Estimate brick quantity and wall cost before buying materials. Enter wall dimensions or known area, subtract doors and windows, set brick face size and mortar joints, add waste, then estimate bricks, mortar bags, brick cost, labour and a combined planning total.
All numeric fields are blank. The faded zero is only a placeholder, so typing 250 gives 250 — not 0250.
Enter the actual brick face dimensions, mortar joint sizes, mortar coverage and current prices for the products or quote you plan to use.
Your result will appear after you press Calculate Brickwork.
The calculator finds net wall area after openings, then divides it by the face area of one brick module including horizontal and vertical mortar joints.
See wall area, brick quantity, mortar and cost as separate planning values.
Subtract major openings before calculating bricks.
Estimate whole bricks from face size and mortar joints.
Add a percentage for cuts, breakage and site variation.
Use your entered mortar coverage for bag planning.
Use your current brick and mortar prices.
Add an optional labour rate per square metre.
A Brickwork Calculator estimates how many bricks are needed to cover a wall and can convert that quantity into a basic material and labour budget. The calculation starts with wall area, but brick dimensions, mortar joints, openings and waste allowance all influence the final quantity.
Gross Wall Area (m²) = Wall Length (m) × Wall Height (m)A wall 10 m long and 2.4 m high has a gross wall area of 24 m². If several identical walls are being built, multiply that area by the wall quantity.
Large doors and windows reduce the area that needs brickwork. Add the area of the openings and subtract it from gross wall area. A 24 m² wall with 4 m² of openings has a net wall area of 20 m².
Net Wall Area = Gross Wall Area − Openings AreaBrick quantity depends on the visible face length and height plus the mortar joints. Enter the actual brick face dimensions from the product you plan to use rather than relying on a generic brick size.
The horizontal bed joint increases the effective module height, while the vertical perpend joint increases the effective module length. The calculator lets you enter both values separately so the brick module can reflect the intended work more closely.
| Brick Face Example | Vertical Joint | Horizontal Joint | Approx. Module |
|---|---|---|---|
| 230 × 76 mm | 10 mm | 10 mm | 240 × 86 mm |
| 215 × 65 mm | 10 mm | 10 mm | 225 × 75 mm |
| 190 × 90 mm | 10 mm | 10 mm | 200 × 100 mm |
Waste can cover cuts, breakage, handling damage and small quantity variation. The right percentage depends on wall layout, brick type and the number of cuts or special details.
| Base Brick Count | 5% Waste | 10% Waste | 15% Waste |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 525 | 550 | 575 |
| 1,000 | 1,050 | 1,100 | 1,150 |
| 2,000 | 2,100 | 2,200 | 2,300 |
| 5,000 | 5,250 | 5,500 | 5,750 |
Brick Cost = Whole Bricks After Waste × Price Per BrickUse the current price for the exact brick product. Face brick, common brick, handmade brick and specialty products can have very different prices.
Mortar usage depends on brick size, joint size, wall thickness, workmanship and the product or site mix used. Enter the coverage in square metres per bag from the product data or your own project planning information.
Mortar Bags = Net Wall Area ÷ Coverage Per BagIf you have a labour rate per square metre, enter it in the calculator. The result is a simple labour planning figure. Scaffolding, lintels, ties, cavity work, cleaning, delivery and other items may be separate.
Imagine a wall 10 m long and 2.4 m high with 4 m² of door and window openings. Gross area is 24 m² and net area is 20 m². If your brick and mortar module covers about 0.02064 m², dividing 20 by 0.02064 gives about 969 bricks before waste. Add 10% and the planning quantity becomes about 1,066 bricks.
The light zero inside the calculator is only a placeholder. The real field is empty, so entering 230 produces 230 rather than 0230. Reset clears the fields and shows the faded zero again.
Brickwork quantities can vary significantly depending on brick size, bond pattern, wall height, openings and special details. The calculator provides a practical planning estimate, but a detailed material takeoff should also consider corners, piers, lintels, special bricks and any cavity or structural requirements.
A straight wall is the simplest estimate. Measure length and height, subtract major openings, then calculate bricks from the module area. Recheck long walls carefully because a small measurement difference can translate into dozens of bricks.
Garages and extensions often contain several wall lengths plus door and window openings. Calculate each wall separately where dimensions differ. This makes the final takeoff easier to check and helps prevent one large opening from being deducted from the wrong wall.
Piers and columns may use more bricks than their visible front area suggests because several faces and internal geometry can be involved. Estimate these elements separately from flat wall area and follow the actual construction detail.
A face-area brick count usually represents one leaf of brickwork. If the project uses two brick leaves, a cavity wall, or a brick outer leaf with another inner wall system, count each masonry leaf according to the actual design rather than simply multiplying blindly.
Running bond, stretcher bond, English bond and other patterns can affect cuts, headers and special brick usage. The area-based calculator gives a general whole-brick quantity, while detailed bond layouts may need an additional allowance or a drawing-based takeoff.
Projects may use half bricks, closers, sill bricks, corner bricks, bullnose units or decorative pieces. These should be counted separately where specified. The main calculator result should be treated as a general standard-brick quantity.
Doors and windows reduce standard wall area, but openings can add lintel cost, cutting and extra labour. Do not assume that subtracting an opening reduces total project cost in the same proportion as it reduces brick quantity.
Mortar consumption changes with brick size, joint thickness, wall thickness, workmanship and waste. Use a product or contractor coverage figure that matches the real project rather than relying on one universal rate.
Bricks may be delivered in pallet or pack quantities. Ask the supplier how many bricks are supplied per pack, whether deposits apply, and how unloading is handled. Convert your calculated brick quantity into practical full and partial packs before ordering.
For face brickwork, colour and texture can vary between production batches. Ordering the full project quantity together may help reduce visual variation, subject to supplier guidance. This is another reason to prepare the quantity estimate carefully before purchasing.
Brick walls may require concrete footings or slab edge support. Estimate that concrete separately from the brick quantity. Use the Concrete Quantity Estimator for footing or slab volume.
For concrete under the brick wall, use the Concrete Quantity Estimator. For block masonry, use the Concrete Block Cost Calculator. For broader concrete budgeting, use the Concrete Cost Calculator.
For Australian construction material industry information, see Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia. For silica-related workplace information, review Safe Work Australia guidance. Product-specific brick dimensions and installation information should come from the brick manufacturer.
A brick count is only the first stage of a useful masonry budget. A complete brickwork estimate can also include mortar, wall ties, damp-proof courses, flashings, lintels, footings, scaffolding, delivery, cleaning and labour. Keeping these items separate makes the estimate easier to update when one product price or labour rate changes.
Bricks per square metre are controlled by the brick face dimensions plus the horizontal and vertical mortar joints. A smaller module needs more bricks to cover the same wall area, while a larger module needs fewer. Because manufacturers and regions use different brick sizes, the calculator keeps every dimension editable instead of forcing one standard.
| Brick Module Area | Approx. Bricks Per m² | Bricks For 20 m² | Bricks For 50 m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0169 m² | 59.2 | 1,184 | 2,960 |
| 0.0200 m² | 50.0 | 1,000 | 2,500 |
| 0.0206 m² | 48.4 | 969 | 2,423 |
| 0.0240 m² | 41.7 | 834 | 2,084 |
When several walls have the same dimensions, the Multiple Walls mode can save time. When walls differ, calculate them individually. A building elevation with one 12 m wall, two 8 m walls and a 5 m return is easier to verify as four separate wall calculations than as one combined average length.
Large openings should normally be deducted because bricks are not laid through those spaces. However, the area around an opening may require cuts, lintels, closers, sill bricks or additional detailing. The opening deduction therefore reduces the basic brick quantity but does not automatically remove every associated construction cost.
Piers and projections can require more bricks than a flat wall of the same front area because several faces are exposed. Calculate each face or use the detailed brick layout where available. Do not assume a pier can be represented by its front elevation only.
If a wall genuinely has two brick leaves, each leaf should be calculated. Do not automatically double every single-skin estimate because some cavity walls use brick externally and a different masonry or framing system internally. The wall construction shown on the project documents should determine the quantity method.
Cavity walls can include wall ties, insulation, cavity closers, damp-proof courses and flashings. These are not included in the calculator total. They should be measured separately because their quantity depends on wall height, spacing, openings and construction details rather than simply on the number of bricks.
Stretcher bond can have a different cutting pattern from more decorative or traditional bonds. Corners, reveals and piers can also increase the number of cut bricks. If a wall has many changes in direction or special details, a higher waste allowance may be more realistic than for one long simple wall.
Projects may include half bricks, closers, sills, cants, bullnose bricks, coping units or other specials. Count these separately from the general brick quantity where they are specified. The overall calculator result should not be used as a substitute for a detailed special-brick schedule.
Mortar usage is affected not only by joint thickness but also by brick depth, joint profile, workmanship and waste. Flush, ironed, raked and other joint finishes can influence mortar handling. Use a coverage rate appropriate to the actual brick and mortar system.
Suppliers may sell bricks by pack, pallet or whole-unit quantity. Once the calculator gives the required bricks after waste, divide that number by the supplier's pack quantity and round up where full packs are required. Keep any leftover bricks in the project plan if future repairs or colour matching may matter.
Visible face bricks can vary slightly in tone and texture between production batches. Where appearance is important, ordering the calculated project quantity together can reduce the risk of obvious variation, subject to manufacturer and supplier guidance.
Face brickwork often needs careful cleaning after laying. Cleaning products, labour and protection can be separate costs. Rendered brickwork may instead require base coats, finish coats and painting. These finishes are not included in the brick, mortar and labour total unless you add them separately.
Taller walls can require scaffolding or other access equipment. Labour productivity can also change with wall height and access conditions. A simple per-square-metre labour rate may not capture these differences, so use a contractor quote where available.
Brick walls may sit on strip footings, slabs or structural beams. Estimate the concrete volume independently using the required dimensions. The Concrete Quantity Estimator can be used for footing length, width and depth, while the Concrete Order Calculator can help convert the volume into a practical ready-mix order.
When comparing two brickwork quotes, check the scope rather than only the total. One quote may include mortar, delivery and scaffolding while another covers labour only. Separating bricks, mortar, labour and other items gives a clearer like-for-like comparison.
| Budget Item | Included In Calculator? | Planning Method |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Bricks | Yes | Net wall area ÷ brick module + waste |
| Mortar Bags | Optional | Wall area ÷ entered coverage |
| Labour | Optional | Net wall area × entered rate |
| Lintels | No | Count from openings and drawings |
| Wall Ties | No | Use project spacing requirements |
| Footing Concrete | No | Calculate from footing dimensions |
| Scaffolding | No | Use access or contractor quote |
| Delivery | No | Use supplier quote and pack quantities |
Brick price is only one part of a complete brickwork budget.
Use related calculators for block walls, footing concrete and broader project cost.
Common questions about brick quantity, wall area, openings, mortar joints, waste, labour and cost.
Calculate net wall area after subtracting openings, divide by the face area of one brick module including mortar joints, then round up and add your selected waste allowance.
Yes. Wall Dimensions multiplies wall length by wall height to calculate gross wall area before subtracting openings.
Yes. Known Wall Area lets you enter square metres directly and subtract an optional openings area.
Yes. Multiple Walls multiplies one wall's dimensions by the number of identical walls.
Yes. Known Bricks lets you start from a brick count you already have and then apply waste and cost inputs.
The zero is only a placeholder. The real field is blank, so typing 12 gives 12 rather than 012.
Yes. It adds the horizontal and vertical mortar joint thickness you enter to the brick face dimensions when estimating the brick module.
Yes. Enter the combined opening area and it is subtracted from gross wall area before the brick count is calculated.
Yes. Enter your own percentage for cuts, breakage and quantity variation.
Yes. Enter mortar coverage in square metres per bag. If the field is left blank, mortar bags remain zero.
Yes. Enter an optional labour rate per square metre. Delivery, scaffolding, lintels and other project costs may still be separate.
Yes. After calculating, you can download a PDF summary generated by ConcreteCreek.com.
Use current product data, project documents and official safety guidance alongside any online brickwork estimate.
Australian construction material industry information.
Visit CCAANational silica hazard and control information.
Read Silica GuidanceConfirm actual brick dimensions, pack quantities and product requirements.
Use required wall details, lintels, ties, footings and structural information.