Brick calculator: how many bricks per m², blocks and mortar?

Pick Bricks or Blocks, then enter your wall length and height. The calculator works out how many units to order, how many packs that is, and the sand and cement you'll need for the mortar.

Enter the wall size and pick your brick or block. We work out how many to order, plus the sand and cement for the mortar.

756 bricks

12.0m² wall — 2 packs to order

  • Building sand1 bulk bags
  • Portland cement7 × 25kg bags

Allowances are typical trade figures (60 bricks or 10 blocks per m², 10mm joints) — confirm quantities with your bricklayer before ordering.

How it works

  1. 1Measure the wall — length and height in metres. For a wall with a gap, such as a gateway, measure each section and add them up.
  2. 2Pick your brick or block. A standard UK facing brick works out at about 60 bricks per square metre with 10mm mortar joints; 100mm concrete blocks work out at about 10 per square metre.
  3. 3Choose single or double skin. A single-skin wall is one brick thick; a cavity or double-skin wall needs twice the bricks.
  4. 4Add a breakage allowance. Most bricklayers allow 5% for cuts and breakages, or 10% on a fiddly job with lots of cutting.
  5. 5Check the mortar. The calculator also gives building sand and cement bags based on typical trade quantities for 10mm joints.

Common wall sizes

  • Garden wall, 5m × 1m single skin — about 5m², roughly 300 facing bricks before waste.
  • Garden wall, 5m × 1m double skin — roughly 600 facing bricks before waste.
  • Single-storey extension wall, 6m × 2.4m — about 14.4m², roughly 145 concrete blocks for the inner skin.

Worked example: a garden wall

  1. Wall 4m long × 1.8m high = 7.2m².
  2. Single skin at about 60 bricks per m²: 7.2 × 60 = 432 bricks.
  3. Add 5% for cuts and breakages: 432 × 1.05 ≈ 454 bricks.
  4. That's one pack of 495–504, or two packs of a 390-brick range. Double skin (one brick thick) doubles it to about 908.

How many bricks in a pack (or pallet)?

Bricks are sold by the pack — the strapped cube delivered on one pallet — and pack size depends on the maker and the range. Packs listed by UK merchants run from about 390 to 730 bricks. Always check the pack size on the product you're ordering.

BrickPack sizeSource
Forterra LBC (London Brick) 65mm390 per packElliotts
Forterra Kirton Ashwell Yellow Multi495 per packLawsons
Ibstock Leicester Weathered Red Stock 65mm500 per packMKM
Wienerberger Tuscan Red Multi 65mm wirecut500 per packLawsons
Forterra Farmstead Antique504 per packLawsons
Topaz660 per packLawsons
TBS Shelford Cream Multi730 per packLawsons

Pack sizes read from merchant listings, checked 31 October 2026.

Brick questions

How many bricks per m²?
About 60 for a single-skin (half-brick) wall using standard 215 × 102.5 × 65mm bricks with 10mm joints, and about 120 for a one-brick-thick wall.
How many blocks per m²?
About 10 standard 440 × 215mm concrete or aircrete blocks per m², whatever the thickness.
What is the standard UK brick size?
215mm long × 102.5mm wide × 65mm high. With a 10mm joint each brick fills 225 × 75mm of wall.
How many bricks are in a pack?
It depends on the maker: UK merchant listings show packs of 390, 495, 500, 504, 660 and 730. Check the listing before you order.
How much extra should I order?
Most bricklayers add 5% for cuts and breakages, or 10% on work with lots of cutting such as piers, curves or decorative bonds.

Figures are typical UK trade allowances; checked 31 October 2026.

Need the mortar too? Use the mortar calculator, or see UK brick and block sizes.

Material prices for this job

Related calculators and guides

Now find the cheapest place to buy

Take your quantities across to Price Planter and compare them across UK builders' merchants — including whether splitting the order across two merchants works out cheaper.

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Brick and block quantities use typical UK trade allowances (about 60 bricks or 10 blocks per m² with 10mm joints). They are a guide only — confirm quantities with your bricklayer and merchant before ordering.

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