How To Cut Brick: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cutting brick creates sharp fragments that can chip off and fly in unexpected directions, especially when you strike the chisel. So make sure to protect yourself with safety glasses, durable gloves to prevent cuts, and long sleeves to guard your arms from flying debris. If you're working indoors or around others, ear protection can also help reduce the sharp sound of repeated hammer strikes.

But whenever possible, do the work outside or in a space with good airflow, since this project can get dusty. If you’re working indoors, open the windows and set up a fan to help clear the air. If you’re sensitive to dust, consider wearing a dust mask for extra protection.

Before you do anything else, make sure the brick is sitting flat and stable on a solid surface, like a concrete floor, paved driveway, or sturdy workbench. Avoid putting it on anything uneven or cushioned, like grass or carpet, since that can absorb the impact and throw off your accuracy.

If you’re worried about damaging the surface underneath, you can place a piece of scrap wood or a paver underneath the brick to absorb some of the shock. And if you’re concerned the brick will move while you're scoring or cutting, you can gently clamp it down using a C-clamp or a quick-release clamp. Just make sure to pad the clamp’s jaws with a rag or piece of cardboard so you don’t chip the brick.

Drawing a clear, continuous line on the brick will give your chisel something to follow and set you up for a clean break. But make sure to take your time here because accuracy now makes everything way easier later.

Use a masonry pencil or chalk and a ruler to draw a straight line across the top of the brick where you want to make the cut. Then wrap the line down the sides and across the bottom so it continues all the way around.

Place the tip of a masonry chisel directly on the line you marked during step two, starting at the top of the brick. Hold the chisel at a slight angle, with the beveled edge facing the part of the brick you’ll discard. 

Then, lightly tap the end of the chisel with a hammer to create a shallow groove in the brick’s surface. Don’t try to go deep yet; this first pass is just about creating a guide for the bigger strikes ahead. Work slowly along the entire top line, then repeat the process along the sides and bottom until the scored line wraps completely around the brick.

Once you’ve scored all the way around, it’s time to make the cut. Place the chisel directly in the groove on the top of the brick, with the beveled side facing the part of the brick you’re getting rid of.

Then, using a hammer, strike the chisel firmly and confidently in one clean motion. If the score line is deep enough and the brick is stable, it should split cleanly along the line. If it doesn’t break on the first try, reposition the chisel and give it another solid hit.

After the brick splits, you’ll probably notice some jagged or uneven spots along the cut. You can use a brick rasp, coarse file, or a piece of heavy-duty sandpaper to smooth the edges. You don’t need to get it perfectly polished; just remove any sharp bits or loose fragments so the brick is safe to handle and fits more cleanly into wherever you’re putting it.

If you’re working on a visible surface like a garden border or patio edge, smoothing the cut will give the finished project a cleaner, more professional look.