The calculation, without hidden assumptions
A useful brick estimate needs more than wall area. Wall thickness, actual brick dimensions and mortar-joint thickness change the number of units through the masonry volume, while doors and windows reduce the net work. MAXScanner uses an explicit brick-plus-joint module, keeps wet mortar separate from a user-entered dry-volume factor, and converts the dry mix into cement and sand only after you enter the mortar ratio and bag-volume basis. That makes the calculation checkable across different brick sizes and local material systems instead of hiding one regional bricks-per-cubic-metre constant.
How to use this calculator
Enter wall length, height, thickness and the number of similar walls, then deduct the total measured door/window opening area.
Enter the actual brick length, height and width plus the planned mortar-joint thickness; do not rely on a nominal brick name when the supplied size differs.
Set the waste allowance, cement:sand mix ratio, dry-volume factor and cement-bag volume used for your estimate, then compare the brick, mortar, cement, sand and optional cost outputs with drawings and supplier data.
Where people use it
- •Brick wall and boundary-wall quantity takeoffs
- •Checking door and window deductions before ordering
- •Estimating mortar, cement and sand from an explicit mix ratio
- •Comparing brick size, joint thickness, waste and local material prices
Example: 20 × 10 ft wall with a 3 × 7 ft door
A wall-volume estimate first subtracts the door opening at the entered wall thickness. The remaining masonry volume is divided by the entered brick-plus-joint module, then the solid-brick volume is removed to expose the estimated wet mortar volume before any dry-mix conversion.
What the result does not assume
- •Brick bonds, closures, piers, returns, arches, reinforcement and site cutting can change quantity. This is a regular-volume planning model, not a bond-by-bond takeoff.
- •Dry-volume factor, mortar ratio, bag bulk volume and local material prices vary by specification and region. They remain editable inputs and should be replaced with the project basis.
- •Openings are entered as total face area and are multiplied by the entered wall thickness; unusual reveals or partial-depth openings need a project-specific deduction.
Frequently asked questions
Why does wall thickness matter in a brick calculator?+
A full-depth masonry wall contains more brick and mortar volume than a veneer or thinner wall. This calculator therefore works from net wall volume rather than only face area.
Can I subtract doors and windows?+
Yes. Enter their combined face area as the opening deduction. The calculator removes that area at the entered wall thickness before estimating brick and mortar quantities.
Does it calculate cement and sand for mortar?+
Yes. Wet mortar is converted using the dry-volume factor and cement:sand ratio you enter, then cement volume is divided by your entered cement-bag bulk volume.
Does MAXScanner assume a standard brick size?+
No. The example loads a common-size scenario, but the actual brick length, height, width and joint thickness are editable and should match the supplied product.
Semantic next steps
Continue the calculation
These links move to a different input, formula or project stage rather than a keyword variation of this page.
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Keep the result connected to the real job
MAXScanner keeps the formula and assumptions beside the result so you can verify the number before using it in a drawing, estimate, specification, worksheet or document. Where a supplier, manufacturer, drawing or applicable standard owns a requirement, that source remains authoritative.