Introduction

It is important to calculate the number of bricks required for any construction. Here’s how to calculate the number of bricks for different types of structures.

The estimation of building materials is essential before starting any construction. And in Asian countries, it is even more important as 75% of the building is constructed using brickwork.  Ordering too few bricks can delay your project, whereas ordering too many would just be a waste of money.

In India, the standard brick size is 190 mm x 90 mm x 90 mm, without mortar. On applying mortar, the size of the brickwork increases by 10 mm. For calculating the number of bricks required for construction, we first need to determine the type of structure that we are building and then calculate its surface area. After that, we can calculate the number of bricks required.

Different types of structures include

1. Half-brick thick walls: It requires 60 bricks per square metre.
2. One-brick thick walls: It requires 120 bricks per square metre.
3. Brick piers/ pillars: Single bricks pier requires 14 bricks per vertical metre and one and a half brick pier requires 34 bricks per vertical metre.

The surface area can be calculated by multiplying the length of the wall by the height of the wall.

Brick calculation

To calculate the number of bricks required for construction, the thickness of the plaster wall is deducted from the thickness of the brick masonry wall. For example, for a standard brick wall of 230 mm, the actual thickness will be 200 mm.

Calculation of brick in metric system

Let us assume,

Length of the wall (l) = 5 m

Thickness of the wall (b) = 200 mm= 0.2 m

Height of the wall (h) = 4 m

Brick size (without mortar) = 190 mm x 90 mm x 90 mm

Assuming that there is no opening in the wall

Volume of brick masonry in wall= lhb= 5 x 4 x 0.2= 4 m³

Volume of one brick with mortar= 0.2 x 0.1 x 0.1= 0.002 m³

Number of bricks required= (Volume of brick masonary/ Volume of one brick)= 4/ 0.002= 2000 bricks

Consider 10% bricks as wastage.

Thus, the number of bricks required for 1 cubic metre will be 500.

Brick calculation in feet

First, calculate the volume of the wall to be built.

Assuming the length of the wall= 12 ft.

Height of the wall= 10 ft.

Thickness of the wall= 200 mm= 0.656 ft.

Volume of the wall= lbh= 12 x 10 x 0.656= 78.72 Cu.F

Calculation of the volume of one brick

The IS standard for brick is 190 mm x 90 mm x 90 mm, and after considering the mortar joints, it is 200 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm.

l= 200 mm= 0.656 ft

b= 100 mm= 0.328 ft

h= 100 mm= 0.328 ft

Thus, the volume of the brick will be lbh= 0.656 x 0.328 x 0.328= 0.071 Cu.F

So, the required number of bricks will be 78.72/ 0.071= 1109.

Assumptions

• Consider 10% wastage of bricks
• If the wall has any openings, then subtract the volume of the openings from the volume of the wall and then divide it by the volume of the brick.

This was the formula and calculation of bricks required in construction. Proper calculation of bricks required is necessary to make sure that the construction works smoothly and comfortably. Given below are some basic formulas and concepts to help you brush up on the topic.

• A single brick pier has 14 bricks per vertical metre.
• One and a half bricks pier has 34 bricks per vertical metre.
• Surface area= length of the wall x height of the wall.
• Brick wastage is 10% of the total quantity.
• Mortar covers 10% of the total brickwork.
• There are 500 bricks in one cubic metre.
• There are 13.50 bricks in one cubic feet.