Average Wall Cost Per Square Foot

Update 12.1.2017: The following table is from 2009. Here is an updated study from 2017.

Read about the results of an October 2017 study comparing the installed cost of clay brick to six common home exteriors. Brick costs about half as much as manufactured stone and just a third more than fiber cement – before considering fiber cement’s lifetime maintenance costs). Because cladding represents just a small percentage of the total construction of the house, it pays to invest in brick! Read the Press Release or Download a Summary Presentation.

Cost of Residential Wall Systems

Average Wall Cost Per Square Foot
In Selected Cities (amounts in dollars)

Wall Description
(click wall type to view detail)		 Birmingham
AL		 Jacksonville
FL		 Atlanta
GA		 Louisville
KY		 New Orleans
LA		 Jackson
MS		 Charlotte
NC		 Triangle
NC		 Charleston
SC		 Greenville
SC		 Nashville
TN
1. Brick Veneer & Metal Stud 20.49 20.44 21.71 20.14 20.03 19.87 21.04 20.58 19.52 19.88 20.20
2. Brick Veneer & Wood Stud 20.06 20.00 21.24 19.67 19.70 19.36 20.62 20.09 18.98 19.34 19.74
3. Block Veneer & Metal Stud 18.60 18.55 19.51 17.88 18.49 17.77 18.89 18.62 17.69 17.94 18.48
4. Brick & Block Barrier Wall 28.43 28.59 30.99 27.80 27.97 27.02 29.34 28.90 26.98 27.58 28.15
5. Utility Brick [Masonry Bonded] 20.81 20.55 23.97 20.54 20.78 20.49 21.84 21.28 19.97 20.51 20.85
6. Utility Brick [Joint Reinforcing] 20.48 20.22 23.58 20.21 20.45 20.26 21.50 20.94 19.65 20.18 20.52
7. 12″ Split Face Block 18.98 18.49 20.35 18.17 18.52 17.67 18.88 18.64 17.61 18.15 18.41
8. Utility Brick & Block Cavity Wall 23.75 23.97 26.47 23.35 23.58 22.70 24.76 24.37 22.75 23.26 23.76
9. Block & Block Cavity Wall 26.45 26.62 28.23 25.47 26.29 24.84 27.16 26.81 25.11 25.57 26.30
10. Stucco on CMU 23.46 23.85 24.90 22.97 23.09 22.40 23.88 24.48 22.69 22.74 23.39
11. Hardcoat Simulated Stucco 14.14 14.34 14.78 13.92 13.78 13.75 14.94 14.72 13.72 13.77 13.95
12. Industrial Ribbed Metal Siding 16.65 16.50 17.12 16.33 16.27 16.12 17.52 17.27 16.32 16.19 16.65
13. Metal Curtain Wall 38.52 38.24 39.27 37.41 38.80 36.88 38.92 38.82 38.17 38.32 38.77
14. Glass Curtain Wall 52.90 52.42 52.88 51.41 51.78 50.45 52.86 52.61 51.24 51.14 52.26
15. Granite or Marble Panel 66.96 72.02 71.79 68.64 73.38 69.61 72.41 71.56 65.03 67.76 69.70
16. Hollow Structural Brick 20.43 20.36 21.96 19.85 20.16 19.75 20.84 20.73 19.60 19.69 20.11
17. Pre-Cast Concrete Tilt-up Panels 16.07 15.75 16.73 15.41 15.89 15.02 15.96 15.98 15.40 15.27 15.92
18. Pre-Cast Concrete Tilt-up Fluted Panels 17.00 16.60 17.82 16.33 16.99 15.94 16.97 17.21 16.39 16.69 16.85
19. 8″ Split Face [Colored] 17.88 17.75 18.96 16.92 17.79 16.69 18.00 17.65 16.66 16.89 17.78
20. Ground Face Block 24.16 24.53 24.96 23.09 23.72 22.53 24.42 24.37 23.24 23.45 23.58