficulty.

What do bricklayers charge per brick?

Typically £0.50–£1.00 per brick on straightforward work; higher for detailed corners, arches, or awkward access.

How much does 1 brick cost in the UK?

Around £0.30–£1.00 per brick, depending on type, supplier, and location.

Can a bricklayer lay 1000 bricks a day?

Rarely. Skilled bricklayers usually lay 400–600 bricks daily; 1,000 requires perfect conditions and a top-level team.

Can bricklayers make £100k a year?

Yes, but only a small number. Requires consistent high-speed price work, strong demand, long hours, and efficient labour support.

What are the four golden rules of bricklaying?

Keep courses level, maintain clean joints, follow the line, and use proper mortar consistency for strength and accuracy.

What is the 3-4-5 method of bricklaying?

A simple way to check right angles: measure 3 units on one side, 4 on the other, and 5 across the diagonal.

How much does a bricklayer charge to lay 1000 bricks?

At £0.50–£1.00 per brick, roughly £500–£1,000, depending on job complexity and region.

Should you soak bricks before laying?

Only in very hot or windy conditions. Most UK bricks shouldn’t be soaked — just lightly dampened if they’re drying too fast.