How To Calculate The Quantity Of Cement Mortar In Brickwork And Plaster

Brick Work & Cement Mortar Calculation (With Formula & Examples)

Brickwork and cement mortar calculation is essential for accurate material estimation in construction. Correct calculation helps reduce wastage, control costs, and ensure strong, durable masonry. This guide explains brick quantity, mortar volume, cement and sand requirement step by step using standard construction practice.

Brick Work Calculation Summary

Item	Standard Value
Bricks per 1 m³	500 bricks
Wet mortar volume	0.2305 m³
Dry mortar volume	0.3169 m³
Standard brick size	190 × 90 × 90 mm
Brick size with mortar	200 × 100 × 100 mm
Mortar joint thickness	10 mm
Common brickwork ratio	1:6 (cement : sand)

What Is Brickwork?

Brickwork is the construction of walls or structures by laying bricks in a systematic pattern using mortar as a binding material. Mortar fills joints between bricks, distributes loads evenly, and improves the overall strength and durability of masonry.

Standard Brick Sizes Used in Construction

Brick Type	Size
Red Brick	190 × 90 × 90 mm
Fly Ash Brick	230 × 110 × 75 mm
Hollow Brick	300 × 150 × 150 mm

Note: All calculations below are based on standard red bricks with 10 mm mortar joints.

Brick Work Ratio (Cement : Sand)

The brickwork ratio determines the strength of masonry work.

• 1:6 – Standard brick masonry work
• 1:4 – Load-bearing structures
• 1:3 – High-strength or moist conditions

How to Calculate Brick Quantity (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Brick Size With Mortar

Brick size with mortar =
200 × 100 × 100 mm = 0.002 m³

Step 2: Number of Bricks in 1 Cubic Meter

Number of bricks = 1 ÷ 0.002= 500 bricks
500 bricks are required for 1 m³ of brickwork

How Many Bricks in 1 Cubic Meter?

A standard cubic meter of brickwork contains approximately 500 bricks, assuming:

• Brick size: 190 × 90 × 90 mm
• Mortar thickness: 10 mm

Actual quantities may vary slightly depending on brick size and workmanship.

Cement Mortar Calculation for Brickwork

Step 1: Volume of Bricks (Without Mortar)

Volume of one brick
= 0.19 × 0.09 × 0.09
= 0.001539 m³

Total brick volume
= 500 × 0.001539
= 0.7695 m³

Step 2: Wet Volume of Mortar

Wet mortar volume
= 1 – 0.7695
= 0.2305 m³

Step 3: Dry Volume of Mortar

Add 10% wastage to wet mortar: 0.2305 × 1.10 = 0.25355 m³

Convert wet volume to dry volume by adding 25%: 0.25355 × 1.25 = 0.3169 m³

Dry mortar required for 1 m³ brickwork = 0.3169 m³

Cement and Sand Quantity for Brickwork (1:6 Ratio)

Cement Requirement

Cement volume
= 0.3169 × (1 ÷ 7)
= 0.0453 m³

Cement bags
= 0.0453 ÷ 0.035
≈ 1.29 bags

Cement required ≈ 1.3 bags per m³ of brickwork.

Sand Requirement

Sand volume
= 0.3169 × (6 ÷ 7)
= 0.2716 m³

Sand required ≈ 0.27 m³ per m³ of brickwork.

Example: Brickwork Calculation for a Wall

Wall dimensions

• Length = 3 m
• Height = 3 m
• Thickness = 0.23 m

Brickwork Volume

3 × 3 × 0.23 = 2.07 m³

Material Requirement

Material	Quantity
Bricks	1,035 nos
Dry mortar	0.66 m³
Cement	2.7 bags
Sand	0.56 m³

Cement Consumption in Plaster (Corrected Calculation)

Wall area: 15 × 8 m
Plaster thickness: 12 mm (0.012 m)

Step 1: Wet Plaster Volume

15 × 8 × 0.012 = 1.44 m³

Add 10% wastage: 1.44 × 1.10 = 1.584 m³

Step 2: Dry Volume of Plaster Mortar

Add 33% for dry volume:

1.584 × 1.33 = 2.11 m³

Cement Requirement for Plaster

For 1:4 Cement Mortar

Cement volume
= 2.11 × (1 ÷ 5)
= 0.422 m³

Cement bags
= 0.422 ÷ 0.035
≈ 12 bags

For 1:6 Cement Mortar

Cement volume
= 2.11 × (1 ÷ 7)
= 0.301 m³

Cement bags
= 0.301 ÷ 0.035
≈ 9 bags

Conclusion

Accurate brickwork and cement mortar calculation ensures cost efficiency, reduced wastage, and strong masonry performance. Using standard formulas and consistent assumptions helps achieve reliable results on site.

At Perlcon, we focus on construction solutions that improve material efficiency, durability, and execution quality for modern building projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

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