The Short Answer
On our estimates, a double-skin (full brick thickness) garden wall costs about £200 to £320 per m² of wall face including foundations, so £2,400 to £3,850 for a wall 10m long and 1.2m high. Single skin is £150 to £240 per m² but needs piers to stand up; stone is £300 to £500.
Bricklayers charge £240 to £340 a day, and a 10m by 1.2m double-skin wall is about 4 days' bricklaying. A wall costs far more than a fence of the same length.
Garden wall prices
| Wall | Per m² of face | 10m x 1.2m |
|---|---|---|
| Single skin (with piers) | £150 to £240 | £1,800 to £2,900 |
| Double skin brick | £200 to £320 | £2,400 to £3,850 |
| Natural stone | £300 to £500 | £3,600 to £6,000 |
What a garden wall needs
The Brick Development Association's guidance on freestanding walls covers the essentials:
- a concrete foundation, at least 500mm deep;
- a height that suits the wall's thickness and how exposed it is to wind: a one-brick (215mm) wall, for example, tops out somewhere between about 1.45m and 1.9m depending on exposure;
- piers, a thicker base or a staggered line to stiffen slender walls;
- vertical movement joints every 5m to 6m or so;
- a coping or capping on top, with a damp-proof course.
The Building Regulations don't apply to freestanding garden walls, so nobody inspects them. That makes the builder's experience matter more, and the council can act if a wall becomes dangerous.
Height limits and neighbours
Without planning permission, a wall can be up to 2m high, or 1m next to a road used by vehicles. Walls around a listed building need consent. A new wall built astride the boundary is party wall work: you must give your neighbour notice at least 1 month before you start.
Holding back soil?
A wall with soil behind it is a retaining wall: see retaining walls. For general bricklayer rates, see bricklaying.
Get garden wall quotes
Walls are priced by length, height and how many skins of brick.
Free, no obligation. We're paid by MyJobQuote when a tradesperson buys your job, never by you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a garden wall?
On our estimates, about £200 to £320 per m² of face for a double-skin brick wall with foundations, so £2,400 to £3,850 for 10m x 1.2m.
What is the cheapest way to build a garden wall?
A low single-skin wall with piers, at about £150 to £240 per m² on our estimates. Keep it low: taller walls need to be thicker.
Is it cheaper to build a wall or a fence?
A fence, by a long way: a closeboard fence is about £90 to £130 per metre on our estimates, against £360 to £580 per metre for a 1.8m double-skin wall.
Do I need permission to build a garden wall?
Not if it's up to 2m high, or 1m next to a road used by vehicles, and the house isn't listed. A wall on the boundary line needs a party wall notice.
Do I need foundations for a garden wall?
Yes. The Brick Development Association's guidance shows a concrete foundation at least 500mm deep for a freestanding wall.
How we priced thisView sources (5, 3 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- OfficialThe Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 2 (gates, fences, walls; means of access), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialParty Wall etc. Act 1996, sections 2 and 3, legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialConstruction and maintenance of boundary and retaining walls (circular letter, 13 May 2013), GOV.UK (DCLG). Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- IndustryFreestanding brick walls: technical support, Brick Development Association. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- Trade guideBuilding a brick wall cost, Checkatrade. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
