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Bricks Required

Calculate the number of bricks needed for walls with different bond types

About This Calculator

This calculator helps you estimate the number of bricks required for building walls. It accounts for different bond types, mortar joints, openings (doors/windows), and wastage.

Standard UK brick size: 215mm × 102.5mm × 65mm

Bond Types

  • Stretcher Bond: All bricks laid lengthwise. Used for single leaf walls (half brick). ~60 bricks/m²
  • English Bond: Alternating courses of stretchers and headers. Strong pattern for thick walls. ~120 bricks/m²
  • Flemish Bond: Alternating stretchers and headers in each course. Decorative and strong. ~120 bricks/m²
  • Header Bond: All bricks laid widthwise. Used for thick walls or curved work. ~120 bricks/m²

Tips for Ordering

  • • Add 5-10% for wastage and breakages
  • • Order extra if using a bond pattern with many cuts
  • • Consider brick colour matching - order all at once
  • • Check supplier pack sizes (usually 500 or 1000 bricks)

Why Include Wastage?

Bricks can break during delivery, cutting, or handling. It's better to have a few extra than to run short and risk colour mismatches with a second order.

Ready to Calculate?

Enter your wall dimensions, choose your bond type, and get an instant estimate.

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CACalifornia Building Code (Title 24)

References & Sources

Standards Cited
  • ASTM C216 — Standard Specification for Facing Brick (Solid Masonry Units Made from Clay or Shale)
    Defines standard US modular brick dimensions (194 x 92 x 57mm) used in the calculator
  • TMS 402/602 — Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures
    Guidance on bond types (running, common, stack, flemish) and mortar joint specifications
Formulas Used
  • Wall area: wallArea = wallLength x wallHeight
    Source: Basic geometry
  • Net wall area: netWallArea = wallArea - openingArea
    Source: Standard deduction method
  • Bricks required: bricksRequired = ceil(netWallArea x bricksPerM2 x (1 + wastage/100))
    Source: ASTM C216 / TMS 402/602 — Bricks per m2: stretcher bond = 60, English/Flemish/header bond = 120
Key Assumptions
  • US modular brick size: 194 x 92 x 57mm (7-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 2-1/4 in) — ASTM C216
  • Default mortar joint width: 10mm (3/8 in) — TMS 402/602
  • Running/common/stack bond uses ~74 bricks per m2; flemish bond uses ~111 bricks per m2 — BIA Technical Note 10
  • Typical wastage allowance of 5-10% for cutting and breakage — Industry standard practice