Release Updates
v1.1 (May 20, 2026)
- Expanded the calculator from wall-area only to wall length, height, openings, and single-skin or double-skin wall types.
- Added UK and US material assumptions with correct metric and imperial joint defaults, brick labels, and mortar bag yields.
- Added custom brick and block dimensions, sand and cement estimates, mortar bag estimates, and basic material cost totals.
- Added direct-answer content for bricks per m², bricks per square foot, 1000-brick mortar estimates, standard brick sizes, and opening deductions.
How many bricks do I need?
Multiply wall length by wall height, subtract openings, then divide by the brick face area including the mortar joint. For a double-skin wall, double the net wall area before calculating. Add 5% to 10% waste for cuts, breakage, and site handling.
How many bricks per square metre?
A standard UK brick measuring 215 x 102.5 x 65 mm with a 10 mm mortar joint uses
about 59 bricks per m² for a single-skin wall before waste. A double-skin wall uses about
118 bricks per m² before waste.
How many bricks per square foot?
A US modular brick measuring 7.5 x 3.5 x 2.25 in with a 3/8 in mortar joint uses
about 6.8 bricks per square foot before waste. Larger king bricks need fewer bricks per
square foot because each brick covers more face area.
How much mortar do I need for 1000 bricks?
As a rough guide, 1000 standard UK bricks usually need about 0.25 to 0.30 m³ of wet mortar, depending on joint thickness, brick frogs/perforations, wastage, and workmanship. For US modular brickwork, 1000 bricks often need about 10 to 12 cu ft of mortar. Use the calculator for a project estimate based on your selected brick size and joint thickness.
How many bags of mortar do I need?
Divide the estimated mortar volume by the yield per bag. For example, if the wall needs 0.28 m³
of mortar and each 25 kg bag yields about 0.014 m³, you need about 20 bags.
If an 80 lb bag yields about 0.60 cu ft, divide total cubic feet by 0.60.
Single skin vs double skin brick walls
A single-skin wall has one layer of brickwork, often used for garden walls, veneers, and non-structural masonry. A double-skin wall has two masonry leaves, so it usually needs roughly twice the bricks and more mortar for the same visible wall area.
Standard brick sizes: UK and US
The common UK brick size is 215 x 102.5 x 65 mm, normally used with a 10 mm mortar joint.
Common US sizes include modular brick at 7.5 x 3.5 x 2.25 in, standard brick at
8 x 3.75 x 2.25 in, and king brick at 9.5 x 3.5 x 2.75 in.
How to subtract windows and doors
Find each opening area by multiplying its width by its height, add the opening areas together, then enter that total in the openings field. The calculator subtracts this from the gross wall area before estimating bricks, blocks, mortar, sand, cement, and cost.
Brick wall cost estimate
The cost estimate adds brick or block cost plus mortar bag cost. Enter a unit price for each brick or block and a price per mortar bag. Labour, delivery, lintels, ties, reinforcement, damp-proof course, waste disposal, and VAT or sales tax are not included unless you add them separately.