Brick Calculator
Calculate exactly how many bricks you need for a wall. Supports SA standard face bricks and maxi bricks, with mortar joint allowance and waste factor.
Quick Calculator Get a fast estimate
m
m
%
m²
Bricks Required
1 453 bricks
Wall Area
24 m²
Base Bricks (no waste)
1 320 bricks
Bricks per m²
55 bricks/m²
Waste Allowance
10%
Link copied to clipboard!
How to Use This Calculator
Enter wall length and height, select brick type, set a waste factor (10% standard), and optionally subtract door and window areas. The calculator gives total bricks to order.
Brick Calculation Formula
Wall Area = Length × Height − Openings
Base Bricks = Wall Area × Bricks per m²
Total Bricks = Base Bricks × (1 + Waste ÷ 100)
SA Standard Face Brick (222×106×73mm, 10mm joint): 55 bricks/m². Maxi brick (290×90×90mm): 33 bricks/m².
Need more detail?
Extended Calculator More options, charts, and scenario comparison
Standard Brick (222×106×73mm)
m
m
m²
%
Bricks Required
1 236
Wall Area (net)
22.2 m²
Mortar Volume
0.280 m³
Cement Bags (50kg)
9
Estimated Total Cost
R 6 891
Wall Pattern (showing 8 of 20 rows)
Material Cost Breakdown
| Material | Quantity | Unit Cost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Brick | 1 236 | R 5/brick | R 5 562 |
| Cement (50kg bags) | 9 | R 115/bag | R 1 035 |
| Sand | 0.8 m³ | R350/m³ | R 294 |
| Total Materials | R 6 891 |
Example Calculation
Boundary Wall — 15m × 1.8m
Wall Area = (15 × 1.8) − 2m² door = 25 m²
Base Bricks = 25 × 55 = 1,375 bricks
With 10% waste = 1,513 bricks. Order 1,600 (round up).
SA Brick Types & Cost (2025)
| Brick Type | Size (mm) | Per m² | Price/Brick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Utility Brick | 222×106×73 | 55 | R2.50–R5.00 |
| SA Face Brick | 222×106×73 | 55 | R5.00–R12.00 |
| Maxi Brick | 290×90×90 | 33 | R4.00–R8.00 |
| Premium Face Brick | 222×106×73 | 55 | R8.00–R20.00 |
Need full precision?
Professional Calculator Complete parameters, sensitivity analysis, and detailed breakdown
Multi-Wall Entry
| Wall | L×H (m) | Type | Leaves | Openings m² | Bricks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| × | 1 693 | |||||
| × | 1 726 | |||||
| × | 1 175 | |||||
| × | 1 175 |
%
Total Bricks Required
5 769
Cement Bags (50kg)
39
Sand Required
3.86 m³
Material Cost
R 31 795
Full Cost Breakdown
R
R
| Item | Quantity | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bricks (various types) | 5 769 | R 25 961 |
| Cement | 39 bags | R 4 485 |
| Sand | 3.86 m³ | R 1 349 |
| Labour Estimate (~R2.50/brick) | 5 769 | R 14 423 |
| Total (materials + labour est.) | R 46 217 |
Frequently Asked Questions
SA standard utility bricks: R2.50–R5.00 each. Face bricks: R5–R12. Premium face bricks: R8–R20. Maxi bricks: R4–R8 each. Prices vary by region — always get quotes from local suppliers.
Face bricks have a smooth, attractive finish and are left exposed. Plaster bricks (utility bricks) are rougher and designed to be plastered over. Face bricks cost more but eliminate the need for plastering.
Bricks break during handling, transport, and cutting. A 10% waste factor is standard for straight walls; use 15% for complex patterns or many openings. Always order extra — later batches may have colour mismatches.
Allow approximately 0.3 m³ of mortar per 1,000 standard bricks (10mm joints). A typical mortar mix is 1 part cement to 6 parts sand. For 1,000 bricks: roughly 2 bags (50 kg) of cement and 0.25 m³ of sand.