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Bricks / m² · ft²Wastage allowanceFree

Brick
Calculator

Work out how many bricks you need from the wall area, the brick face size, and the mortar joint. The joint is added to each brick dimension so the count reflects the laid coursing, plus a wastage allowance for cuts and breakage.

Who it's for: builders, estimators, and DIY renovators who need a fast brick count and bricks-per-area figure before ordering pallets at the pre-construction takeoff stage for a wall, extension, or garden project.

Bricks per unit area
Bricks per m² = 1 / [(brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)]. Total = wall area × bricks/area × (1 + wastage%). UK standard brick 215 × 65 mm with a 10 mm joint ≈ 60 bricks/m² (single skin).
Bricks
Count + wastage

How to use this calculator

1
Set the units
Pick metric (m² area, mm brick) or imperial (ft² area, in brick). Metric returns bricks per m²; imperial returns bricks per ft².
2
Enter the wall area
Type the net wall area to be bricked. Subtract large openings such as doors and windows first so the count is not inflated.
3
Enter the brick face size
Give the brick face length and height. A UK standard brick is 215 × 65 mm; a US modular brick face is about 8 × 2.25 in.
4
Set the mortar joint
Enter the joint thickness, commonly 10 mm or 0.375 in. The joint is added to each brick dimension so the count matches the laid coursing.
5
Add wastage and read the count
Set a wastage percent for cuts and breakage (5% is typical). The panel returns bricks per area, net bricks, and the total with wastage.

The formula

Each brick plus its mortar joint occupies a fixed rectangle of wall face; dividing one unit area by that rectangle gives the laying density, and the wastage factor pads the order for cuts and breakage.

Bricks per m² = 1,000,000 ÷ [(length + joint) × (height + joint)]
Total order = area × density × (1 + wastage ÷ 100), rounded up

length — brick face length in mm
height — brick face height in mm
joint — mortar joint thickness in mm (1,000,000 converts mm² to m²)
wastage — allowance for cuts and breakage as a percentage
For imperial inputs, replace 1,000,000 with 144 (in² per ft²) and enter all dimensions in inches.

Worked example

Example
A 25 m² single-skin wall built from 215 × 65 mm bricks with a 10 mm joint gives 1 / [(0.225) × (0.075)] = 59.3 bricks/m². Net count is 25 × 59.3 = 1,482 bricks, and a 5% wastage allowance raises the order to 1,556 bricks.

When this estimate will be off

  • Counts a single-skin (half-brick) stretcher bond wall — double the total for a full-brick (one-brick) or cavity wall.
  • Net wall area must be entered after subtracting doors, windows, and other openings; the calculator cannot detect them.
  • Assumes uniform flat coursing; decorative bonds such as Flemish or English cross expose header faces and change the count per area.
  • Order quantities depend on pallet sizes; your supplier will round up to the nearest pallet, so the final purchase may be slightly higher than the calculated number.

Frequently asked questions

A common mistake: Counts a single-skin (half-brick) stretcher bond wall — double the total for a full-brick (one-brick) or cavity wall.

A standard UK brick of 215 × 65 mm laid with a 10 mm mortar joint covers 0.225 × 0.075 m of face, so one square metre holds 1 / (0.225 × 0.075) = 59.3 bricks for a single skin. In imperial, an 8 × 2.25 in brick with a 0.375 in joint gives about 6.5 bricks per square foot.

Wastage covers cuts, breakage, and rejected bricks. The tool multiplies the net count by (1 + wastage / 100), so a 5% allowance turns 1,482 net bricks into 1,556. Bricklayers commonly add 5% for plain walls and up to 10% for cut-heavy work with many openings, angles, or arches.

A single-leaf (half-brick) wall is one brick wide and uses the count this tool returns. A double-leaf (one-brick) or cavity wall stacks two skins, so double the figure. Confirm the wall bond before ordering, since header courses in the bond change the visible face count.

Mortar fills the joints between bricks. A single-skin wall of 215 × 65 mm brick with 10 mm joints needs roughly 0.02 to 0.03 m³ of mortar per square metre, or about 1 m³ per 1,000 bricks plus waste. A common mix is 1:4 to 1:6 cement to sand. This tool counts bricks only, not mortar volume.

Sources

  • BS EN 771-1:2011 — Clay masonry units — requirements and specifications; UK standard format face is 215 × 65 mm, giving approximately 60 bricks/m² in stretcher bond with a 10 mm joint.
  • ASTM C216 — Standard Specification for Facing Brick (Solid Masonry Units Made from Clay or Shale); US standard modular brick nominal face is 8 × 2-2/3 in (actual 7-5/8 × 2-1/4 in).

This free Brick Calculator is built and maintained by DataDrivenAEC, using the relevant codes and standards. It does not substitute for professional judgment.