ToolForage.
CONSTRUCTION CALCULATOR

Brick Calculator

Estimate bricks for a straight wall using actual face dimensions and an explicit mortar joint, rather than a fixed bricks-per-area assumption.

Calculator

m
m
m²
mm
mm
mm
One layer means one brick-thick face estimate, not a structural wall specification.
%
YOUR RESULTS
Bricks to order560
Net wall face area
9 m²
Bricks per square metre per layer
59.259
Brick material cost
420.00

Understanding your result

The density figure describes one wall face layer. The order count includes your number of identical layers and waste allowance, rounded up to a whole brick.

For a separate concrete footing quantity, use the Concrete Calculator .

The formula

Bricks per m² = 1,000,000 ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)) in mm. Order = ceil(net wall m² × bricks per m² × layers × (1 + waste/100)).

Adding one joint to each face dimension creates a repeating module. Dividing wall area by that module estimates brick coverage. It is an area method, so boundaries, corners, and the exact bond layout can change the final takeoff.

Worked example

A 5 m by 2 m wall minus 1 m² of openings has 9 m² of net face. A 215 by 65 mm brick with 10 mm joints gives about 59.259 bricks per m². One layer with 5% waste requires 560 bricks; at 0.75 each they cost 420.

How to use this calculator

  1. Measure the wall face and total the openings to deduct.
  2. Enter actual brick length and height, plus the intended joint width.
  3. Set identical layers, waste, and unit price for a preliminary order.

Actual size and nominal size

A nominal dimension may already include the mortar joint. Enter the actual face dimensions here, otherwise adding a joint again reduces the estimated count incorrectly. Brick sizes vary by product and country. Read the manufacturer’s dimensions and verify whether quoted sizes describe the clay unit or the coordinating module.

Bond patterns and wall details

The area formula is suited to a repeating stretcher-face estimate. Header courses, decorative bonds, returns, piers, arches, cut units, and special shapes require a detailed takeoff. The layers field multiplies an identical face calculation; it does not design a cavity wall or establish structural thickness. Mortar quantities and wall ties are separate material decisions.

Assumptions & limitations

What this calculation assumes

  • Uniform brick faces and mortar joints form a repeating rectangular module.

What to keep in mind

  • Area-based estimate only; no exact course layout, structural sizing, or mortar volume.

Common questions

Does increasing joint width reduce the count?

Yes, because each repeating module covers more face area. Use the joint specified for the work rather than adjusting it to reduce an order.

Is the result a pallet count?

No. Divide the brick order by the supplier’s actual bricks per pallet and apply its purchasing rules.

Sources & further reading