Blockwork - 140mm – cost per m² – UK 2026 Rate Guide

Budget rate for supply & lay · typical budget rate before your adjustments

Blockwork - 140mm

per m² · supply & lay

£99 – £275 / m²

What is it

A 140mm-thick concrete block wall laid in mortar, including blocks, labour, sundries and normal main-contractor allowances.

Rate guide

Standard 7.3N medium-density aggregate blockwork£105 – £138/m²

Lightweight aggregate blockwork£99 – £132/m²

Dense or high-strength aggregate blockwork£116 – £154/m²

Fair-faced blockwork with tooled joints£132 – £176/m²

Reinforced hollow blockwork with concrete infill£198 – £275/m²

Labour output

Long, clear runs with good material distribution20–28 m²/day

Typical internal walling with normal returns14–20 m²/day

Numerous openings, piers and service interfaces9–14 m²/day

Restricted access, short runs or phased working5–9 m²/day

Key rate adjusters

Block specification

Higher-strength, dense or specialist acoustic blocks typically add £10–£30/m² through increased material cost and handling effort.

Wall geometry

Frequent corners, piers, junctions and small panels can increase the rate by 15–35% compared with uninterrupted straight runs.

Working height

Walling above normal working height can add £8–£20/m² for reduced productivity and additional access arrangements.

Openings and interfaces

Repeated doorways, penetrations and abutments can add 10–25% where cutting, bonding and making good are extensive.

Fair-face finish

Selected blocks, controlled coursing and tooled joints generally add £20–£35/m² over ordinary blockwork intended for finishes.

Location and logistics

Constrained unloading, long distribution routes or manual handling can add £8–£18/m², particularly on occupied or city-centre sites.

Quantity surveyor insights

Waste and buildability: Allow around 5–8% block waste for regular layouts, rising to 10–15% where there are numerous cuts, splays or service penetrations. Early coordination of coursing, openings and wall lengths materially improves gang output and reduces discarded part-blocks.
Scope and procurement: Confirm whether rates include movement joints, bed-joint reinforcement, ties, fire stopping, lintels, temporary support, access and final cleaning, as these are common scope gaps. Secure the block type and strength early because substitutions can affect weight, productivity, acoustic performance and lead times.

Estimate Anything AI answer · indicative budget rates · updated 31 August 2026