Brickwork Calculator

If you're planning a building project, a major cause of confusion can be the estimation of how many bricks you will need to complete a project. You don't want to purchase too many bricks, but then again, don't want to run out mid-way though a job. That's where a brickwork calculator can be very helpful - allowing you to estimate the number of bricks required for a wall or other brick structure.

So how does a brickwork calculator work? In basic terms, you can make good estimates based on a few key figures. To begin with, the number of bricks for the total span of a wall is calculated - then an additional calculation is made for any piers. The two figures are combined and a 10% allowance is added to allow for any breakages or waste products.

Following are the brickwork calculator methods you can use when planning your building project. The figures are based on standard, metric bricks that are used in the UK and are approximately 215 x 102.5 x 65mm in size. Generally speaking, the mortar joints that are used are approximately 10mm in width - both vertically and horizontally.

Calculation 1 - Single brick wall
Generally speaking, a single wide brick wall will require around 60 bricks per square metre. Start by measuring the height and length of the wall (including any piers). Multiply the two figures together to obtain an area size in square metres. Finally, multiply this figure by 60.

wall height (in metres) x wall length (in metres) x 60 = no. of bricks required

Calculation 2 - Double brick wall
Generally speaking, a double wide brick wall will require around 120 bricks per square metre. Multiply the two figures together to obtain an area size in square metres. Finally, multiply this figure by 120.

wall height (in metres) x wall length (in metres) x 120 = no. of bricks required

Calculation 3 - Single brick piers
In scenarios where single brick piers are included in a single brick wall, each pier will require an additional 14 bricks per every vertical metre.

number of piers x wall height (in metres) x 14 = no. of bricks required

Calculation 4 - 1.5 half brick piers
In scenarios where one and a half brick piers are included in a single brick wall, each pier will require an additional 34 bricks per every vertical metre.

number of piers x wall height (in metres) x 34 = no. of bricks required