Calculate how many bricks you need for a wall or project. Includes mortar estimates, waste allowance and cost breakdowns for stretcher, Flemish and English bond.
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Create Your Free ProposalQuick reference: number of bricks per square metre for common bond patterns, based on standard UK bricks with 10mm mortar joints.
| Bond Pattern | Bricks per m² | Wall Thickness | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stretcher Bond | 60 | Half-brick (102.5mm) | Most common, garden walls, internal walls |
| Flemish Bond | 79 | One-brick (215mm) | Decorative, period properties |
| English Bond | 89 | One-brick (215mm) | Strongest bond, structural walls |
| Header Bond | 120 | One-brick (215mm) | Curved walls, decorative features |
| Stack Bond | 60 | Half-brick (102.5mm) | Decorative only, non-structural |
Accurately estimating the number of bricks you need is essential for any brickwork project. Ordering too few means delays and potentially mismatched batches. Ordering too many wastes money and leaves you with surplus materials to dispose of or store.
The calculation is straightforward: Wall Area (m²) × Bricks per m² = Total Bricks. The number of bricks per square metre depends on the bond pattern you are using. Stretcher bond (the most common) uses 60 bricks per m², while Flemish and English bonds use more because they create thicker walls.
Stretcher bond is the most widely used pattern, with bricks laid lengthways with each course offset by half a brick. It creates a half-brick thick wall (102.5mm) and is suitable for garden walls, partition walls and the outer leaf of cavity walls.
Flemish bond alternates headers and stretchers in each course, creating a one-brick thick wall (215mm). It gives a decorative appearance and is commonly found on period properties.
English bond alternates whole courses of headers and stretchers. It is considered the strongest bond pattern and is used for structural walls, retaining walls and engineering applications.
Always deduct the area of doors, windows and other openings from your total wall area. A standard door opening is approximately 2.1m × 0.9m (1.89m²) and a standard window is approximately 1.2m × 1.2m (1.44m²). Measure your actual openings where possible for more accurate results.
A general rule of thumb is one 25kg bag of premixed mortar per 35-40 bricks. For a standard stretcher bond wall, that works out to roughly 1.5 bags per square metre. Ready-mixed mortar is convenient for smaller jobs, while mixing your own from sand and cement is more cost-effective for larger projects.
When quoting brickwork jobs, include materials, labour, scaffolding (if needed), waste disposal and any preparatory work in your price. Use tools like QuoteSmith to build professional proposals that clearly itemise every element for your customer, helping you win more work.
Common questions about calculating bricks for building projects.
Standard stretcher bond uses approximately 60 bricks per square metre. Flemish bond uses 79 bricks/m² and English bond uses 89 bricks/m². These figures include standard 10mm mortar joints and are based on standard UK brick sizes (215mm × 102.5mm × 65mm).
Roughly 1 bag (25kg) of premixed mortar per 35-40 bricks. For a standard square metre of stretcher bond wall (60 bricks), you will need approximately 1.5 bags of mortar. For Flemish and English bond walls, you will need proportionally more due to the higher brick count.
The standard UK brick size is 215mm × 102.5mm × 65mm (length × width × height). With standard 10mm mortar joints, this gives a coordinating size of 225mm × 112.5mm × 75mm. This coordinating size is used when calculating bricks per square metre.
Allow 10% for straight walls with simple layouts. Allow 15% for walls with features, curves or many openings. Cut bricks at corners and around openings add to waste. If using reclaimed or handmade bricks, allow 15-20% as they are more prone to breakage.
A standard single garage (approximately 3m × 6m, 2.4m high) has a wall perimeter of 18 metres and a total wall area of roughly 43m² after deducting for a garage door and window. Using stretcher bond at 60 bricks/m², this needs approximately 2,600-2,900 bricks. With 10% waste, budget for 3,000-3,500 bricks.
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