Brick Calculator
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Walls
Standard joint -- 0.0025 m² mortar per m²
Typical allowance: 10% standard work, 15% complex or cut brickwork
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Fills in the material cost fields using current UK retail prices sourced from major trade suppliers. Prices are updated regularly by BuildersCalc and give you a realistic starting point for your estimate. Always cross-check against your own quotes before finalising.
Results
| Wall | Area (m²) | Net Bricks | Waste | Total |
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Total Net Bricks
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Before waste allowance
Total Waste
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Total to Order
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Rounded up to nearest 10
Total Mortar
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m² across all walls
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks do I need per square metre?
For a standard UK brick (215 x 102.5 x 65 mm) laid in stretcher bond with a 10 mm mortar joint, you need approximately 60 bricks per m² for a half-brick single-skin wall, or 120 bricks per m² for a full-brick double-skin wall. Other bond patterns such as English bond or Flemish bond will give slightly different counts.
What waste allowance should I use for brickwork?
The standard recommendation is 10% waste for most projects. Use 5% for simple straight walls laid by an experienced bricklayer, 15% for complex shapes or walls with lots of cuts, and 20%+ for intricate patterns such as herringbone or diagonal bond. Always order a small surplus - brick batches can vary in colour and a new order may not match.
What is the standard UK brick size?
The standard UK brick size is 215 x 102.5 x 65 mm (length x width x height), giving a co-ordinating size of 225 x 112.5 x 75 mm when a 10 mm mortar joint is included. This is defined in BS EN 771-1. Other common formats include the metric modular brick (290 x 90 x 90 mm) and imperial bricks used in older buildings (228 x 108 x 68 mm).
How much mortar do I need for brickwork?
As a general guide, you need approximately 0.022 m³ of mortar per m² of half-brick wall in stretcher bond with 10 mm joints, or around 1 tonne of pre-mixed mortar per 1,000 bricks. The exact volume depends on joint thickness, brick format and bond pattern. A standard mix is 1 part cement to 4-5 parts sharp sand by volume.
What is the minimum wall thickness under UK Building Regulations?
Under Part A (Structure), the minimum thickness for a loadbearing brick wall in a typical single-storey residential building up to 3.5 m high is 190 mm. Cavity walls must have a minimum cavity width of 50 mm under Part C (Moisture Resistance), though 100 mm is now standard to accommodate insulation requirements under Part L (Energy Efficiency).
What is the difference between stretcher bond and English bond?
Stretcher bond (running bond) is the most common pattern in modern UK construction - all bricks laid lengthways with joints staggered by half a brick. Used for cavity and single-skin walls. English bond alternates courses of headers and stretchers, creating a stronger solid wall used in retaining walls and engineering brickwork. English bond uses approximately twice as many bricks per m² as stretcher bond.