Work out how many bricks to buy. This free brick quantity calculator turns wall size and brick dimensions into a brick count, including the mortar joint, single or double skin, and waste.
Enter the wall size (or area) and brick dimensions. The mortar joint is added to each brick’s face — 10 mm is typical. Use double skin for a two-brick-thick wall.
Bricks needed = wall area ÷ (brick face + joint), times the number of skins, plus waste. A UK single-skin wall works out to about 60 bricks per square metre. Mortar is a rough allowance — about 0.02–0.03 m³ per m² of single-skin wall.
How the Brick Quantity Calculator Works
This tool turns a wall’s size and your brick’s dimensions into a brick count, factoring in the mortar joint thickness, whether the wall is single or double skin, and a waste allowance.
Formula: Brick face with joint = ((Brick Length + Joint) ÷ 1000) × ((Brick Height + Joint) ÷ 1000), in m². Bricks per m² = 1 ÷ Brick face with joint. Raw bricks = Wall area × Bricks per m² × Skin (1 or 2). Bricks needed = ROUND UP (Raw bricks × (1 + Waste% ÷ 100)).
- Wall Length & Height — used in “Wall size” mode to calculate area automatically
- Wall area — entered directly in “Wall area” mode if you already know the square footage/metreage
- Brick size — length × height of the brick face, chosen from UK/US/modular presets or a custom size
- Mortar joint — the joint thickness added to each brick’s face dimensions, in mm (10 mm is typical)
- Skin — single (one brick thick) or double (two bricks thick) wall construction
- Waste % — extra bricks for breakage and cutting (5% default)
Example Scenarios
| Wall Area | Brick Type | Skin | Waste % | Bricks Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 m² (10m × 2.4m) | UK 215×65mm | Single | 5% | 1,494 |
| 12.5 m² (5m × 2.5m) | UK 215×65mm | Single | 5% | 778 |
| 16 m² (8m × 2m) | UK 215×65mm | Double | 5% | 1,992 |
| 20 m² (direct entry) | UK 215×65mm | Single | 10% | 1,304 |
| 14.4 m² (6m × 2.4m) | US 194×57mm | Single | 5% | 1,107 |
Brick Quantity Calculator FAQ
How many bricks are there in a square metre of wall?
For a UK standard 215×65mm brick with a 10mm mortar joint, it works out to roughly 59-60 bricks per square metre of single-skin wall. The exact figure changes with brick size and joint thickness, which is why the calculator recomputes it from your inputs.What’s the difference between single and double skin walls?
Single skin is one brick thick, typical for internal or non-structural walls. Double skin is two bricks thick with a cavity or solid bond, common for load-bearing or exterior walls, and roughly doubles the brick count for the same wall area.How much does mortar joint thickness affect brick count?
A thicker joint slightly increases each brick’s effective footprint, which lowers the bricks-per-square-metre figure. Going from a 10mm to a 12-15mm joint (common with reclaimed or handmade bricks) can reduce the brick count by a small but real percentage.How much mortar do I need for my wall?
The calculator gives a rough mortar estimate of about 0.02-0.03 m³ per square metre of single-skin wall, scaled by your skin count. Treat it as a planning figure — actual mortar consumption varies with joint thickness and bricklayer technique.What brick size should I use if mine isn’t in the preset list?
Select “Custom…” from the brick size dropdown and enter your brick’s exact length and height in millimetres — the calculation works the same way regardless of preset or custom size.How much waste allowance should I use for bricklaying?
5% covers typical breakage and offcuts for a straightforward wall. Consider increasing it for walls with lots of openings, corners, or courses that require frequent cutting.Related Calculators
Building a garden or boundary wall instead of brickwork? Check the fence calculator for post and panel counts, or the concrete block calculator if you’re working with blockwork rather than standard bricks. For mortar’s sand component, the gravel calculator can help plan a separate aggregate delivery.