| Scenario | Wall (L×H) | Openings | Productivity | Crew | Estimated workdays | Indicative labor cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard partition | 10 m × 3 m | 1.2 m² | 10 m²/day | 3 masons + 3 helpers | ~ 0.96 day | Varies by wage inputs |
| Higher complexity | 18 m × 3.2 m | 2.0 m² | 9 m²/day | 4 masons + 4 helpers | ~ 1.56 days | Varies by wage inputs |
| Target finish | 12 m × 3 m | 1.0 m² | 10 m²/day | Target 2 days | 2.00 days | Auto crew size estimate |
Net area = max(0, Gross area − Openings area)
Bricks per m² (one skin) ≈ 1 / Face area
Thickness layers: 0.5→1, 1.0→2, 1.5→3, 2.0→4
Estimated bricks = ceil(Net area × Bricks per m² × Layers × (1 + Waste%))
Billable area = Net area × (1 + Rework%)
Crew mode: Working days = Billable area ÷ (Effective productivity × Masons)
Target mode: Masons = ceil(Billable area ÷ (Effective productivity × Target days))
Total cost = (Mason days × Mason wage) + (Helper days × Helper wage) + (Supervisor days × Supervisor wage)
- Choose units and enter wall length, height, and openings area.
- Select wall thickness and set waste allowance if needed.
- Set productivity, complexity, and rework allowances for conditions.
- Pick a mode: crew-based duration or target-based crew size.
- Enter wages and supervision ratio for your site setup.
- Press Calculate to view results and export CSV or PDF.
Accurate brickwork labor planning starts with measuring what will actually be built. This calculator converts your wall dimensions into a net wall area by subtracting doors, windows, and other openings. From there, it estimates output using a productivity rate and adjusts it with a complexity factor and an optional rework allowance. The result is a practical forecast for crew size, working days, and labor cost. It is designed for early budgeting, tender support, and day-to-day planning on site.
Productivity is the key driver. A base productivity rate reflects how much wall area one mason can complete in a typical day under normal conditions. Complexity increases when access is tight, bonds are intricate, scaffolding moves are frequent, or alignment tolerances are strict. Instead of guessing a new rate each time, you can apply a complexity factor to scale the base productivity. Rework allowance is useful when you expect frequent chasing, patching, or interface corrections with MEP and concrete works.
Labor cost is calculated using mason, helper, and supervisor daily wages. Supervisors are estimated by a simple ratio such as one supervisor per eight masons, but you can raise the ratio to effectively ignore supervision for smaller jobs. Setup and allowance days are added to working days to cover mobilization, small delays, and coordination time. For scheduling, focus on working days. For contracts, total days usually matters more.
Example (metric): Wall length 10 m, height 3 m, openings 1.2 m², base productivity 10 m²/day, complexity 1.10, rework 0%, crew 3 masons and 3 helpers, setup 0.5 day. Net area is about 28.8 m². Effective productivity is about 9.09 m²/day per mason. Working duration is about 1.06 days, and total duration becomes about 1.56 days including setup.
- Use the example table above to benchmark typical scenarios.
- Adjust productivity conservatively when site constraints are unknown.
- Keep wage inputs consistent with your project’s pay structure.
1) What does “effective productivity” mean?
It is your base productivity adjusted by the complexity factor. Higher complexity reduces output per mason per day, producing a more realistic duration for demanding sites.
2) Should I enter gross wall area or net wall area?
Enter wall length and height, then enter openings area separately. The calculator subtracts openings to produce the net area used for labor and brick estimates.
3) Why does wall thickness affect bricks but not labor?
This tool focuses on labor for wall face area. Thickness is used to estimate brick quantity for checks. If thicker walls reduce productivity on your site, increase the complexity factor.
4) Which mode should I use: crew-based or target-based?
Use crew-based mode when you already know the number of masons. Use target-based mode when you must finish within a fixed number of days and want the tool to estimate required masons.
5) How do helpers influence the result?
Helpers do not change the duration formula here; they influence total cost. If helpers increase output on your site, reflect that by raising base productivity or lowering the complexity factor.
6) What should I enter for rework allowance?
Use a small value like 2–5% when chasing, patching, or frequent interfaces are expected. For clean, repetitive walls, set it to 0%.
7) Can I use this for estimating a whole building?
Yes. Break the building into walls or zones, run separate estimates, and sum the labor cost and durations. This approach also highlights where complexity or access will dominate the schedule.