You need about 60 standard bricks per square metre for a single-skin (half-brick) wall and about 120 per square metre for a double-skin (one-brick thick) wall. Add 5 to 10% extra for cuts and breakages. These figures assume standard 215 x 102.5 x 65mm bricks with 10mm mortar joints.

Wall type	Brick size	Bricks per m²
Single skin (half-brick)	Standard 65mm	60
Double skin (one-brick thick)	Standard 65mm	120
Single skin	73mm	54
Double skin	73mm	108
Block wall (440 x 215mm face)	Standard block	10

How to calculate the number of building bricks you need

Buying the right amount of building bricks saves you money and avoids a second delivery that may not match the first batch. Follow these steps:

1. Measure the wall. Multiply length by height to get the area in m². A 5m x 2.4m wall is 12m².
2. Subtract openings. Deduct the area of windows and doors.
3. Multiply by bricks per m². Use 60 for single skin or 120 for double skin with standard bricks.
4. Add wastage. Add 5% for simple straight walls and up to 10% for walls with lots of cuts, corners or openings.

Worked example: a 5m x 2.4m garden wall, single skin

• Area: 5 x 2.4 = 12m²
• Bricks: 12 x 60 = 720
• Plus 10% wastage: 720 + 72 = 792, so order about 800 bricks

If the same wall were double skin, you’d need 12 x 120 = 1,440, or about 1,600 with wastage.

You can also use our material calculators to check your figures.

How many 73mm bricks do you need per m²?

73mm bricks are a little taller than the standard 65mm size. Each course is deeper, so you need fewer bricks to cover the same area.

• Single skin: about 54 bricks per m²
• Double skin: about 108 bricks per m²

Using the same 12m² wall, that’s 12 x 54 = 648 bricks, or about 700 with 8 to 10% wastage. If you’re matching an existing wall, measure the brick height first, because mixing 65mm and 73mm bricks won’t line up.

How many cement blocks for walls?

If you’re building a garden wall, extension footings or an inner leaf, you may be using blocks instead of bricks. For cement blocks for walls, allow about 10 standard blocks per m² (440 x 215mm face size, 10mm joints).

For our 12m² wall, that’s 12 x 10 = 120 blocks, or about 130 with wastage. Building Block thickness (100mm, 140mm, 215mm and so on) doesn’t change the count per m², but it does affect strength and insulation, so check what your plans specify. 

Don’t forget special shaped bricks

Your m² figure covers standard bricks only. Details such as copings, plinths, cills, bullnose corners and arches use special shaped bricks, which are ordered separately by number. Count these at the design stage, because they can be harder to source later and dye lots may differ. 

How much mortar do you need? Cement and sand

Mortar is made from cement and sand, and the amount you need depends on the mix and how tight the joints are. As a rough guide, 1,000 bricks needs around 1 tonne of building sand and 6 to 8 bags of 25kg cement, depending on the mix ratio.

Ask us about the right mix for your job, since it varies for freestanding garden walls, load-bearing walls and different exposure levels. We stock a full range of cement products and building aggregates including bagged and bulk sand.

For small to medium projects, our builders bundle of 1,000 bricks, 5 bags of cement and 1 jumbo bag of sand for £395 + VAT is a convenient starting point.

Common mistakes when ordering bricks

• Forgetting wastage. Running short means reordering, and bricks from a different batch can vary in colour.
• Not deducting openings. This leads to over-ordering.
• Mixing brick heights. 65mm and 73mm bricks aren’t interchangeable in the same wall.
• Ignoring special shapes. Copings, cills and corner bricks are extra.
• Ordering the wrong brick type. Facing bricks are for looks, while engineering bricks are for strength and damp resistance below DPC level. Compare them in our building bricks range.

Frequently asked questions

How many bricks are in a pack?

It depends on the brick. Pack sizes vary between manufacturers, so check the product listing or ask our team.

How many bricks do I need for a single-storey extension?

It depends on the size. As an example, a 4m x 3m extension with three new external walls at 2.4m high has about 24m² of wall. After deducting about 4m² for windows and doors, that’s roughly 20m² x 60 = 1,200 bricks for the outer leaf, plus wastage. Always confirm quantities against your plans.

How many bricks do I need for 1 square metre?

About 60 for a single-skin wall with standard 65mm bricks, or about 54 with 73mm bricks.

How many blocks per m²?

About 10 standard blocks per m² for a 440 x 215mm block.

Should I order extra bricks?

Yes, allow 5 to 10% for cuts and breakages.

Buy your bricks from a local builders merchant

Need help with quantities? Our team at Buildland is a local builders merchant serving trade and public customers from branches in Redditch and Coventry. Whether you need a single pallet or a full project order, you can order building supplies online for collection or delivery across the West Midlands.