About this calculator
Already know how many bricks or blocks you are laying? This works out the cement, lime and sand directly.
How it’s calculated
Mortar volume per unit uses practical rates: about 0.55 m³ per 1,000 bricks and about 0.0011 m³ per 100 mm of block thickness. The wet volume is multiplied by 1.3 for dry materials, then split by the mix ratio. The default 1:1:6 cement:lime:sand is the M3 mortar AS 3700 deems suitable for most general brickwork.
Worked example
With these inputs:
- Laying
- Bricks
- Number of units
- 1000
- Mortar mix
- 1:1:6 cement:lime:sand (M3, general)
- Waste allowance
- 10%
the result is:
- Mortar for 1,000 bricks
- 8 × 20 kg cement + 3 × 20 kg lime + 0.6 m³ brickies sand
- Mortar volume (wet)
- 0.61 m³
- Mix 1:1:6 needs
- 8 × 20 kg cement + 3 × 20 kg lime + 0.6 m³ brickies sand
Tips from the trade
- Make only as much mortar as you can use in about 2 hours.
- Plasticiser makes the mix easier to work at 1:6, but don’t overdose it.
- Below the damp-proof course and in exposed walls, use a stronger mix.
Results are estimates for planning and pricing. Check quantities against your drawings, the manufacturer’s data and the NCC and Australian Standards before ordering.