Brick prices are only a small part of the total costs. The costs of labor, code requirements, material prices, and waste can contribute to final expenses. This is why accurate masonry estimating is so important.

Universe Estimating offers masonry estimating services including all major costs. They cover labor, materials, code requirements, and waste. This allows them to help provide an accurate estimate for your project.

What Goes Into A Masonry Estimate?

A masonry estimate contains details about materials, hours, equipment, and code requirements. All of these must be taken into account when submitting a bid. Skipping anything will make you end up costing much more than expected.

Masonry material quantities are determined by the size of the wall openings and the size of the masonry units, plus the thickness of the mortar joints. This calculation will include additional materials for cutting and breakage. Labor is a separate cost, and can be figured out by the height of the wall, job site conditions, and the staff’s experience.

How Much Do Labor Costs Affect Masonry Estimating?

One of the main components of a masonry estimate is labor. Qualified and experienced masons are sometimes expensive, and the amount of labor depends on the experience of these professionals.

The median annual salary for masonry occupation was just $56,600 in 2024 (BLS). The median wage for Brickmasons and blockmasons was $60,800 and the top 10% made over 90,120.

This data shows there is a great disparity between wages paid to less experienced and more highly skilled masons. It is crucial to consider this fact when preparing an estimate since the salaries of these professionals must match their skills and experience.

Why Is Skilled Mason Labor Getting Harder To Find?

Masonry employment is growing at a slow pace and there is a high demand for masonry work. This is directly affecting the rising prices of masonry services.

BLS data shows that masonry job market will grow by 2% between 2024 and 2034, with 20,700 job openings created per year. There will be a need to replace masons who retire or change careers.

New masonry workers may be needed. As a result, the masonry cost estimate should allow for higher hourly labor costs. Using the previous year's cost estimate would lead to an inaccurate estimate of cost.

The following table breaks down the main masonry cost factors and how each one determines the final estimate. 

How Do Material Prices Affect Masonry Estimates?

Concrete block and brick prices have been rising consistently, which will inevitably impact quantity-based measures. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Producer Price Index for concrete brick manufacturing, prices rose from an index value of 375.1 in May 2025 to 397.9 in May 2026, a roughly 6.1% increase in a single year. 

Therefore, masonry cost estimation teams consider current trends rather than relying on older measurements.

Why Does The Masonry Code Matter For Estimating?

This is important because the code requirements can change the amounts of materials and labor, which may have been used in a project. If they are not taken into account during estimation, it can lead to higher costs.

The current TMS 402/602-22 includes updated provisions on veneer construction and a new appendix for GFRP-reinforced masonry. The changes affect materials and labor, impacting the estimates. Quoting an old code version can result in a low estimate.

Conclusion

Masonry costs are determined by 4 main factors: labor, materials, code requirements, and quantity takeoffs. Rising labor costs, a limited supply of qualified workers, and fluctuating material costs all keep changing. That is why professional masonry estimating use up-to-date labor information, materials costs, and code requirements to provide an accurate projection of what your project will cost.