Doors & windows deducted automatically
Brick CalculatorBricks, Cement & Sand for Any Wall
Plan your wall before you order a single brick. Enter the wall size, choose the brick and thickness, and this brick calculator works out how many bricks you need, along with cement bags, sand and the total material cost. It also estimates plaster and AAC blocks, and draws your wall to scale with doors and windows removed.
- 4 brick sizes + custom
- 3 wall thicknesses
- 3 tools in one
- ft or m inputs
1Wall size
For a room, add the lengths of all walls together.
2Brick & mortar
Prices & cement bag
Sample prices shown. Replace them with your local rates.
Your wall
Drawn to scale with openings removed. Bricks are shown larger on long walls so the pattern stays visible.
Uses the cement bag size and prices from the Brick wall tab.
Blocks are 600 mm long. AAC is usually sold by the cubic meter.
How the brick calculator works
The calculator follows the standard estimating method used by site engineers. First, it finds the net wall area after removing doors and windows. Next, it counts bricks using the brick face size plus one mortar joint. Finally, it converts the leftover mortar into dry cement and sand.
Net wall area
area = length × height − openingsBricks per m²
leaves ÷ ((L + joint) × (H + joint))Total bricks
area × bricks per m² × (1 + wastage)Wet mortar
wall volume − volume of bricksDry mortar
wet mortar × 1.33Cement bags (1:6)
dry ÷ 7 ÷ 0.0347 m³ per 50 kg bagThe 1.33 factor accounts for voids in dry sand and cement, which shrink once water is added. A 50 kg bag holds about 0.0347 m³ (1.23 cft) of cement.
How many bricks per square foot and square meter?
These figures assume a 10 mm mortar joint and no wastage. Multiply by two for a one-brick (9 inch) wall and by three for a one-and-a-half brick wall.
| Brick size | Half brick / m² | Half brick / sq ft | Bricks / m³ | Bricks / cft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India standard 230 × 110 × 75 mm | 49 | 4.6 | ~408 | ~11.6 |
| Modular 190 × 90 × 90 mm | 50 | 4.6 | 500 | ~14.2 |
| UK 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm | ~59 | 5.5 | ~527 | ~15 |
| US modular 7-5/8 × 3-5/8 × 2-1/4 in | ~73 | 6.8 | ~716 | ~20.3 |
Mortar and plaster mix guide
| Work | Common ratio | Typical thickness |
|---|---|---|
| One-brick (9 in) walls | 1:6 | 10 mm joints |
| Half-brick (4.5 in) partition walls | 1:4 | 10 mm joints |
| Internal wall plaster | 1:6 | 12 mm |
| External wall plaster | 1:4 | 15 to 20 mm |
| Ceiling plaster | 1:3 or 1:4 | 6 mm |
Always follow your structural engineer or local building code where they differ from these common practices.
A complete brickwork estimator
Many brick calculators count bricks but skip the mortar, or estimate mortar as a flat percentage of the wall. This one calculates every material properly and keeps the method visible.
Openings deducted
Subtract any number of doors and windows so you never pay for bricks you cannot use.
Wall drawn to scale
See your wall with its brick pattern and openings, so mistakes in the measurements stand out.
Full material cost
Bricks, cement and sand priced in your currency, with sand by cft, cubic meter or tonne.
Plaster calculator
Send your wall area to the plaster tab with one click and get cement and sand for any thickness.
AAC block option
Compare the same wall in AAC blocks, with block count, volume and how many bricks they replace.
Works worldwide
Indian, modular, UK and US brick sizes, feet or meters, and 25 kg to 50 kg cement bags.
How to use the brick calculator
Measure the wall
Enter the length and height. For a room, add up the length of every wall.
Remove openings
Add the number and size of doors and windows. Set the count to zero if there are none.
Pick brick and mix
Choose the brick size, wall thickness, mortar ratio and joint size used on your site.
Order materials
Copy the material list, then plaster the same wall or compare it with AAC blocks.
Pouring a slab or footing as well? Use the concrete calculator for cement, sand and aggregate.
Benefits and practical tips
Order the right quantity
Avoid running short mid-wall or paying for a heap of leftover bricks.
Check contractor estimates
Compare a quote against real quantities before you agree to it.
Allow for breakage
Keep 5% wastage for good bricks and up to 10% for softer or hand-made bricks.
Soak clay bricks
Wet clay bricks before laying so they do not pull water out of the mortar.
Use mortar quickly
Mix only what you can use within about 30 minutes, and never re-temper set mortar.
Plan the finish
Once the wall is up, estimate paint with the paint calculator and floors with the tile calculator.
Brick calculator FAQs
How many bricks are needed for 1 square foot of wall?
A half-brick (4.5 inch) wall using standard Indian bricks of 230 by 110 by 75 mm with 10 mm joints needs about 4.6 bricks per square foot. A one-brick (9 inch) wall needs about 9.1 bricks per square foot, before wastage.
How many bricks are in 1 cubic meter of brickwork?
With 10 mm joints, 1 cubic meter of brickwork uses about 500 modular bricks of 190 by 90 by 90 mm, or about 408 standard Indian bricks of 230 by 110 by 75 mm.
How much cement is needed for 1,000 bricks?
For 1:6 mortar with 10 mm joints, 1,000 bricks need roughly 2.5 to 3 bags of 50 kg cement, depending on brick size. Larger bricks and thicker joints use more mortar.
What is the best cement-sand ratio for brickwork?
1:6 is the most common mix for one-brick (9 inch) walls. Half-brick (4.5 inch) partition walls usually use a richer 1:4 mix for extra strength. Follow your engineer's specification for load-bearing walls.
Why is wet mortar volume multiplied by 1.33?
Dry cement and sand contain air gaps. When water is added, the mix settles and loses roughly a quarter of its volume, so you need about 1.33 times the wet volume in dry materials.
How much sand is needed for brickwork?
In a 1:6 mix, sand is six sevenths of the dry mortar volume. The calculator shows it in cubic feet, cubic meters and approximate tonnes, so you can order in the unit your supplier uses.
How many AAC blocks replace bricks?
A 600 by 200 mm AAC block covers about the same face area as six modular bricks. A square meter of wall needs about 8 AAC blocks compared with roughly 50 bricks in a half-brick wall.
How much wastage should I add for bricks?
Add about 5% for good quality machine-made bricks. For hand-made bricks, long transport or many cuts around openings, 7 to 10% is safer.
Build with exact numbers
Accurate quantities save money, trips to the supplier and arguments on site. Use this brick calculator for every wall, then plaster it or compare AAC blocks before you place the order.