Landscape Edging With Bricks: Layouts, Base, Install

Short answer

For brick edging, use well-fired brick or concrete pavers (University of Illinois Extension), set in a trench on about 1 inch of sand or a concrete base. Stand bricks on end (soldier) for a raised border, angle them (sawtooth) for a decorative edge, or lay them flat at lawn level as a mow strip so mower wheels ride on them. Brick material runs about $2.50 to $6.50 per linear foot (LawnStarter).

Three ways to lay brick edging

Layout	How it is set	Good for	Watch for
Soldier	Bricks stood on end, side by side	A raised, formal border that holds mulch	Needs trimming along the lawn side
Sawtooth	Bricks tilted at an angle, corners up	A decorative, traditional look	Hard to mow next to; more gaps
Flat (mow strip)	Bricks laid flat at lawn level	Mowing right to the bed	Grass creeps into joints; needs a firm base
Soldier plus flat	A flat row on the lawn side of a soldier row	Formal beds you also want to mow easily	Twice the brick

For a mow strip, the top of the brick should sit level with the soil so mower wheels roll over it. That is the brick version of the continuous strip that concrete curbing gives you.

Fig. 2 How much of the edge sits below grade and how much shows. Standing bricks on end puts more of each brick in the ground.

Which bricks to use

University of Illinois Extension recommends well-fired brick or pavers for edging. Bricks sit in damp soil all year, and in cold climates they freeze and thaw many times, so soft or salvaged bricks may crack or flake. Paving brick and concrete pavers made for ground contact are the safest choice. Old bricks can work in mild climates or as a look you accept will age.

Brick-look plastic or rubber borders are lighter and faster, but they read as imitation up close. See rubber edging for that route.

The base

Illinois Extension says to set brick on a sand or concrete base, and Gertens suggests a trench deep enough for the edger plus 1 inch of sand. Without a base, bricks sink unevenly and tip as the soil settles. In heavy clay or where frost is deep, a layer of compacted gravel below the sand drains better. A mortared brick edge on a concrete footing is the most permanent version, and usually a pro job.

Brick edging options

01Most classic
Clay paving brick
Best for: formal beds, paths and mow strips

Unit
Standard brick
Base
About 1 in sand
Layouts
Soldier, sawtooth, flat
- Choose well-fired paving brick for frost
- Color stays; does not fade like coatings
- Heavy enough to stay put on a good base
See paving brick
02Lower cost
Concrete paver edging
Best for: mow strips and borders that match a paver patio

Unit
Concrete paver
Base
Sand on gravel
Cost
About $1.50/ft (Hunker)
- Uniform size makes a straight line easy
- Many colors and shapes
- For holding a patio, see paver edging
See concrete pavers
03Fast
Brick-look border
Best for: quick DIY borders where real brick is too much work

Material
Plastic or rubber
Install
Stakes or spikes
Weight
Light
- No trench or sand base
- Reads as imitation up close
- Check listing sizes before buying
See brick-look borders

How to install brick edging

Call 811 and mark the line. Use a hose for curves and string for straight runs.
Dig the trench. Make it as wide as the brick layout and deep enough for the brick plus 1 inch of sand, with the brick tops where you want them (at lawn level for a mow strip).
Lay and tamp the sand. Spread it, wet it, tamp it, and screed it flat with a board.
Set the bricks. Press each into the sand and tap with a rubber mallet, keeping joints tight. Check the line with string and a level every few bricks.
Fill and backfill. Sweep sand into the joints, pack soil against both sides, and water to settle.

What you need

Garden edging spade straight trench wallsFind it
Paver leveling sand the baseFind it
Hand tamper firms the sand and soilFind it
Rubber mallet sets each brickFind it

See how to install landscape edging for every material, and garden path edging if the bricks line a walk.

Cost

LawnStarter puts brick edging at about $2.50 to $6.50 per linear foot in material, with labor about $1.50 to $10 per foot. Hunker quotes bricks at $3.50 to $5.50 per foot and concrete pavers at about $1.50 per foot. A soldier row uses more bricks per foot than a row laid end to end, so count your layout before you buy. Compare all materials in landscape edging cost.

Brick or something else?

Natural look: stone edging.
A thin line you barely see: steel edging.
Continuous mow strip, no joints: concrete curbing.
More layouts: landscape edging ideas and flower bed edging.

See brick edging

Questions people ask

What kind of brick is best for edging?

Use well-fired brick or concrete pavers, per University of Illinois Extension. Soft, underfired bricks soak up water and can crack or flake in freezing weather. Paving brick rated for ground contact holds up best.

Do I need sand under brick edging?

Yes. Illinois Extension says to set brick or stone on a sand or concrete base, and Gertens suggests a trench deep enough for the edger plus 1 inch of sand. Sand lets you level each brick and helps water drain.

How do you lay bricks for a mow strip?

Lay the bricks flat, side by side or end to end, with their tops level with the lawn. The mower wheel rides on the brick and the blade trims right to the bed, so there is less hand trimming.

What is sawtooth brick edging?

Bricks set in a row at about 45 degrees, so a corner of each sticks up and forms a zigzag. It is a traditional decorative edge, but it is harder to mow next to and leaves more gaps for grass.

How much does brick edging cost?

LawnStarter puts brick at about $2.50 to $6.50 per linear foot in material. Hunker quotes bricks at $3.50 to $5.50 per foot and concrete pavers at about $1.50 per foot. Labor adds to that if you hire it out.

Sources

Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Products, sizes and listings change; check the product details before you buy, call 811 before you dig, and follow the maker’s instructions.

Landscape edging with bricks: a classic that lasts