Tuckpointing costs $400 to $2,500 per job in 2026
Tuckpointing costs $400 to $2,500 per job in 2026. HomeAdvisor lists $400 to $2,500 for a 100 square foot section, with an average of $1,450. Bob Vila lists $500 to $2,500 and an average of $1,500. Fixr lists $5 to $25 per square foot. Wall height, how much mortar is bad and the size of the job move the price most.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| HomeAdvisor | HomeAdvisor lists $400 to $2,500 for a 100 square foot section, an average of $1,450 and $5 to $25 per square foot for tuckpointing. |
| Bob Vila | Bob Vila lists tuckpointing at $500 to $2,500 with an average of $1,500, and $5 to $25 per square foot. |
| Fixr | Fixr lists a national average of $2,000, $5 to $10 per square foot for low walls and $10 to $25 for walls over 8 feet. |
Tuckpointing price by project
| Project or size | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wall 8 feet or lower | $5 to $10 per sq ft | Fixr |
| Wall over 8 feet | $10 to $25 per sq ft | Fixr |
| 100 square feet | $500 to $2,500 | Fixr |
| Chimney | $500 to $2,500 | Bob Vila |
| Fireplace | $100 to $500 | Bob Vila |
| Patio, 10 by 10 feet | $500 to $2,500 | Bob Vila |
| Basement, 8 by 10 feet | $1,600 to $8,000 | Bob Vila |
| Foundation | $5,000 to $25,000 | Bob Vila |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Square footage | Fixr lists 100 square feet at $500 to $2,500 and 1,000 square feet at $5,000 to $25,000. Price rises with wall area. |
| Wall height | Fixr lists $5 to $10 per square foot for walls 8 feet or lower and $10 to $25 for taller walls. Tall walls need scaffolding. |
| Labor | HomeAdvisor says labor is roughly 80% to 90% of the cost. Masons charge $50 to $100 per hour on its page. |
| Type of project | Bob Vila lists a chimney at $500 to $2,500 and a fireplace at $100 to $500. A foundation runs $5,000 to $25,000. |
| Mortar type | Bob Vila lists cement at $500 to $2,000, lime putty at $600 to $2,250 and caulk at $750 to $2,500. |
What the price includes
A tuckpointing quote usually covers grinding out old mortar, filling new mortar and matching the color. Scaffolding, stone work and brick repair may cost extra. HomeAdvisor says many masons set a minimum fee of $300 to $2,000. Ask if cleanup and sealing are in the price. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
DIY or hire a pro
A small job can be DIY if you have patience and the right tools. Mortar is cheap, and HomeAdvisor lists an 80 pound bag at $5 to $50. The hard part is grinding out old mortar without chipping the brick. Bad work can let in water. A mason charges $50 to $100 per hour on HomeAdvisor. Hire a pro for chimneys, tall walls and any wall that holds weight. Ask to see photos of past work first, and get the price in writing before work starts.
How to tell you need it
You may need tuckpointing when mortar is crumbling, cracked or missing between bricks. You may see gaps you can fit a key into, or loose bricks. Water stains inside a wall or damp basement walls are also warnings. Fix these gaps early. Water can freeze in the cracks and damage the bricks, which turns a small job into a big one.
How to judge your quote
- Ask for the price per square foot and the total square feet.
- Ask which mortar type and color match is priced.
- Ask if scaffolding and cleanup are in the quote.
- Ask if the mason has a minimum fee.
- Compare the total with the range above: $400 to $2,500 per job for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Fix small areas early. Bob Vila lists a wall of 8 by 10 feet at $400 to $2,500, far less than a whole house.
- Bundle jobs for one mason visit. HomeAdvisor lists minimum fees of $300 to $2,000, so more work per trip lowers the cost per foot.
- Get three written quotes that list the square feet, the mortar type and the cleanup.
- Ask for standard cement mortar if it suits the wall. Bob Vila lists cement at $500 to $2,000, below lime putty and caulk.
- Fix gaps before water gets in. Early repair keeps a small job from growing into a foundation job.
Why this costs more in 2026
Trade labor now runs about $75 to $150 an hour in most of the US. Lumber, steel, copper, PVC and concrete all cost more than in 2024, and freight went up after the oil shock that began with the Iran war in February 2026. Labor makes up roughly 80% to 90% of the cost on HomeAdvisor, so higher mason wages show up fast in 2026 quotes.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila and Fixr. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does tuckpointing cost?
HomeAdvisor lists $400 to $2,500 for a 100 square foot section. Bob Vila lists $500 to $2,500 with an average of $1,500. Fixr lists an average of $2,000.
How much is tuckpointing per square foot?
HomeAdvisor and Bob Vila list $5 to $25 per square foot. Fixr lists $5 to $10 for low walls and $10 to $25 for walls over 8 feet.
How much does it cost to tuckpoint a chimney?
Bob Vila lists $500 to $2,500 for a chimney. HomeAdvisor lists chimney tuckpointing at $200 to $500, so quotes vary by chimney size.
How much does it cost to tuckpoint a whole house?
HomeAdvisor lists $10,000 to $50,000 for a full house with 2,000 square foot sides. Bob Vila lists $12,500 to $62,500.
Why is labor so much of the cost?
HomeAdvisor says labor is roughly 80% to 90% of the cost. The mason must grind out old mortar by hand and refill it.