Planning a new build in Ireland? Brick and block work will form a significant part of your project, but it is important to understand exactly what an online cost estimate includes—and what it leaves out.
Important Pricing Notice
Labour is not included.
Useful next step: View builders in Ireland, or find a tradesman in Ireland by trade or county.
The estimates also exclude mortar, insulation, wall ties, damp-proof courses, lintels, scaffolding, lifting equipment, plant hire, deliveries, cutting, wastage, site access, design complexity and other project-specific requirements.
They are a snapshot of prices at the time of writing and do not account for future fluctuations in material prices.
Estimated Cost of Standard Concrete Blocks
Standard 100mm concrete blocks measuring approximately 440mm × 215mm are commonly used for residential construction.
Current online listings show sample prices of approximately €1.50 to €1.87 per standard 100mm concrete block. Around 10 standard blocks are generally required for one square metre of wall area.
Estimated material cost
€15 to €19 per m², per block leaf
This estimate covers the concrete blocks only.
It does not include:
- Bricklayer or labourer costs
- Mortar, cement or sand
- Insulation
- Wall ties
- Damp-proof courses
- Lintels or structural supports
- Scaffolding or lifting equipment
- Delivery charges
- Breakages, cutting or wastage
- Contractor overheads
- Site or design complications
A cavity wall can contain more than one masonry leaf, depending on the architect’s specification. The €15 to €19 estimate should therefore not be treated as the complete cost of an external cavity-wall system.
Estimated Cost of Facing Bricks
Facing bricks are selected for their finished appearance and are available in a wide range of colours, textures, strengths and price levels.
Sample online listings for selected clay facing bricks currently range from approximately €1.56 to €2.16 per brick. Around 60 standard facing bricks are generally required for one square metre of wall area.
Estimated material cost
€94 to €130 per m² for facing bricks only
This is a material-only estimate and is not a supply-and-lay rate.
This estimate does not include labour, mortar, wastage, delivery, wall ties, insulation, scaffolding, pointing, structural details or any other materials required to complete the wall.
Specialist, handmade, engineering or premium imported bricks may cost considerably more. Supplier discounts, order quantities, availability and delivery location can also affect the final price.
Labour Is a Separate and Significant Cost
Brick and block laying is skilled work. The cost of labour will depend on the scale and complexity of the build, the availability of tradesmen, the county, site access, wall height, number of openings and the overall construction programme.
A labour quotation may need to cover bricklayers, labourers, supervision, insurance, transport, tools, equipment and contractor overheads.
For that reason, the material estimates above should never be used as a complete supply-and-lay price.
What Can Increase the Final Cost?
Two new homes with the same internal floor area can have very different masonry costs.
The final price may be affected by:
- The total external and internal wall area
- The number of storeys and gables
- Large windows and door openings
- Brick or block type and strength
- Cavity width and insulation specification
- Structural steelwork and lintels
- Decorative brick details
- Restricted site access
- Scaffolding requirements
- Delivery distance and storage space
- Weather delays and construction scheduling
- Material availability at the time of purchase
Brick and block quantities should be calculated from the architectural elevations and wall specification—not simply from the floor area of the house.
Material Prices Can Change
Construction-material prices do not all rise or fall at the same rate.
The Central Statistics Office reported that wholesale prices for construction products were 3.1% higher in June 2026 than in June 2025. During the same period, ready-mixed mortar and concrete increased by 8.7%, while cement prices decreased by 5.3%.
This demonstrates why a cost estimate can become outdated and why different parts of a masonry package may move in opposite directions.
We Do the Legwork
Finding suitable and available bricklayers or blocklayers can be time-consuming.
At Trade Source IRE, you provide us with the relevant information and we do the legwork.
To help us understand your requirements, send:
- Your project location
- Architectural plans and elevations
- Brick and block specifications
- The expected start date
- Whether materials will be supplied
- Site-access information
- Any relevant measurements or photographs
Once we receive the necessary information, we use our experience and network to help identify suitable tradesmen for the project.
We help homeowners, landlords, business owners and contractors connect with quality tradespeople who can provide evidence of appropriate insurance for the work being considered. Customers should always confirm current insurance, experience, references, qualifications and project suitability before making a final appointment.
Get a current quotation
Send us your brick or block work project
Online estimates can help with early planning, but they cannot replace a detailed quotation based on your drawings, specification, site and timeframe.
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Send Trade Source IRE your project information and let us do the legwork in helping you find the right tradesmen.
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Sources and price-check context
The cost examples in this guide are material-only snapshots from sample online retail listings and are not quotations. The CSO figures below provide the official June 2026 construction-material price movement data.
Disclaimer
All prices in this article are general, material-only estimates based on sample online retail prices available when checked. They are not a tender, contractor quotation, quantity surveyor’s cost plan or guarantee of the final project cost.
Labour and all additional materials, services, equipment and site-related expenses are excluded. The estimates do not account for future changes or fluctuations in material prices. Obtain current written quotations from suppliers and appropriately insured contractors before making financial or construction decisions.