Brick Calculator
Instant results as you type.
%
Bricks to buy
3,601
Cement for mortar (bags)9
Sand for mortar (m³)1.8
Wall volume (m³)6.86
What this means3601 bricks for a 9 inch wall, including 5% for breakage. Based on the standard 190 x 90 x 90 mm brick with a 10 mm mortar joint — 500 bricks per cubic metre.
Brickwork is quoted in bricks, but the number depends on wall thickness far more than most people expect — a nine-inch wall takes twice the bricks of a four-and-a-half-inch partition of the same length and height. This calculator counts the bricks for the wall you are actually building and adds the cement and sand the mortar will need, which is the part usually forgotten until the mason asks.
How to use it
- Enter the wall length and height in metres.
- Choose the thickness — 4.5 inch for partitions, 9 inch for external walls.
- Read the brick count including breakage, plus mortar cement and sand.
Examples
- A 10 x 3 m nine-inch wall: about 3,601 bricks, 9 cement bags and 1.8 m³ of sand.
- The same wall as a 4.5 inch partition needs about 1,801 bricks.
Frequently asked questions
- How many bricks are in one cubic metre?
- Exactly 500, using the standard modular brick. A 190 by 90 by 90 mm brick with a 10 mm mortar joint occupies 200 by 100 by 100 mm, which is 0.002 cubic metres — so a cubic metre holds 500. This is why brick estimates are done by wall volume rather than by counting courses.
- What is the standard Indian brick size?
- The modular standard is 190 by 90 by 90 mm, designed so that with a 10 mm joint it becomes a round 200 by 100 by 100 mm. Traditional non-modular bricks are often around 230 by 110 by 70 mm and vary by region and kiln, so check a sample before ordering in quantity.
- How much cement does brickwork mortar need?
- Mortar fills the space between bricks — roughly 20 to 25 per cent of the wall volume. At the common 1:6 cement-sand ratio, a 10 by 3 m nine-inch wall takes about 9 bags of cement and 1.8 cubic metres of sand. Richer 1:4 mortar is used for load-bearing work and needs more cement.
- Should I use a 4.5 inch or 9 inch wall?
- A 4.5 inch wall is a partition — it divides space but carries no load beyond its own weight, and it transmits sound readily. A 9 inch wall is the standard for external walls and anything load-bearing, and gives far better thermal and acoustic performance. Structural walls must follow an engineer's design.