How Many Bricks Do I Need? Calculator & Estimating Guide

Getting the numbers right is one of those jobs that's easy to put off and easy to get wrong. Order too few bricks and the job stalls while you wait on more. Order too many, and you've paid for bricks you'll never use. 

The question - how many bricks do I need? - comes up on almost every project, and the good news is it only takes a few minutes to answer. This guide walks you through it step by step, for small DIY jobs and full builds alike.

Standard Brick Sizes in Australia

Before you can count anything, you need to know the size of the brick you're using, because that's what decides how many fit in a square metre. The standard brick size in Australia is 230 x 110 x 76mm. Double-height bricks measure 230 x 110 x 162mm, and because each one covers more wall, you need fewer of them for the same job.

One more thing matters: the mortar joint. Bricks are laid with a gap of around 10mm between them for mortar, and that joint is part of the finished wall. Every calculation below assumes a standard 10mm joint, which is why the figures aren't based on the bare brick size alone.

If you haven't settled on a brick yet, it's worth sorting that first, since type and size both affect your count. Our guide to face bricks vs. common bricks can help you decide.

How Many Bricks Per Square Metre?

The core number to remember is bricks per square metre. For a standard brick laid in a single skin wall with 10mm joints, you need about 50 bricks per square metre. For double-height bricks, it's about 25, since each brick covers twice the area.

 

 

These figures are for a single skin (half brick) wall. A double brick wall uses two skins, so you'd double the count. Joint thickness and bond pattern can nudge the number slightly, but if you're wondering how many bricks per m2 to allow, 50 is the reliable figure to start with.

Step-by-Step: Calculate Bricks for a Wall

Here's the simple method. Think of it as a four-step brick calculator you can do on the back of an envelope.

Step 1: Measure the wall area. Multiply height by length to get the area in square metres. A wall 10m long and 2m high is 20 square metres.

Step 2: Subtract openings. Take off the area of any windows and doors, since you won't be bricking those. Work out each opening in square metres and subtract it from your total.

Step 3: Multiply by bricks per square metre. For standard bricks, multiply the wall area by 50. For our 20 square metre wall, that's 20 x 50 = 1,000 bricks.

Step 4: Add wastage. Bricks get cut, dropped, and broken, so add 5 to 10% on top. On 1,000 bricks, 10% takes you to 1,100.

So a 10m x 2m single skin wall in standard bricks needs roughly 1,100 bricks once wastage is included. Run those same four steps for any wall and you'll have a solid estimate.

Quick Reference Table (Common Project Sizes)

If you'd rather start from a ballpark, here are rough estimates for common jobs. Treat them as approximate, since every project differs.

 

 

These assume standard bricks in a single skin with some wastage built in. Double brick walls and larger homes climb from here.

Ordering: Packs, Pallets, and Why You Round Up

Once you've got your number, there's a little more to ordering. Bricks are sold by the pack or per 1,000 rather than as singles, so you'll usually round up to the nearest pack anyway. A pack often holds a few hundred bricks, though it varies by manufacturer, brick size, and weight, so it's worth confirming the pack size before you order.

Always round up, never down. Running a few bricks short partway through a job means a second delivery and a delay, while a small surplus covers breakages and leaves you spares for any future repairs. If you want to turn your brick count into a budget, our brick prices in Australia guide covers what you'll pay per 1,000.

Common Estimating Mistakes

A few simple slip-ups throw out otherwise good estimates:

• Forgetting the mortar joints and calculating on the bare brick size
  
• Not subtracting windows and doors
  
• Skipping the wastage allowance
• Using the wrong brick size in the maths
• Underestimating complex layouts with piers, corners, or curves

Check those off and your estimate will be close to spot on.

 

Quick Bricklaying Tips for DIY

If you're laying the bricks yourself, a few bricklaying tips for DIY projects make life easier:

• Always order a few extra bricks so you're never caught short
• Keep your mortar joints a consistent thickness for a tidy, even wall
• Check your levels often as you go, rather than trying to fix it at the end
• Start with a small project, like a garden wall, before tackling anything bigger

Order Your Bricks Online

Once you know how many bricks you need, ordering is the easy part. For the full rundown on choosing and buying brick, our complete guide to bricks covers everything in one place. BricksBlocksPaversOnline stocks a wide range of bricks for projects of every size, from a single garden wall to a full home build, with delivery straight to your site. 

Browse the commons brick range, or explore PGH Bricks and Austral Bricks to find the right brick for the job. Work out your quantity, add a little for wastage, and if you're unsure of the numbers, our team can help you check your estimate before you order.