Knowing how many bricks you need is essential when planning a wall or building project. Ordering too many increases costs, while ordering too few can delay work.
This guide explains how to calculate how many bricks you need in the UK, including standard sizes, mortar gaps and waste allowances.
How to Calculate Bricks Needed
To calculate how many bricks you need, you must first work out the wall area.
👉 Wall Area = Length × Height
Once you know the area, you can estimate bricks per square metre.
Standard UK Brick Coverage
A standard UK brick (including mortar) typically covers:
👉 60 bricks per m²
This is based on:
- brick size: 215mm × 65mm
- mortar gap: 10mm
Example Calculation
For a wall:
- Length: 5m
- Height: 2.4m
Area = 12m²
Bricks required:
👉 12 × 60 = 720 bricks
With 10% waste:
👉 ~792 bricks
Use a Brick Calculator
Instead of calculating manually, you can use our tool:
👉 Use the brick calculator UK to get an instant result based on your exact wall dimensions.
Why Add Waste?
It is important to include a waste allowance because:
- bricks can break
- cuts are required
- site conditions vary
A typical waste allowance is:
👉 5% to 10%
Factors That Affect Brick Quantity
The number of bricks needed can vary depending on:
- wall thickness
- brick size
- mortar joints
- openings (doors/windows)
Common Mistakes
Avoid these mistakes:
- forgetting mortar gaps
- not including waste
- using incorrect brick sizes
- miscalculating wall area
Related Calculators
Managing Your Project Costs
Estimating materials is only part of the job. You also need to manage labour, pricing and profitability.