How to Calculate Bricks for a Wall
Calculating the number of bricks and the amount of mortar required is a fundamental step in any masonry project. Whether you're building a garden wall, a partition, or a load-bearing structure, accurate estimation saves money and prevents project delays. For broader financial planning of your project, visit our Finance Calculators.
Our Brick Calculator uses a volumetric approach. It calculates the total volume of the wall and subtracts the volume of the bricks (including the mortar joint) to determine the exact quantity of materials needed.
The Calculation Logic
We calculate materials in three steps:
- Wall Volume: Length × Height × Thickness.
- Brick Count: We calculate the volume of one brick with mortar (adding ~10mm to dimensions) and divide the total wall volume by this single unit volume.
- Mortar Volume: We calculate the total space occupied by actual bricks (without mortar) and subtract it from the wall volume. The remaining space is the wet mortar volume, which we multiply by 1.33 to get the dry volume for cement/sand mix.
Standard Size: The default calculation uses a standard brick size of 9" x 4" x 3". You can adjust this in the settings above.
Understanding Mortar Ratios
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The strength of your wall depends on the ratio of Cement to Sand.
- 1:3 (Rich): Used for heavy load-bearing walls or exposed masonry. High strength.
- 1:4 to 1:5: Standard mix for most residential walls. Good balance of strength and economy.
- 1:6 (Lean): Suitable for temporary structures or garden walls where high strength isn't critical.
For more details on masonry, check the Brickwork.