Brick Calculator - Bricks, Mortar & Cost

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Brick Size Preset

Brick Length

Brick Width

Brick Height

Mortar Joint Thickness

Wall Thickness

Wall Type

Wall Length

Wall Height

No. of Doors (deduct 2×1m each)

No. of Windows (deduct 1.2×1m each)

Brick Cost (per 1000)

Wastage

Mortar Bag Cost (50 kg)

Mortar Mix Ratio

Bricks Needed

🏗️ Multiple Walls Calculator

Add each wall section - combined bricks and mortar calculated.

Wall

L (m)

H (m)

Bricks per m² (50mm joint)

Cost per 1000 bricks

🪣 Mortar Calculator

Calculate cement and sand quantities for any mortar mix.

Wall Volume (m³)

Mortar Ratio

Mortar Mix Reference

Brick Calculation Formulas

Bricks per m²

Bricks per m² = 1 / ((Brick L + Joint) × (Brick H + Joint)) With Indian brick (230×75mm) and 10mm joint: = 1 / ((0.230 + 0.010) × (0.075 + 0.010)) = 1 / (0.240 × 0.085) = 1 / 0.0204 = 49 bricks/m² (half brick wall) For single brick wall (230mm thick): Double the bricks per m²: ~98 bricks/m² Common values (Indian Standard brick, 10mm joint): Half brick (110mm): ~49 bricks/m² Single brick (230mm): ~98 bricks/m² Double brick (350mm): ~147 bricks/m²

Mortar Volume Calculation

Mortar Volume = Wall Volume × 0.25 to 0.35 (mortar fills joints and voids between bricks) Dry volume of mortar = Wet volume × 1.30 For 1:6 mix (per m³ dry mortar): Cement = (1/7) × 1.30 = 0.186 m³ = 6 bags (50kg) Sand = (6/7) × 1.30 = 1.11 m³ For wall area (per m², single brick, 10mm joint): Mortar ≈ 0.033 m³ ~0.2 bags cement (1:6) ≈ 0.042 m³ ~0.3 bags cement (1:4)

Standard Brick Sizes

Indian Standard (IS 1077): 190 × 90 × 90 mm (nominal with joint) 230 × 110 × 75 mm (actual size, most common) ~49 bricks/m² at 10mm joint (half-brick wall) Modular (IS size): 190 × 90 × 90 mm ~53 bricks/m² at 10mm joint Jumbo / Wire-cut: 300 × 150 × 100 mm ~33 bricks/m² Fly ash brick (common in India): 230 × 110 × 75 mm (same as standard) Lighter weight, better insulation

Frequently Asked Questions

For Indian standard bricks (230×75mm) with 10mm mortar joints: a half-brick wall (110mm thick) needs approximately 49 bricks per m². A single-brick wall (230mm thick) needs approximately 98 bricks per m². A double-brick wall (350mm thick) needs approximately 147 bricks per m². For modular bricks (190×90mm), the count is approximately 53 bricks per m² for a half-brick wall. Always add at least 10% wastage for standard walls, or 15% for complex shapes or expensive facing bricks where matching a second batch may be difficult.

Step 1: Calculate the gross wall area (length × height). Step 2: Subtract the area of any doors (typically 2m × 1m = 2m² each) and windows (typically 1.2m × 1m = 1.2m² each). Step 3: Multiply the net area by the bricks per m² for your chosen brick size and wall thickness. Step 4: Add your wastage percentage (typically 10%). Example: 5m × 3m wall, 1 door, 2 windows: Net area = 15 − 2 − 2.4 = 10.6m². At 98 bricks/m² (single-brick wall): 10.6 × 98 × 1.10 = 1,141 bricks.

For 1:6 mortar (standard for internal walls), per m² of single-brick wall: approximately 0.20 bags of cement (50kg) and 0.30 m³ of sand. For 1:4 mortar (external walls): approximately 0.28 bags cement and 0.28 m³ sand. For 1:3 mortar (exposed/wet areas): approximately 0.38 bags cement and 0.24 m³ sand. Mortar fills about 25–30% of the wall volume. Dry volume = wet volume × 1.30 (to account for compaction during mixing).

1:3 cement:sand - Use for walls below the damp-proof course, water features, exposed brickwork in severe weather, and any brickwork in constant contact with moisture. 1:4 cement:sand - Standard mix for most structural brickwork, external walls, retaining walls, and garden walls. 1:6 cement:sand - Suitable for internal non-load-bearing partition walls and interior work not exposed to moisture. An important rule: always use mortar that is weaker than the bricks themselves. If mortar is stronger than the brick, cracks form through bricks (hard to repair). If mortar is weaker, cracks form in joints (easy to repoint).

The most commonly used brick in India is 230×110×75mm (actual dimensions). With a 10mm mortar joint this gives a nominal module of 240×120×85mm. IS 1077 specifies modular bricks of 190×90×90mm nominal size. Fly ash bricks are manufactured to the same 230×110×75mm dimensions but are made from fly ash (industrial waste), cement and sand - they are lighter, often stronger, and more eco-friendly than traditional red clay bricks. AAC blocks (Aerocon) are much larger (600×200×100mm) and use an entirely different calculation method.

A half-brick wall is 110mm thick - bricks are laid with their length running along the wall face, showing the stretcher face. It uses approximately 49 bricks/m² and is suitable for garden walls, boundary walls, and non-structural partitions. Maximum freestanding height is limited. A single-brick wall is 230mm thick - bricks run through the full thickness, showing either the face or end. It uses approximately 98 bricks/m² and is standard for load-bearing walls in single-storey residential construction. A double-brick wall (350mm) has ~147 bricks/m² and is used for heavily loaded or thermally massive walls.

Material costs for single-brick wall (per m²): Red clay bricks (~98) at ₹7 each = ₹686. Cement: ~0.3 bags at ₹380 = ₹114. Sand: ~0.3 m³ at ₹800/m³ = ₹240. Total materials: approximately ₹1,040–₹1,100/m². Labour: ₹200–₹350/m² for standard brickwork. Total: approximately ₹1,250–₹1,450/m² for basic walls. Prices vary by city, season, and quality of brick. Fly ash bricks are similar in cost to clay bricks. AAC/Aerocon blocks cost more per unit but are faster to lay (less labour) and require less mortar.

Fly ash bricks are manufactured from fly ash (the residue from coal-fired thermal power plants), cement and quarry dust or sand. Compared to traditional red clay bricks: Fly ash bricks are more dimensionally uniform (±1–2mm vs ±5mm for hand-made clay bricks), which reduces mortar consumption and plastering costs. They are approximately 30% lighter, reducing structural dead load and making them easier to handle. Compressive strength is typically higher (75–100 kg/cm² vs 35–75 kg/cm² for clay bricks). They offer better thermal insulation, reducing cooling costs. Environmental benefit: uses industrial waste and avoids topsoil excavation. Slightly higher unit cost in some regions but overall project cost is often lower due to less mortar and plaster needed.

Brick Calculator - How Many Bricks Do You Need for a Wall?

Ordering bricks for a construction project without calculating properly is one of the most common and costly mistakes on site. Too few and you face delays while you wait for a second delivery - often at a higher price per brick and with a different batch shade that may not match. Too many and you've paid for materials that sit unused. A good estimate accounts for wall dimensions, brick size, mortar joint thickness, wall thickness, openings for doors and windows, and wastage from cuts - all of which this calculator handles automatically.

Quick estimate: A standard 5m × 3m wall with one door and two windows (net area approximately 10.6 m²), built as a single-brick wall using Indian standard bricks with 10mm mortar joints, needs approximately 1,140 bricks, 4 bags of cement (50kg), and 0.7 m³ of sand. Total material cost at current rates: approximately ₹10,000–12,000.

Bricks Per Square Metre - The Key Number to Know

The number of bricks per square metre (bricks/m²) depends on the brick size, the mortar joint thickness, and the wall thickness. For Indian standard bricks (230×110×75mm) with a standard 10mm mortar joint:

Half-brick wall (110mm thick) - approximately 49 bricks per m²
Single-brick wall (230mm thick) - approximately 98 bricks per m²
Double-brick wall (350mm thick) - approximately 147 bricks per m²

For modular bricks (190×90×90mm IS specification), the per-m² count changes to approximately 53 bricks per m² (half-brick wall). The calculator automatically adjusts for whichever brick size you select.

Calculating Mortar - Cement and Sand Quantities

Mortar fills the joints between bricks and typically accounts for 25–30% of the total wall volume. The calculation involves a dry volume factor of 1.30, which accounts for the fact that dry ingredients compact when water is added. The mortar mix ratio determines how much cement versus sand you need.

Which Mortar Mix to Use?

1:3 (strong) - Below DPC, water features, exposed walls in severe weather
1:4 (general) - External walls, retaining walls, most structural brickwork
1:6 (lean) - Internal partition walls, non-load-bearing work
Always use weaker mortar than the brick - if mortar is stronger, cracks pass through bricks rather than joints (harder to repair)

Mortar Quantities per m² (Single-Brick Wall)

1:3 mix - ~0.38 bags cement, ~0.24 m³ sand
1:4 mix - ~0.28 bags cement, ~0.28 m³ sand
1:6 mix - ~0.20 bags cement, ~0.30 m³ sand
Cement bags are 50kg each
Sand measurement in cubic metres (loose, not compacted)

Standard Brick Sizes in India - Which One to Choose

India uses several brick types and sizes, and the choice significantly affects how many bricks you need per square metre and the overall structural performance of the wall:

Indian Standard / Red Clay Brick (230×110×75mm) - The most widely used brick across India. Handmade or wire-cut. Good compressive strength, widely available, well-understood by masons. IS 2212 governs bricklaying practice.
Modular Brick (190×90×90mm) - IS 1077 specification. Slightly smaller and more uniform, designed for a 10mm joint to give 200×100×100mm nominal module. Used more in newer construction.
Fly Ash Brick (same size as standard) - Made from fly ash (power plant waste), cement, and sand. Lighter, stronger, better thermal insulation, more eco-friendly (saves topsoil). Increasingly preferred for sustainable construction.
AAC Blocks / Aerocon (600×200×100mm) - Autoclaved Aerated Concrete. Much larger than bricks - covers more area per unit, extremely lightweight, excellent thermal insulation. Requires different calculation (around 8–10 blocks per m² for 200mm wall).

How to Account for Wastage - Getting the Right Buffer

No construction project uses exactly the calculated number of bricks. Cutting around openings, corners, and edges always generates waste. The typical wastage allowances are:

5% wastage - Long straight walls with no complex cuts, experienced masons, pre-sorted uniform bricks
10% wastage - Standard brickwork, most residential construction, general recommendation for most projects
15% wastage - Curved walls, complex designs, irregular openings, hand-made bricks with higher dimensional variation

For projects with multiple corners, arches, or decorative brickwork, 15% is safer. If you're using facing bricks that are expensive or hard to source in a second batch, add an extra 2–3% over your estimate to account for matching batch variations.

Wall Thickness - Structural vs Partition Walls

Wall thickness has a major impact on material quantities. A double-brick wall uses three times as many bricks as a half-brick wall for the same surface area. Choosing the right thickness depends on the structural requirement:

Half-brick wall (110mm) - Garden walls, boundary walls, non-structural partitions. Maximum safe height without piers: approximately 525mm. With piers: up to 1.8m.
Single-brick wall (230mm) - Standard for load-bearing walls in single-storey buildings, external boundary walls, retaining walls up to 1m. Most common choice for residential construction.
Double-brick wall (350mm) - Heavy load-bearing walls, walls requiring significant thermal mass or sound insulation, external walls in multi-storey construction.

How this calculator works, and where the numbers come from

The Brick Calculator applies the standard formula for this calculation to the values you enter and updates the result as you type. The calculation itself happens in your browser, and the page explains the method so you can check any result by hand.

Please note: Results are estimates. Add allowance for waste and check product labels and local building codes before you buy or build.

Sources and further reading

Learn more

Read our guide: How Much Paint, Flooring and Concrete Do You Actually Need?

Last reviewed: October 6, 2026 by the CalcQube Editorial Team. See our editorial policy for how we build and check calculators, or report an error.

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