Categories
Quick answer: for modular bricks (190 × 90 × 90 mm, or 200 × 100 × 100 mm with mortar), a cubic metre of brickwork needs about 500 bricks. That is roughly 100 bricks per m² of a 200 mm-thick wall (about 9.3 per sq ft) and 50 per m² of a 100 mm-thick wall (about 4.6 per sq ft), before wastage. A 1:6 cement mortar for that cubic metre needs about 1.2 bags of cement and 0.25 m³ of sand.
Every number depends on the actual brick you buy. Many local bricks are not modular, and fly-ash bricks and blocks have their own sizes. Measure a sample from the supplier before you calculate, and recalculate if the brick changes.
Know Your Brick Size First
A modular brick is 190 × 90 × 90 mm and becomes 200 × 100 × 100 mm with a 10 mm mortar joint. One such unit occupies 0.002 m³, so a cubic metre of brickwork holds 500 of them. Traditional and local bricks often differ, for example about 9 × 4½ × 3 inches, so measure a delivered sample and work from its real size.
Do not reuse brick numbers for AAC or fly-ash blocks. Larger blocks change the count per m², and blocks laid with thin-bed adhesive use far less mortar, so recalculate each material separately.
The Calculation, Step by Step
One cubic metre of modular brickwork contains 500 bricks. The bricks themselves occupy 500 × 0.19 × 0.09 × 0.09 = 0.77 m³, leaving 0.23 m³ of wet mortar. Dry materials for mortar are about 1.27 times the wet volume (sources use 1.25 to 1.33), so roughly 0.29 m³. Split that dry volume by the mortar ratio to get cement and sand.
At 1:6 that is 0.29 ÷ 7 = 0.042 m³ of cement, which is about 60 kg or 1.2 bags, and 0.25 m³ of sand. Measurement rules such as IS 1200 and your contract define how openings are deducted, so agree the rule before the BOQ is priced.
Worked Example: A 12 ft × 10 ft Wall With a Door and a Window
The gross wall is 12 × 10 = 120 sq ft. Deduct a 3 × 7 ft door (21 sq ft) and a 4 × 4 ft window (16 sq ft), leaving 83 sq ft, or 7.71 m². At 200 mm thickness the wall volume is 1.54 m³, so bricks are 7.71 × 100 = 771. Add 5% for breakage and you order about 810.
Mortar at 1:6 is 1.54 × 0.29 = 0.45 m³ dry, which needs about 93 kg of cement (1.9 bags) and 0.39 m³ of sand. Add the site wastage you agreed for mortar. The plaster on both faces is a separate calculation, covered in the sand guide linked below.
Bricks by Wall Area: A Planning Table
Use this table for a first estimate and a cross-check on measured quantities. It applies to modular bricks and excludes openings and breakage.
Brick Quality Checks Before Unloading
Look for uniform colour, sharp edges and no cracks or lime pops. Strike two bricks together and listen for a clear ringing sound, and compare a stack of 20 bricks with 20 times the nominal length within the standard's tolerance. IS 1077 also limits water absorption for common burnt clay bricks (around 20% by mass for the lower strength classes, so check the class you buy), and efflorescence and compressive strength are reported in a laboratory test.
Agree how bricks are counted before the truck arrives, by vehicle tally or by stack, and record breakage at the gate. A disputed count is far cheaper to settle at unloading than after the bricks are stacked and laid.
Ordering and Wastage: What to Put in the BOQ
Breakage from transport and handling is commonly around 3 to 5%, and it rises with poor loading and rough unloading. Keep the allowance as its own line so you can compare it with actual use.
Keep wall area, thickness, openings and mortar ratio in the same BOQ line set as your other materials. The construction material BOQ guide shows the layout, and the river sand vs M-sand vs P-sand guide covers the sand you will be buying for the mortar and plaster.
Brick Estimate Checks: Rule of Thumb vs Measured Calculation
| Approach | What it uses | Where it goes wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Bricks per sq ft rule | Wall face area only | Ignores thickness, openings and brick size |
| Measured calculation | Net area × thickness ÷ brick unit with joint | Needs correct openings and real brick size |
| Supplier estimate | Delivered count | May exclude breakage and mortar |
| Reconciled estimate | Bricks and mortar issued vs wall built | Requires weekly site records |
How to calculate before you order
- Get the brick or block type, size and wall thickness from the drawings.
- Measure a delivered sample to confirm the real brick size.
- Calculate net wall area for each thickness, deducting openings by the agreed rule.
- Convert wall volume to bricks using the size with mortar joint.
- Add a breakage allowance as a separate line.
- Calculate mortar from the leftover volume and the specified ratio.
- Agree the counting method and breakage record before delivery.
- Inspect colour, ring, size and condition on unloading.
Compare current options and place orders onMadoverbuildings (MOB).
Pricing Snapshot
| Product | Live Price | MRP / RFQ | Buying Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| (50 Bags MOQ) Priya Portland Pozzolana (PPC) Cement 50Kg Bag (50 Bags Multiple) | Rs 16,000 / Bag | RFQ Rs 15,750 | Stock: 500; Delivery: QWIK; Unit: Bag |
| ACC Suraksha PPC Cement 50Kg Bag | Rs 365 / Bag | RFQ Rs 365 | Stock: 0; Delivery: QWIK; Unit: Bag |
| (50 Bags MOQ) Ramco Ordinary Portland (OPC) Grade 53 Cement 50Kg Bag (50 Bags Multiple) | Rs 19,250 / Bag | RFQ Rs 19,250 | Stock: 500; Delivery: QWIK; Unit: Bag |
| (50 Bags MOQ) Ramco Supergrade Portland Pozzolana (PPC) Cement 50Kg Bag (50 Bags Multiple) | Rs 18,000 / Bag | RFQ Rs 17,750 | Stock: 500; Delivery: QWIK; Unit: Bag |
Wastage mistakes that short the last pour
- Record which bricks are for which floor so leftovers do not migrate between walls.
- Ask the mason for the joint thickness they actually lay; thicker joints use more mortar.
- Soak bricks as the specification says before laying so they do not draw water from the mortar.
- Stack bricks on level dry ground, interlocked, away from waterlogging.
- Measure openings on site, not from the drawing alone, when they will be deducted.
- Do not add plaster quantities into brickwork mortar lines.
How This Plays Out on Madoverbuildings (MOB)
Madoverbuildings (MOB) can help source bricks, blocks, cement and sand once the wall schedule is confirmed. Explore relevant construction materials on MOB, submit a mixed list through Magic Quote, or use an RFQ for project quantities. Brick class, mortar ratio, wall thickness and workmanship remain the responsibility of the project's designer and contractor.
Relevant Products to Compare
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks are needed per square foot?
For modular bricks, about 9.3 per sq ft of a 200 mm-thick wall face and about 4.6 per sq ft of a 100 mm-thick wall, before openings and breakage. A traditional 9-inch wall with 9 × 4½ × 3 inch bricks is about 9 per sq ft.
How many bricks are in one cubic metre of brickwork?
About 500 modular bricks (190 × 90 × 90 mm) with 10 mm joints. Other brick sizes give a different count.
How much cement and sand for 1000 bricks?
1,000 modular bricks make about 2 m³ of brickwork, which at 1:6 needs roughly 121 kg of cement (2.4 bags) and 0.5 m³ of sand, before mortar wastage.
What is the mortar ratio for brickwork?
It is set by the engineer. 1:4 to 1:6 (cement to sand) are commonly seen, with richer mixes used where more strength is needed. Follow the drawing or specification.
How much wastage should I allow for bricks?
Commonly around 3 to 5% for breakage, higher with poor loading or handling. Keep it as a separate line and compare it with actual breakage.
How do I calculate bricks for a wall with a door and window?
Calculate the gross wall area, subtract the opening areas as agreed, multiply the net area by bricks per m² for the wall thickness, and add breakage.
Do AAC blocks use the same mortar as bricks?
No. AAC blocks are larger and are usually laid with thin-bed adhesive, so both block count and mortar quantity differ. Recalculate for the block you use.
How do I check brick quality on site?
Check colour, edges, cracks and size, listen for a ringing sound when two bricks are struck, and send a sample for laboratory tests of strength and water absorption when the specification requires it.
