Calculate total bricks, mortar volume, and sand requirements
Estimation Summary
Total Bricks Required0
Wall Surface Area0 m²
Mortar Volume0 m³
Sand Required (Est.)0 kg
How to Use the Building Calculator
Planning a construction project requires precise material estimation to avoid costly over-ordering or project delays. This building calculator helps you determine the exact number of bricks and the volume of mortar needed for a single-skin masonry wall.
Calculation Logic
To calculate the number of bricks, we first determine the area of a single brick including the mortar joint. The formula used is:
Common standard brick sizes used in construction include:
Standard UK: 215mm x 65mm x 102.5mm
US Modular: 194mm x 57mm x 92mm
Australia: 230mm x 76mm x 110mm
Mortar and Wastage
It is standard practice to include a 5% to 10% wastage allowance. This accounts for bricks that are cut for ends, corners, or those damaged during transit. Mortar volume is calculated based on the void space between bricks, typically assuming a 10mm joint thickness.
Pro Tip: For a double-skin (cavity) wall, simply double the "Total Bricks Required" result.
function calculateBuildingMaterials() {
// Get Inputs
var wallL = parseFloat(document.getElementById('wallLength').value);
var wallH = parseFloat(document.getElementById('wallHeight').value);
var brickL = parseFloat(document.getElementById('brickLength').value) / 1000; // convert to meters
var brickH = parseFloat(document.getElementById('brickHeight').value) / 1000; // convert to meters
var jointT = parseFloat(document.getElementById('jointThickness').value) / 1000; // convert to meters
var wasteP = parseFloat(document.getElementById('wastage').value);
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(wallL) || isNaN(wallH) || isNaN(brickL) || isNaN(brickH) || wallL <= 0 || wallH <= 0) {
alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for wall and brick dimensions.");
return;
}
// Wall Area
var wallArea = wallL * wallH;
// Effective area of one brick including joint
var effectiveBrickArea = (brickL + jointT) * (brickH + jointT);
// Bricks needed
var bricksNeeded = wallArea / effectiveBrickArea;
// Add wastage
var totalBricks = Math.ceil(bricksNeeded * (1 + (wasteP / 100)));
// Mortar Volume Calculation (Approximate for single skin 102.5mm width)
// Formula: (Total Wall Vol) – (Total Brick Vol)
var brickW = 0.1025; // Standard width in meters
var wallVolume = wallArea * brickW;
var totalBrickVolumeWithoutJoints = bricksNeeded * (brickL * brickH * brickW);
var mortarVolume = wallVolume – totalBrickVolumeWithoutJoints;
// Sand estimation (roughly 1600kg per m3 of mortar)
var sandWeight = Math.round(mortarVolume * 1600);
// Display Results
document.getElementById('resultsArea').style.display = 'block';
document.getElementById('resBricks').innerHTML = totalBricks.toLocaleString();
document.getElementById('resArea').innerHTML = wallArea.toFixed(2) + " m²";
document.getElementById('resMortar').innerHTML = mortarVolume.toFixed(3) + " m³";
document.getElementById('resSand').innerHTML = sandWeight.toLocaleString() + " kg";
// Scroll to results on mobile
if(window.innerWidth < 600) {
document.getElementById('resultsArea').scrollIntoView({behavior: 'smooth'});
}
}