What should I charge for masonry work?

Masonry is heavy, skilled, weather-bound work — brick, block, and stone priced per square foot or per job, funded by mixers, scaffolding, a truck, and a short outdoor season. Build each bid from your labor and materials plus a markup that covers that overhead, and price stone above plain block.

Price a job the way contractors actually do it: add up what the job costs you, then add a markup for your overhead and profit. Fill in your numbers — your bid updates as you type.

What this job costs you

Materials & supplies ($) — your cost for everything you'll buy for this job

Other direct costs ($) — fuel, equipment rental, disposal fees, permits

Your labor

Not sure what to charge for your time? Employed brickmasons & blockmasons earn a median of about $29.87/hr (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A self-employed labor rate is typically higher — roughly $45–$60/hr (about 1.5–2×) — because it also has to cover self-employment tax, the benefits an employer would otherwise pay, and the hours that cannot be billed.

Hours this job will take

Your hourly labor rate ($) — what your time is worth per hour; e.g. $45–$60

Hired help ($) — paid to a helper or subcontractor; leave blank if solo

Your markup — overhead & profit

This is where your business actually makes money. Industry standard is roughly 20–30% overall for contractors; solo operators often need the higher end to cover insurance, tools, truck, admin time, and slow weeks. Adjust to fit your business.

Markup on your costs (%)

Materials & supplies	$0
Your labor (0 hrs × $0)	$0
Hired help	$0
Other direct costs	$0
Your costs (subtotal)	$0
Markup (30% — overhead & profit)	$0
Bid price	$0

Pricing method and standard percentages from contractor-industry sources (Angi, Buildern, NAHB): overall contractor markup 20–30%, materials markup 7.5–35%, labor markup 25–50%, recommended profit margin 15–25%. A markup is a percentage of your costs; the resulting margin (share of the bid that's profit) is lower — both are shown above. These are general benchmarks, not a guarantee for your market.

What your markup has to cover

The markup in your bid covers the costs no single job shows. For masonry work, your overhead typically includes the truck and trailer, mixer and scaffolding, hand and cutting tools, consumables (mortar, sand, ties, blades), liability insurance, and material delivery and dump fees. None of that appears on one job, but all of it is paid out of the markup added to every job. Published contractor guidance (Angi, NAHB) puts a typical overall markup at 20–30%.

Be realistic about your hours

Masonry is seasonal and weather-dependent — count realistic working weeks. Mixing, hauling block, building and moving scaffolding, and cleanup are heavy unbillable time. Stone and decorative work justify a premium over plain block; price by the work, not an average.

Mason pricing FAQs

How do masons price their work?

Usually per square foot for walls and flatwork, or per job, with stone and decorative work priced higher than plain block. Estimate the square footage and your hours, apply your hourly labor rate, and add materials with markup and delivery.

Why does stonework cost more than block?

Natural stone takes more skill, more time fitting and cutting, and more waste than uniform block, so it justifiably bills at a premium. Set a separate, higher rate for stone and decorative work rather than averaging it with block.

How should I handle materials and delivery?

Charge brick, block, stone, and mortar at cost plus 10–25%, and bill delivery separately — masonry materials are heavy and freight is a real cost. Account for breakage and waste so a short pallet does not come out of your labor.