Brick Calculator - Count, Mortar, Sand and Cement
Know the exact number of bricks, mortar, sand, cement and wall ties for any single-skin wall, cavity wall, pier, archway or feature wall. Includes waste adjustment, pack quantities, mortar mix ratios and full cost - all from real masonry formulas.
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Total Bricks Needed
Material Breakdown
| Material | Quantity | Notes |
|---|
Ordering Options
| How to buy | Quantity |
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Using Brick Calculator for Walls, Piers, Arches and Cavity Walls
Choose your wall type, enter the dimensions, select brick size and mortar mix, and the calculator returns every material you need to order.
Brick Sizes and Bricks per Square Metre
Every brick standard has a different bricks-per-m² count. These are the standard values the calculator uses.
| Standard | Size (L × W × H) | Bricks per m² (single skin) | Bricks per m³ | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK / EU | 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm | 60 | 500 | UK, Europe, Commonwealth |
| US Modular | 194 × 92 × 57 mm | 55 | 465 | United States |
| US Standard | 203 × 92 × 57 mm | 52 | 440 | United States |
| Australia | 230 × 110 × 76 mm | 48.5 | 420 | Australia, NZ |
| India | 190 × 90 × 90 mm | 58 | 500 | India, South Asia |
| Concrete block | 440 × 215 × 100 mm | 12.5 | 60 | Worldwide |
Mortar Mix Ratios for Different Applications
Mortar strength must match the brick - too strong and the bricks crack, too weak and the wall fails. Use the correct ratio for each application.
| Application | Mix ratio (C:S:L) | Strength | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below DPC (damp proof course) | 1 : 3 | Strong | Water resistant, dense |
| Load-bearing walls | 1 : 4 | Strong | Standard structural |
| External walls above DPC | 1 : 5 | Medium | Weather exposed |
| Internal walls | 1 : 5 to 1 : 6 | Medium | Protected from weather |
| Non-load-bearing walls | 1 : 6 | Light | Partitions |
| Heritage / soft brick | 1 : 2 : 9 | Soft lime | Breathable, flexible |
| High exposure (marine) | 1 : 3 | Strong | With waterproofer |
Wall Types and Their Brick Counts
Different wall constructions use different numbers of bricks per square metre. This table shows typical figures.
| Wall type | Thickness | Bricks per m² | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-brick (single skin) | 102.5 mm | 60 | Garden walls, sheds |
| One-brick (solid) | 215 mm | 120 | Old external walls |
| One-and-a-half brick | 327 mm | 180 | Heavy-duty retaining |
| Cavity wall (two leaves) | 270 mm (with 100 mm cavity) | 120 | Modern external walls |
| Brick pier (1 brick) | 215 × 215 mm | ~44 per m height | Gate posts |
| Brick pier (1.5 brick) | 327 × 327 mm | ~90 per m height | Structural pier |
| Brick pier (2 brick) | 440 × 440 mm | ~150 per m height | Heavy pier |
How the Brick Calculator Works
Every result uses standard masonry estimation methods. Here is the exact process.
- Net wall area is calculated from length × height minus openings.
- Bricks per m² is calculated from your brick size plus mortar joint. For UK bricks with 10 mm joints, that is 60 per m².
- Total bricks = net area × bricks per m² × number of leaves (1 for single skin, 2 for cavity).
- Mortar volume is calculated from the wall volume minus the volume of the bricks themselves.
- Cement and sand are derived from the mortar volume using your chosen mix ratio and the standard 1.33 dry-volume factor for mortar.
- Wall ties (for cavity walls) are counted at the industry standard of 2.5 per m².
- Wastage is added on top so you always have spare material on site.
Brick and Mortar Formulas
These are the exact formulas used by the calculator. Bookmark this section if you want to verify the numbers yourself.
- Net wall area = (length × height) - openings
- Bricks per m² = 1 / ((brick L + joint) × (brick H + joint))
- Brick volume per m² = bricks per m² × (brick L × brick W × brick H)
- Mortar per m² = 1 m² × wall thickness - brick volume per m²
- Cement volume = (cement part / total parts) × mortar volume × 1.33
- Sand volume = (sand part / total parts) × mortar volume × 1.33
- Cement bags = cement weight / bag size
- Wall ties = wall area × 2.5 (cavity walls only)
Worked example: A 10 m × 2.4 m single-skin wall with UK bricks (215 × 102.5 × 65 mm) and 10 mm joints. Net area = 24 m². Bricks per m² = 1 / ((0.215 + 0.010) × (0.065 + 0.010)) = 1 / (0.225 × 0.075) = 59.3 per m². Total bricks = 24 × 59.3 = 1,423 bricks. With 5% wastage = 1,495 bricks. Wall volume = 24 × 0.1025 = 2.46 m³. Brick volume = 1,423 × (0.215 × 0.1025 × 0.065) = 2.04 m³. Mortar = 0.42 m³. Dry mortar with 1.33 factor = 0.56 m³. For 1:5 mix, cement = 0.56 × (1/6) = 0.093 m³ = 134 kg = 2.7 bags of 50 kg. Sand = 0.56 × (5/6) = 0.467 m³.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brick Calculation
How many bricks do I need per square metre?
It depends on brick size. For standard UK bricks (215 × 102.5 × 65 mm) with 10 mm joints, you need about 60 bricks per m² for a single-skin wall. For US modular bricks, it is about 55 per m². For concrete blocks, just 12.5 per m². The calculator outputs the exact figure for your chosen size.
How many bricks in 1 m³ of wall?
Again it depends on brick size, but the standard figures are: 500 bricks per m³ for UK bricks, 465 per m³ for US modular, 420 per m³ for Australian, and just 60 per m³ for concrete blocks. This is the figure used to estimate mortar volume.
How much mortar do I need for 1,000 bricks?
For UK bricks laid with 10 mm joints, 1,000 bricks need about 0.3 m³ of mortar (dry volume). That is 0.06 m³ cement + 0.24 m³ sand for a 1:5 mix, or roughly 1.9 bags of 50 kg cement and 400 kg of sand. The exact amount scales with your brick size and joint width.
What is the best mortar mix for bricks?
For most brick walls, use 1 : 4 to 1 : 5 (cement : sand). Use 1 : 3 for below damp-proof-course and marine exposure. Use 1 : 6 for internal non-load-bearing partitions. For heritage or soft clay bricks, use a lime mortar (1 : 2 : 9 cement : lime : sand) so the joint is weaker than the brick and flexes instead of cracking it.
How many bricks in a pallet or pack?
Standard UK brick pallets hold 400 - 500 bricks. Small packs of 100 or 300 are also common for small jobs. Concrete blocks come in packs of 60 - 72. Always check the supplier's packaging - the calculator gives you total bricks and you can divide by pack size.
How many bricks per m² for a cavity wall?
A cavity wall has two leaves of brick with a gap between them. Each leaf is a single-skin wall, so it uses the same number of bricks per m² as a single skin - 60 per m² for UK bricks. Two leaves means 120 bricks per m² of wall. Add wall ties every 2.5 m² to tie the leaves together.
How many bricks in a brick pier?
A standard 1.5-brick pier (327 × 327 mm) uses about 90 bricks per metre of height. A 1-brick pier (215 × 215 mm) uses about 44 per metre. A 2-brick pier (440 × 440 mm) uses about 150 per metre. Piers are usually filled with mortar in the core, so the cement content is higher than a standard wall.
What is the standard brick size in the UK?
The standard UK brick is 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm. With a 10 mm mortar joint, the nominal (modular) dimensions become 225 × 112.5 × 75 mm. This is what makes the maths easy - 60 bricks per m² for a single skin. Some UK bricks are imperial (215 × 102.5 × 73 mm), which changes the count slightly.
How many bricks in a 1 m tall wall?
For a single-skin wall with standard UK bricks (65 mm + 10 mm joint = 75 mm course height), 13.3 courses per metre. A 1 m × 1 m wall would use about 60 bricks (5 bricks per course × 13 courses, rounded). Real walls have half-bricks and cut bricks at the ends, so add 5% wastage.
Do I add waste to brick calculations?
Yes. Add 5% for standard walls with few openings, or 7.5 - 10% for complex walls with many corners, reveals, or cut bricks. Wastage comes from breakage during transport, cuts that don't fit, and half-bricks needed at openings. The calculator defaults to 5% but you can adjust it.
What is the difference between a single-skin and cavity wall?
A single-skin wall is one leaf of bricks (102.5 mm thick). It is quick and cheap but not weather-tight. A cavity wall has two leaves separated by a 50 - 150 mm gap, with the gap often filled with insulation. Cavity walls resist weather and provide thermal insulation but use twice as many bricks and need wall ties.
How many wall ties do I need?
The industry standard is 2.5 wall ties per square metre of wall. That means 600 mm horizontal spacing and 450 mm vertical spacing. For a 100 m² cavity wall, you need 250 ties. Ties must be stainless steel or plastic-coated for corrosion resistance. The calculator outputs the count automatically for cavity walls.
How many bricks in a cube?
A 1 m × 1 m × 1 m cube of bricks would contain about 500 bricks if using UK standard bricks with mortar joints. This is the "bricks per cubic metre" figure that underlies all masonry estimation. For different brick sizes, divide 1 m³ by the volume of one brick including joint.
How long does it take to lay 1,000 bricks?
A skilled bricklayer lays 500 - 800 bricks per day for a standard wall, or 300 - 500 for detailed work with many openings. So 1,000 bricks takes about 1.5 - 2 days for a professional. DIY work is much slower - expect 100 - 200 per day if you're learning.
References & Standards
- BS EN 771-1 - Specification for masonry units: Clay masonry units
- BS EN 771-3 - Specification for masonry units: Aggregate concrete masonry units
- BS 5628 - Code of practice for use of masonry
- BS 8000-3 - Workmanship on building sites: Masonry
- ASTM C216 - Standard Specification for Facing Brick
- ASTM C652 - Standard Specification for Hollow Brick
- AS 3700 - Masonry structures (Australia)
- IS 1077 - Common burnt clay building bricks (India)
- NIS 550 - Nigerian Industrial Standard Building Code