Example values show a typical wall with openings and a standard mortar joint. Use your project measurements for accurate ordering.
| Item | Example input | Example output |
|---|---|---|
| Wall geometry | Length 6.0 m, Height 3.0 m, Openings 2.0 m2 | Net area 16.0 m2 |
| Brick and mortar | 190x90x90 mm brick, 10 mm joint | Face rate approx 48.1 bricks/m2 |
| Wall thickness | 102.5 mm (half-brick) | Thickness factor approx 1.05 |
| Allowance | Wastage 7.5%, Extras 0 | Total order approx 875 bricks (rounded up) |
- Gross wall area: Agross = L x H
- Net wall area: Anet = max(0, Agross - Aopenings)
- Effective brick face area: Abrick = (Lb + j) x (Hb + j)
- Bricks per square meter: Nm2 = 1 / Abrick
- Thickness factor: Ft = max(1, t / (Wb + j))
- Base bricks: Nbase = Anet x Nm2 x Ft
- Wastage bricks: Nw = Nbase x (w / 100)
- Total bricks: Ntotal = round(Nbase + Nw + Nextra)
- Select your preferred unit system and keep it consistent.
- Enter wall length and wall height from drawings.
- Add openings area for doors and windows you will not build.
- Choose a thickness preset or enter a custom thickness.
- Confirm brick dimensions and mortar joint thickness.
- Set wastage allowance based on handling and cutting needs.
- Optionally add pallets and unit cost for planning.
- Press Calculate and export results as needed.
Brick wastage is the gap between theoretical brick quantities and what is actually needed on site. It includes breakage during transport, chipped corners, cutting around openings, rejected batches, and losses from poor storage or handling. Estimating wastage early helps you purchase closer to the true requirement, reduce emergency orders, and keep labor productive. A strong estimate also improves scheduling, because masonry work often sets the pace for follow-on trades.
This calculator starts with net wall area, which is wall length multiplied by height, minus the total area of doors and windows. Next, it converts your brick dimensions and mortar joint into an effective face area. Dividing one square meter by that effective face area gives a face-rate in bricks per square meter. Because wall thickness may require multiple brick leaves, the tool applies a thickness factor that scales bricks based on wall thickness relative to the brick width plus joint. The result is a base brick count before allowances.
After the base count, you apply a wastage percentage and optional extra bricks. For typical building work, 5% can suit protected indoor storage with minimal cutting, while 7–10% is common for mixed conditions. Higher allowances may be needed for complex patterns, frequent cuts, long hauling distances, or limited supervision. Always cross-check against your drawings, specifications, and supplier packaging sizes.
Example data walkthrough:
- Wall: 6.0 m length, 3.0 m height, openings 2.0 m2 → net area 16.0 m2.
- Brick: 190×90×90 mm with 10 mm joint → effective face 0.20×0.10 m.
- Face rate ≈ 1 / 0.02 = 50 bricks/m2, adjusted slightly by exact inputs.
- Thickness: 102.5 mm and effective width 0.10 m → factor ≈ 1.05.
- Base bricks ≈ 16.0 × 48.1 × 1.05 ≈ 808 bricks, then add 7.5% wastage.
Use the CSV export for procurement logs and the PDF export for approvals. If your estimate is sensitive, run two scenarios: a conservative wastage rate and a best-case rate. The difference highlights risk and helps you choose a purchasing strategy that fits the project timeline.
1) What wastage percentage should I use?
Use 5% for controlled storage and simple walls. Use 7–10% for mixed site conditions and regular cutting. Increase further for decorative bonds, long transport, or frequent design changes.
2) Why does wall thickness change brick quantity?
Thickness can require more than one brick layer through the wall. The calculator applies a thickness factor based on wall thickness and brick width plus mortar joint to approximate this additional material.
3) Should I subtract small openings like sockets?
Usually no. Small chases and boxes are better handled by your wastage allowance. Subtract only major openings like doors, windows, and large service penetrations that materially reduce brickwork area.
4) How do mortar joints affect the count?
Mortar increases the effective brick face size, which reduces bricks per square meter. Using realistic joint thickness prevents over-ordering and aligns the estimate with typical course and bay dimensions.
5) Why do my local brick sizes differ from the defaults?
Brick dimensions vary by region and manufacturer. Enter your supplier’s actual size, including any tolerance notes, then keep the joint thickness consistent with the site method statement.
6) Can I estimate pallets and cost?
Yes. Enter bricks per pallet and cost per brick to estimate pallets and total cost. These are planning figures only, so confirm packaging counts and pricing with the supplier quotation.
7) What rounding option is best for ordering?
Round up for procurement to reduce shortage risk. Round to nearest if purchasing is tightly controlled and deliveries are frequent. Avoid rounding down unless a buffer stock already exists on site.