Brick Calculator
By Santaji GadepatilinUpdated October 27, 2026
The number of bricks in a wall depends on its area, the brick size and the mortar joint thickness. Ordering the right quantity, plus a little for wastage, saves money and delays.
How to use the brick calculator
Enter the wall’s length, height and the total area of openings. Brick size and joint default to the UK standard (215 × 65 mm, 10 mm joint) — change them for your bricks.
Brick formula
Bricks per m² = 1 ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint))
Example
A 10 m × 2 m wall with 2 m² of openings:
- Net area = 18 m²
- Bricks per m² = 1 ÷ (0.225 × 0.075) = 59.3
- With 5% waste: 1120 bricks
Bricks per square metre by size
| Brick size (mm) | Joint | Bricks per m² (half-brick wall) |
|---|---|---|
| 215 × 65 | 10 mm | 59.3 |
| 230 × 75 | 10 mm | 49.0 |
| 190 × 90 | 10 mm | 50.0 |
| 190 × 57 | 10 mm | 74.6 |
| 290 × 90 | 10 mm | 33.3 |
Wall thickness
| Wall type | Thickness | Bricks per m² (215 × 65) |
|---|---|---|
| Half-brick (stretcher bond) | about 102.5 mm | 59 |
| One-brick (230 mm, English bond) | about 215 mm | 118 |
A full-brick wall uses about twice as many bricks as a half-brick wall of the same face area.
Mortar needed
As a rough guide, a half-brick wall uses about 0.02–0.025 m³ of mortar per square metre. For 20 m² of wall, plan on about 0.4–0.5 m³ of mortar. See the mortar mix calculator for cement and sand.
Bricks per day
An experienced bricklayer typically lays 300–500 bricks a day on straightforward walls, fewer on detailed work. Use this to estimate labour time.
Ordering tips
- Order all bricks for a job from the same batch for consistent colour.
- Keep a few spare for future repairs.
- Check pallet sizes (often 400–500 bricks) and round up to whole pallets if that is cheaper.
Common brick sizes
| Region | Size (mm) |
|---|---|
| UK standard | 215 × 102.5 × 65 |
| India (modular) | 190 × 90 × 90 |
| US modular | 194 × 92 × 57 (7⅝ × 3⅝ × 2¼ in) |
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks are in a square metre?
About 60 standard UK bricks (215 × 65 mm with 10 mm joints) per m² of single-skin wall.
Is this for a single or double wall?
Single skin (half-brick thick). Double the result for a one-brick-thick wall.
How much waste should I allow?
5% is common; use 10% for complex walls with many cuts.
How many bricks are in 1 m² of wall?
About 60 standard 215 × 65 mm bricks for a half-brick wall with 10 mm joints.
How many bricks for a 10 m × 2 m wall?
About 1,190 bricks plus 5–10% waste for a half-brick wall, before subtracting doors and windows.