🧱 Material Calculator

Brick Calculator — Free Online Tool

Calculate the exact number of bricks, cement bags, sand, and mortar volume for any wall size. Supports all standard brick sizes, mortar ratios, and wastage factors.

🧱

Brick Calculator

Bricks · Cement Bags · Sand · Mortar Volume · Cost Estimate

Recommended: 5–10%
Total area of doors & windows

📊 Calculation Results

✅ Calculated
—
nos
Number of Bricks
—
bags
Cement (50 kg)
—
cft
Sand (cu ft)
—
m³
Mortar Volume
—
sq ft
Wall Area
—
PKR
Est. Material Cost
—

📖 How to Calculate Bricks — Step-by-Step Formula

The brick calculation follows a standard process used by quantity surveyors and engineers across Pakistan. Here is the complete formula with every step explained clearly.

1

Calculate Wall Area

Wall Area = Length × Height. Subtract the area of any doors, windows, or other openings. The result is the net area to be bricked.

2

Count Bricks per Square Foot

For a standard 9"×4.5"×3" Pakistan brick with 0.5" mortar joint: 13.5 bricks per sq ft for a 9" thick wall. For a 4.5" single brick wall: 6.75 bricks/sqft.

3

Calculate Mortar Volume

Mortar occupies approximately 30% of total wall volume. Mortar Volume = Wall Volume × 0.30. Then apply a dry volume factor of 1.30 (mortar shrinks when it dries).

4

Calculate Cement and Sand

Split the dry mortar volume using the mix ratio. For 1:5 ratio: Cement = (1/6) × Dry Volume × 1440 kg/m³ ÷ 50 bags. Sand = (5/6) × Dry Volume × 35.3147 cft/m³.

5

Add Wastage Factor

Always add 5–10% wastage to total bricks for breakage, cutting, and site wastage. For corners and curves, use 10–15%.

Wall Area (sq ft) = Length × Height − Openings Bricks (no waste) = Area × 13.5 [for 9" wall] Bricks (with waste) = Bricks × (1 + Wastage%) Wall Volume (m³) = Area(m²) × Thickness(m) Mortar Volume (wet) = Wall Volume × 0.30 Mortar Volume (dry) = Wet × 1.30 Cement (bags) = [1/(c+s)] × DryVol × 1440 ÷ 50 Sand (cft) = [s/(c+s)] × DryVol × 35.3147

📐 Standard Brick Sizes — Pakistan, India & International

Brick sizes vary by region and project type. Always confirm with your local supplier before ordering. The brick size directly affects how many bricks per square foot you need.

Brick TypeLength × Width × HeightBricks/sq ft (9" wall)Where Used
Pakistan Standard9" × 4.5" × 3"13.5Pakistan — most common
Modular (US)7.625" × 3.625" × 2.25"~15USA, some Gulf projects
Queen Size9.625" × 4.625" × 2.75"~12Commercial projects
Indian Standard9" × 4.33" × 2.95"~13India, Bangladesh
Engineering Brick9" × 4.5" × 3" (dense)13.5Retaining walls, sewers
Fire Brick9" × 4.5" × 2.5"~16Furnaces, kilns

🪣 Mortar Mix Ratios — Which to Use?

The mortar mix ratio (Cement : Sand) determines the strength and application of the mortar. Stronger mixes use more cement but cost more. Here is when to use each ratio:

Mix RatioStrengthCement/m³ MortarUse Case
1:3 (Rich Mix)Very Strong~480 kgBelow DPC, water tanks, retaining walls
1:4Strong~360 kgExternal walls, exposed brickwork
1:5 (Standard)Medium~290 kgGeneral internal and external walls
1:6Economy~240 kgInternal partition walls, non-load bearing
1:8 (Lean Mix)Weak~180 kgBacking mortar, rough filling
For Pakistan residential construction, 1:5 ratio is the standard for most walls. Use 1:4 for external boundary walls, basement walls, and areas exposed to rain.

🇵🇰 Brick Prices in Pakistan — Market Rates 2025

Brick prices vary by city, kiln type, quality grade, and quantity ordered. These are approximate market rates as of 2025. Always get quotes from 2–3 local suppliers before ordering.

City / RegionFirst Class BrickSecond ClassNotes
LahorePKR 18–22 per brickPKR 14–17Includes delivery within 20km
KarachiPKR 20–25 per brickPKR 15–18Higher due to transport from kilns
Islamabad / RawalpindiPKR 17–21 per brickPKR 13–16Murree Road kilns nearby
FaisalabadPKR 15–19 per brickPKR 11–14Many local kilns, competitive pricing
Multan / BahawalpurPKR 13–17 per brickPKR 10–13Lowest prices, many kilns
Peshawar / KPKPKR 16–20 per brickPKR 12–15Stone construction also common

Cement Prices — Pakistan 2025

BrandPrice per 50kg BagGrade
DG Khan CementPKR 1,250–1,400OPC 43/53
Lucky CementPKR 1,200–1,380OPC 43/53
Bestway CementPKR 1,200–1,350OPC 43
Maple Leaf CementPKR 1,180–1,320OPC 43
Cherat CementPKR 1,150–1,300OPC 43
💡 Buy cement in bulk (10+ bags) for a 5–8% discount from most dealers. Store in a dry, elevated area — cement shelf life is 3 months after manufacture.

📝 Worked Example — Boundary Wall Calculation

Problem: Calculate materials for a 40ft long × 8ft high boundary wall, 9" thick, with 1:5 mortar, 5% wastage, and one gate opening of 10ft × 7ft.

Given: Length = 40 ft Height = 8 ft Gate opening = 10 × 7 = 70 sq ft Thickness = 9 inches Ratio = 1:5 | Wastage = 5% Step 1: Wall Area = (40 × 8) − 70 = 320 − 70 = 250 sq ft Step 2: Bricks = 250 × 13.5 × 1.05 = 3,544 bricks Step 3: Wall Vol = 250 × 0.0929 × (9/12 × 0.3048) = 23.2 × 0.2286 = 5.30 m³ Step 4: Mortar = 5.30 × 0.30 = 1.59 m³ (wet) Dry = 1.59 × 1.30 = 2.07 m³ Step 5: Cement = (1/6) × 2.07 × 1440 ÷ 50 = 9.9 ≈ 10 bags Step 6: Sand = (5/6) × 2.07 × 35.3147 = 60.9 cft ANSWER: Bricks → 3,544 nos Cement → 10 bags (50 kg each) Sand → 61 cft

💡 Expert Tips & Common Mistakes in Brick Work

Top Tips from Pakistani Contractors

  • Always wet bricks before laying — dry bricks absorb water from mortar and weaken joints
  • Never mix cement and sand without adding water gradually — lumps reduce strength by 20%
  • Use a spirit level and string line for every 3 courses to maintain straight, level walls
  • Order 7–10% more bricks than calculated — cutting, breakage, and site waste is always higher than expected
  • Allow freshly laid brickwork to cure for 7 days (water daily) before applying heavy loads
  • Use 1:4 mortar for the bottom 3 courses of any wall (just above DPC) for moisture resistance
⚠️ Common Mistake: Many contractors use too much water in mortar to make it more workable. Excess water weakens mortar strength by up to 40%. Mix should be stiff but workable.

Quality Check — First Class vs Second Class Bricks

  • First Class: Uniform red/orange color, sharp edges, ringing sound when struck, water absorption <15%, no cracks
  • Second Class: Slightly irregular, minor surface cracks acceptable, water absorption 15–20%
  • Reject: Black core, powdery surface, dull thud when struck, visible lime nodules (explosive when wet)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

For a 10×10 ft room with 10ft walls (9" thick): Perimeter = 2×(10+10) = 40 ft. Wall Area = 40×10 = 400 sq ft. Minus 1 door (6.5×3=19.5 sq ft) = 380.5 sq ft. Bricks = 380.5 × 13.5 × 1.05 = 5,394 bricks ≈ 5,400 bricks. You will also need approximately 25 bags of cement and 150 cft of sand for a 1:5 mortar ratio.
In Pakistan: 9 inch walls are standard for external walls, boundary walls, and load-bearing walls. 4.5 inch walls are used for internal partition walls that do not carry structural loads. Double brick (13.5 inch) walls are used for very long boundary walls or walls in earthquake zones for extra stability.
Standard brick truck capacities in Pakistan: Small truck (Suzuki/pickup): 500–1,000 bricks · Medium truck (Mazda): 3,000–5,000 bricks · Large truck (10-wheeler): 8,000–12,000 bricks · Trolley (tractor trailer): 15,000–25,000 bricks. Always confirm the exact count with the kiln/supplier before payment.
1440 kg/m³ is the standard bulk density (unit weight) of OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement) in loose dry powder form. This is used to convert cement volume (m³) to weight (kg). One 50kg bag of cement has a volume of approximately 0.035 m³. This value is used in all standard engineering calculations across ACI 318, BS 8110, and IS 456.
Standard wastage allowances for brickwork: Straight walls: 5% · Walls with many corners: 7% · Curved walls or arches: 10–15% · Small openings with lots of cutting: 10% · Boundary walls (long runs): 5%. Always add wastage to your brick count, not to cement and sand (those are calculated on net area, not gross).

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