Home Improvement
Brick Calculator
Enter wall size and brick face size to see how many bricks to order with a waste allowance.
How many bricks do I need?
Brick counts look simple until mortar joints, openings and wastage join the party. This calculator estimates how many bricks you need from wall area (or length × height) and the laid size of your chosen brick including joints — typically based on a standard UK metric brick module unless you override it. Deduct doors and windows rather than ordering for blank walls you will cut out later. Add a waste allowance for cuts, breakages and the inevitable cracked face brick. Mortar, wall ties, DPC and insulation are separate lines. Related masonry volume: concrete calculator for pads and footings. Facing brick and common brick quantities should not be mixed if only one face is fair-faced. Estimate only — not structural design or Building Regulations approval. Confirm the brick’s actual work size with the merchant; ‘standard’ modules still vary by product. Order from one batch where colour match matters, and keep a labelled pack for later repairs.
Worked example
A wall 8 m long and 2.4 m high is 19.2 m². Deduct a 2.1 × 1.2 m window (2.52 m²) → 16.68 m². At roughly 60 metric bricks per m² you need about 1,001 bricks before waste. With 5% waste, order around 1,051 — typically rounded to full packs.
Limits and assumptions
Assumes a single leaf and uniform bonding. Arches, soldier courses and curved walls need extra. Does not size foundations or specify mortar mix.
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks per square metre?
Around 60 is a common UK metric modular guide including joints; confirm for your brick size.
Should I deduct openings?
Yes — deduct door and window areas, then add waste for cutting around them.
What waste percentage is sensible?
Often 5% for simple runs; more for complex cuts, matches or soft handmade bricks.
Does this include mortar?
No — estimate mortar separately from joint sizes and wall area.
Can I use imperial brick sizes?
Enter the laid length and height you actually use so the per-m² count matches the product.