Brick & Masonry Calculator — Bricks, Blocks & Mortar
Calculate bricks, concrete blocks (CMU) or natural stone units and mortar for walls, piers and garden structures. Choose bond pattern and mortar joint size, and get quantities with waste factor included.
How the masonry calculator works
- 1Wall area = length × height (m²), subtract door and window openings
- 2Bricks per m²: depends on brick size and bond — standard UK brick (215×65 mm) at 10 mm joint = approximately 59 bricks/m² in stretcher bond
- 3Total bricks: area × bricks per m², plus 5–10% waste for cuts and breakage
- 4Mortar volume: approximately 0.022 m³ per m² of standard half-brick / single-skin stretcher-bond wall
- 5Mortar mix: 1 part cement : 4–6 parts sand for above-damp-proof-course brickwork
- 6Round bricks up to nearest 100; order mortar sand by the tonne
Worked example
Garden wall: 6 m long × 1.2 m high, half-brick thick (102.5 mm, single-skin stretcher bond). Standard UK brick, 10 mm joints.
Area: 7.2 m². Bricks: 7.2 × 59 × 1.05 waste = 447 bricks (order 450). Mortar: 7.2 × 0.022 = 0.16 m³ ≈ 350 kg dry mortar or 75 kg cement + 320 kg sand.
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks do I need per m² of wall?
Standard UK brick (215×65 mm face) in stretcher bond with 10 mm joints: 59 bricks/m². Standard US modular brick in running bond: approximately 6.75/ft² (73/m²). Always use the brick supplier's coverage figure.
How much mortar do I need for 1000 bricks?
For standard brickwork with 10 mm joints: approximately 0.35–0.40 m³ of mixed mortar per 1000 standard UK bricks. This equates to roughly 70 kg of cement and 280 kg of sand.
What mortar mix should I use for brickwork?
Above DPC in sheltered locations: 1:1:6 (cement:lime:sand). Above DPC in exposed locations: 1:0.5:4.5. Below DPC or in contact with ground: 1:3 (cement:sand). Never use a stronger mix than necessary — it can cause cracking.
How many concrete blocks (CMU) do I need per m²?
Standard 440×215×100 mm UK block at 10 mm joints: 10 blocks/m². Standard 8×8×16 in US CMU at 3/8 in joints: approximately 1.1/ft² (12/m²).
What is the difference between stretcher and header bond?
Stretcher bond shows the long face of each brick — used for half-brick walls and cavity walls. Header bond shows the short end — used in solid one-brick walls and decorative piers. English and Flemish bonds alternate rows of each.