Free tool
Brick calculator: how many bricks for a wall
Estimate how many standard bricks your wall needs, including mortar and wastage. Enter the wall size and thickness.
How it works
We calculate the wall volume from length, height and thickness, then use about 13.5 standard bricks per cubic foot including the mortar joint, and add your wastage percentage.
Tips before ordering
- Add 5 to 10 percent for breakage and wastage
- A 9 inch wall uses roughly twice the bricks of a 4.5 inch wall
- Confirm the exact brick size with your supplier, as counts vary
How the count is worked out
Wall volume is length times height times thickness, multiplied by about 13.5 bricks per cubic foot, then increased by your wastage percentage. That 13.5 already allows for mortar joints, which is why it is lower than brick dimensions alone would suggest. It corresponds to roughly 500 bricks per cubic metre of finished masonry. Thickness is picked as a wall type rather than typed in, because brick walls are built in standard thicknesses: a 9 inch wall is 0.75 ft, a 4.5 inch half-brick wall is 0.375 ft.
Nine inch or four and a half inch?
| 9 inch wall | 4.5 inch wall | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual role | External walls, and any load-bearing wall | Internal partitions in a framed structure |
| Bricks needed | Twice as many per sq ft of wall | Half as many |
| Sound and heat | Noticeably better on both | Thinner, so weaker on both |
| Floor area | Consumes more of your usable area | Saves usable space |
In a framed RCC building the columns and beams carry the load, so internal partitions can be 4.5 inch. External walls are usually kept at 9 inch for weather, sound and thermal comfort, which in Bangalore matters most on west-facing walls taking the afternoon sun.
Why your actual count will differ
The largest variable is brick size, and it genuinely varies. Traditional Indian bricks and modular bricks are different dimensions, and locally made bricks differ between kilns and even between batches. A count based on a standard brick can be out by a noticeable margin once real bricks arrive, so measure a sample of what you are actually buying before placing a large order.
Wastage of 5 to 10 percent covers breakage in transit and handling, cutting at corners and openings, and the share of any load that arrives cracked or badly formed. Inspect deliveries: rejecting poor bricks at the gate is far easier than rejecting a finished wall.
What this excludes
- Mortar for laying, which is a separate cement and sand calculation
- Deductions for doors and windows, so subtract openings from your wall area first
- Plastering, calculated on the finished wall face
- Labour, scaffolding and lintels
Frequently asked questions
Does this work for concrete or AAC blocks?
No. This tool assumes clay bricks with mortar joints. Solid concrete blocks and AAC blocks are much larger units, so the count per cubic foot is entirely different and you should calculate from the actual block dimensions. AAC is popular in Bangalore for being lighter and better insulating, and it needs its own calculation.
Should I subtract windows and doors?
Yes, for an accurate order. Take the gross wall area, subtract the openings, and enter the net figure. On a wall with large windows the difference is significant enough to matter.
How much mortar will I need?
Masonry mortar is a separate calculation from the brick count and depends on joint thickness and mix. Our plastering calculator uses the same cement and sand arithmetic and gives a feel for the quantities, though plaster and masonry mortar are specified differently.