Brickwork Calculation: Bricks and Cement per Cubic Metre and per 100 sq ft
Calculate bricks, cement and sand for brick masonry quickly — per cubic metre and for common 9-inch and 4.5-inch walls.
One cubic metre of brickwork with standard 230×110×75 mm bricks and 10 mm joints needs about 410 bricks (about 430 with wastage) and roughly 0.3 m³ of dry mortar — about 1.3 bags of cement in 1:6 mortar or 1.8 bags in 1:4. For 100 sq ft of 9-inch wall, plan about 900 bricks and 2.7 bags of cement (1:6); for a 4.5-inch wall, about 460 bricks and 1.9 bags (1:4).
Bricks per cubic metre
The number depends on brick size with the mortar joint (usually 10 mm).
| Brick size (mm) | Size with joint (mm) | Bricks per m³ |
|---|---|---|
| 190 × 90 × 90 (modular) | 200 × 100 × 100 | 500 |
| 230 × 110 × 75 (common) | 240 × 120 × 85 | ~408 |
Add 5% for breakage and cutting, so plan about 430 common bricks per m³.
Mortar per cubic metre
For common bricks, the bricks themselves take up about 0.77 m³ of each m³ of wall, leaving roughly 0.23 m³ of wet mortar (more if bricks have deep frogs that are filled). Converting to dry volume (× 1.33) gives about 0.31 m³ of dry mortar.
| Mortar mix | Cement (kg) | Cement (bags) | Sand (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:6 | ~63 | ~1.26 | ~0.26 |
| 1:5 | ~73 | ~1.47 | ~0.26 |
| 1:4 | ~88 | ~1.76 | ~0.25 |
Per 100 sq ft of wall
9-inch (230 mm) wall, 1:6 mortar:
- Volume = 9.29 m² × 0.23 m = 2.14 m³
- Bricks = 2.14 × 408 ≈ 873 → about 915 with 5% wastage
- Cement = 2.14 × 1.26 ≈ 2.7 bags
- Sand = 2.14 × 0.26 ≈ 0.56 m³ (about 20 cft)
4.5-inch (115 mm) partition wall, 1:4 mortar:
- Volume = 9.29 × 0.115 = 1.07 m³
- Bricks ≈ 437 → about 460 with wastage
- Cement = 1.07 × 1.76 ≈ 1.9 bags
Deduct openings (doors, windows, ventilators) before calculating.
Which mortar ratio?
- 1:6 — load-bearing and external 9-inch walls in normal conditions
- 1:4 — half-brick (4.5-inch) partition walls, which rely more on mortar strength, and walls exposed to heavy weather
- 1:3 — rarely, for special high-strength work
Follow your specification. PPC is a good choice for masonry mortar.
Good brickwork practice
- Soak clay bricks for a few hours before laying so they do not absorb water from mortar. (Fly ash bricks and AAC blocks follow different rules — see AAC block wall construction.)
- Keep joints full and uniform at about 10 mm.
- Break joints — no continuous vertical joints.
- Lay with frogs facing up and fill them.
- Build no more than about 1 to 1.5 m height per day.
- Cure brickwork for at least 7 days.
Comparing wall materials
If you are choosing between bricks and blocks, read AAC blocks vs red bricks and fly ash bricks vs clay bricks. AAC blocks use far less mortar per m³ because of their size and thin joints.
Key takeaways
- About 410 common bricks per m³ (430 with wastage).
- About 1.3 bags of cement per m³ in 1:6 mortar.
- 9-inch wall: ~900 bricks and ~2.7 bags per 100 sq ft.
- Deduct openings and add 5% wastage.
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks are in 1 cubic metre?
About 500 modular bricks (190×90×90 mm) or about 408 common bricks (230×110×75 mm) with 10 mm joints, before wastage.
How much cement is required for 1 cubic metre of brickwork?
Approximately 1.3 bags of cement in 1:6 mortar, or about 1.8 bags in 1:4 mortar, for common bricks with 10 mm joints.
How many bricks are needed for 100 sq ft of 9-inch wall?
Around 870 bricks, or about 915 with 5% wastage, for common 230×110×75 mm bricks.
Which mortar ratio is used for 4.5-inch walls?
Half-brick partition walls are commonly built in richer 1:4 mortar because they rely more on mortar strength.
Need materials for this work?
See indicative delivered prices for your pincode, or get an itemised project quotation with freight, unloading and GST shown line by line.
This guide is general information for planning and buying. Quantities, grades and methods for your structure must follow your approved drawings, your engineer’s specification and the applicable Indian Standards.
