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What does the Brick & mortar quantity calculate?
How many bricks and how much mortar should you plan for a rectangular wall? This calculator uses wall length, wall height, combined door and window area, brick face length, brick face height, brick depth, mortar joint thickness, and brick waste allowance to estimate brickwork material estimate immediately in your browser.
With the values currently entered, the result is 787 bricks — estimated purchase quantity including waste. It also shows net wall area, bricks before waste, approximate mortar volume, and gross wall area.
How to use the Brick & mortar quantity
- Replace the example values with your own numbers.
- Review the result and supporting figures as they update automatically.
- Check the formula and assumptions before using the estimate for a decision.
Inputs used
- Wall length — entered in m
- Wall height — entered in m
- Combined door and window area — entered in m²
- Brick face length — entered in mm
- Brick face height — entered in mm
- Brick depth — entered in mm
- Mortar joint thickness — entered in mm
- Brick waste allowance — entered in %
Brick & mortar quantity formula
Bricks = net wall area ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)), plus waste
Assumptions
- The wall uses a regular single-brick face pattern with uniform bed and vertical joints.
- Mortar volume is a geometric approximation before mixing loss; bond, piers, cuts, and structural details are excluded.
Practical guide
Brick & mortar quantity example and edge cases
How many bricks and how much mortar should you plan for a rectangular wall? Let's use a concrete example, then look at the assumptions that can move the answer.
Example: A practical brick & mortar quantity scenario
For this example, use wall length of 6 m, wall height of 2.4 m, combined door and window area of 2 m², brick face length of 215 mm, brick face height of 65 mm, brick depth of 102.5 mm, mortar joint thickness of 10 mm, and brick waste allowance of 7 %. These are starting values, so replace them with numbers that match your situation.
- Wall length
- 6 m
- Wall height
- 2.4 m
- Combined door and window area
- 2 m²
- Brick face length
- 215 mm
- Brick face height
- 65 mm
- Brick depth
- 102.5 mm
- Mortar joint thickness
- 10 mm
- Brick waste allowance
- 7 %
Calculated result787 bricksestimated purchase quantity including waste
Start with estimated purchase quantity including waste. Then check net wall area, bricks before waste, approximate mortar volume, and gross wall area to understand what sits behind the main result.
Example results use the default display profile. The calculator above follows your selected country and units.
How to read the result
- Read the main result first. The supporting figures for net wall area, bricks before waste, approximate mortar volume, and gross wall area explain how the estimate is built.
- The method is Bricks = net wall area ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)), plus waste. Keep the units consistent and use values from the same time period.
Edge cases worth checking
When wall length is unusual
The wall uses a regular single-brick face pattern with uniform bed and vertical joints. Double-check this input before relying on the result.
When brick waste allowance is uncertain
Mortar volume is a geometric approximation before mixing loss; bond, piers, cuts, and structural details are excluded. Run a lower and higher value to see a useful range.
What changes the result most
Wall length
Measure wall length with the same unit shown beside the input. Convert first if your source uses another unit.
Wall height
Measure wall height with the same unit shown beside the input. Convert first if your source uses another unit.
Combined door and window area
Measure combined door and window area with the same unit shown beside the input. Convert first if your source uses another unit.
Try a different scenario
Small changes show whether the answer is stable or sensitive.
Wall length: 10% lower
5 m635 bricksestimated purchase quantity including waste
Wall length: 10% higher
7 m939 bricksestimated purchase quantity including waste
Wall height: 10% higher
2.64 m878 bricksestimated purchase quantity including waste
Common mistakes
Check wall length
The wall uses a regular single-brick face pattern with uniform bed and vertical joints. Make sure this matches the number you enter.
Keep brick waste allowance consistent
Mortar volume is a geometric approximation before mixing loss; bond, piers, cuts, and structural details are excluded. Use the same units and time period throughout the calculation.
Do not rely on one brick & mortar quantity scenario
Run a cautious case and an optimistic case. The range is often more useful than one exact-looking number.
Use this result well
How many bricks and how much mortar should you plan for a rectangular wall?
Confirm measurements, pack sizes, and product instructions before ordering materials.