Construction Calculators

Q: How many bricks are there per square metre?

For a standard SA brick (222 x 106 x 73mm) laid single-skin with a 10mm mortar joint, you need roughly 54-55 bricks per square metre. Always add 5-10% for cuts and breakages.

Bricks, paint, tiles and cement — four calculators in one place. Pick a tab, enter your measurements, get a straight answer with wastage built in.

Wall length

Wall height

Openings (doors/windows)

Brick type

Wall thickness

Mortar joint

Wastage allowance

—bricks needed

Wall length

Wall height

Openings (doors/windows)

Paint type

Coverage rate

m²/L

Auto-fills from paint type — check your tin's label for the exact figure.

Number of coats

—litres of paint

Room/area length

Room/area width

Tile size

Tiles per box (optional)

Wastage allowance

—tiles needed

Application

Length

Width

Thickness/depth

Cement bag size

—bags of cement

Note on cement type: this estimate uses a general density figure (roughly 1440 kg per cubic metre of cement). The actual yield of a cement bag varies by cement type and brand — for example, CEM I, CEM II/blended and PPC-type cements can differ in density and strength class, which changes how many bags a given mix and volume actually needs. Treat this as a planning estimate, buy a little extra, and for structural or load-bearing work confirm quantities against your specific cement's technical data sheet or a proper mix design.

Frequently asked questions

How many bricks are there per square metre?

For a standard SA brick (222 × 106 × 73mm) laid single-skin with a 10mm mortar joint, you need roughly 54-55 bricks per square metre. Always add 5-10% for cuts and breakages.

How much paint do I need for a wall?

Divide the wall area by the paint's coverage rate (typically 8-12 m² per litre per coat) and multiply by the number of coats. Two coats is standard for most walls.

How many bags of cement do I need for concrete?

It depends on your mix ratio and the volume of concrete. A 1:2:4 mix (cement:sand:stone) for 1 cubic metre of concrete needs roughly 6-7 bags of 50kg cement — but this varies by cement type and brand, so always check the bag's technical data sheet for critical work.

Does the amount of cement change with the type of cement?

Yes. Different cement types and brands (such as CEM I, CEM II, or blended/PPC cements) have different densities and strength classes, which affects how many bags you need for a given mix and volume. This calculator gives a general estimate — confirm against your specific cement's technical data sheet, especially for structural work.