How brickwork is estimated
The wall volume is length × height × thickness. Using a standard modular brick of 190×90×90 mm plus a 10 mm mortar joint, the calculator works out how many bricks fill that volume and how much mortar fills the gaps between them. The mortar is then split into cement and sand by the chosen ratio with the 1.33 dry-volume factor used for all mortar work.
Common wall thicknesses
- Half-brick (4.5") wall: about 0.115 m thick — partition and non-load-bearing walls
- Full-brick (9") wall: about 0.2299 m thick — load-bearing and external walls
- One-and-a-half brick (13.5"): for heavily loaded masonry
How many bricks per cubic metre?
With a standard brick and a 10 mm joint, a cubic metre of brickwork takes roughly 500 bricks. So a 3 m × 3 m full-brick wall (about 2 m³) needs in the region of 1,000 bricks plus mortar. The calculator includes a 5% wastage allowance by default, since breakage and cutting at corners and openings are unavoidable on site.
Mortar mix for brickwork
Brick masonry typically uses a 1:4 to 1:6 cement:sand mortar. A 1:6 mix is common for ordinary internal walls, 1:4 for load-bearing or external walls that need more strength and weather resistance. Stronger isn't always better — mortar should ideally be slightly weaker than the bricks so that any cracking happens in the replaceable joint rather than through the bricks themselves.
First-class vs fly-ash bricks
Traditional first-class red clay bricks are valued for load-bearing strength, while fly-ash bricks are a more uniform, often cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative with consistent sizing. Sizes vary by region and manufacturer, so if your bricks differ from the 190×90×90 mm standard, the brick count will shift accordingly — always confirm actual brick size with your supplier.