What is the difference between maxi, face and stock bricks in South Africa?

Maxi bricks (290×140×90mm) are the largest common SA brick and are used for load-bearing walls and boundary walls — they lay faster and use less mortar per m². Stock bricks (222×106×73mm) are the traditional standard size used for most construction. Face bricks are the same size as stock bricks but are fired at a higher temperature for a smoother, more consistent finish suitable for exposed brickwork that will not be plastered.

How much mortar do I need per 1000 bricks in South Africa?

For every 1000 standard stock or face bricks (222×106×73mm), you will need approximately 3–4 bags of 50kg cement and 0.5m³ of building sand using a 1:4 mix ratio. For maxi bricks, the mortar volume per 1000 bricks is higher because the joints are larger — budget approximately 4–5 bags of cement and 0.6m³ of sand per 1000 bricks.

How many bricks do I need for a 3-bedroom house in South Africa?

A typical 3-bedroom house of 120–150m² floor area with a wall height of 2.7m and a perimeter of approximately 50m requires roughly 25,000–35,000 bricks for a single-skin external wall. Internal walls, double-skin sections, openings for doors and windows, and gable ends all affect the final count. Always have a quantity surveyor verify the figure before ordering.

What mortar mix ratio should I use for brickwork in South Africa?

The standard mortar mix ratio for general brickwork in South Africa is 1 part cement to 4 parts building sand (1:4) by volume. For boundary walls and exposed applications, some builders prefer a slightly richer 1:3 mix for durability. A 1:6 mix is used for internal non-load-bearing work. Do not use builder's sand (plaster sand) in mortar — use building sand with angular particles for proper bond strength.

Brick Calculator South Africa — Maxi, Face & Stock Bricks

🧱 Last Updated: May 2026 · SA Brick Sizes & SANS Standards

🧱Brick Calculator — Enter Wall Details

Wall Length (metres)Total length of the wall

Wall Height (metres)Standard ceiling height is 2.7m

Total Opening Area (m²)Combined area of all doors and windows (0 if none)

Brick Type

Wall Type

Wastage Factor

🧱 Total Bricks Required (inc. wastage)

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Net Wall Area

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Bricks per m²

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Bricks (no wastage)

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Cement (50kg bags)

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Building Sand (m³)

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Sand (bulk bags)

⚠️ For planning purposes only. Consult a registered contractor or quantity surveyor before ordering materials.

Brick Quantities in South Africa — Complete Guide

Getting your brick quantity right before ordering is one of the most important steps in any building project. Order too few and you risk a batch mismatch from the next delivery — bricks fired in different batches often vary slightly in colour and tone, which is visible on face brick or unpainted work. Order too many and you are paying for material that sits on site. This calculator gives you an accurate starting point based on actual SA brick sizes and a standard 10mm mortar joint.

SA Brick Sizes — What You Need to Know

Brick Type	Dimensions (L×W×H)	Single Skin per m²	Double Skin per m²	Best Use
Maxi Brick	290×140×90mm	~45 bricks	~90 bricks	Load-bearing walls, boundary walls, faster laying
Stock Brick	222×106×73mm	~55 bricks	~110 bricks	General construction, plastered walls
Face Brick	222×106×73mm	~55 bricks	~110 bricks	Exposed decorative brickwork, no plaster needed

Coverage rates assume a 10mm mortar joint — the SA standard. Rates include mortar joints both horizontally (bed joints) and vertically (perpend joints).

The Brick Calculation Formula

Formula

Net Wall Area (m²) = (Length × Height) − Opening Area Bricks (no waste) = Net Area × Bricks per m² × Skin multiplier Bricks (with waste) = Bricks (no waste) × Wastage factor Mortar volume (m³) = Net Area × Joint volume constant Cement bags (50kg) = Mortar volume ÷ (mix ratio + 1) ÷ 0.033 Sand (m³) = Cement bags × mix ratio × 0.033

Mortar Quantities for SA Brickwork

Mortar is one of the most underestimated costs in brickwork. Many first-time builders calculate bricks accurately but forget to budget properly for cement and sand. The standard mortar mix for general brickwork in South Africa is 1 part cement to 4 parts building sand (1:4 by volume). For every 1,000 standard stock bricks you should budget approximately:

3–4 bags of 50kg cement (using 1:4 mix)
0.45–0.55 m³ of building sand (approximately 1 bulk bag)
Important: Use building sand (coarse, angular) not plaster sand (fine, rounded) — plaster sand produces weak mortar

Single Skin vs Double Skin Walls

A single-skin wall is one brick wide — for maxi bricks this is 140mm thick, for stock bricks it is 106mm thick. Single skin is used for internal partition walls, garden walls, and boundary walls where structural load is limited. A double-skin wall (also called a cavity wall or solid double-brick wall) is two bricks wide and is used for external walls of habitable rooms in most SA construction, providing better thermal and sound insulation. Double-skin walls use exactly twice the bricks and mortar of a single-skin wall of the same face area.

Why Brick Prices Vary Across SA Provinces

Brick prices in South Africa vary significantly by province, primarily because of transport costs from manufacturing centres. The Gauteng region has the highest concentration of brick manufacturers and generally the most competitive pricing. KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape tend to be 10–20% more expensive due to transport. Eastern Cape and Northern Cape have limited local production, pushing prices higher. Always get quotes from at least two local suppliers and confirm whether the price is ex-works (you collect) or delivered to site.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bricks do I need per square metre in South Africa?

For a single-skin wall, maxi bricks require approximately 45 bricks per m², while standard stock or face bricks require approximately 55 bricks per m². For a double-skin wall, double these figures. Always add 5–10% for wastage, cutting and breakage.

What is the difference between maxi, face and stock bricks?

Maxi bricks (290×140×90mm) are larger and lay faster with less mortar per m². Stock bricks (222×106×73mm) are the traditional standard size for general construction. Face bricks are the same size as stock bricks but fired at higher temperature for a smoother finish — used for exposed brickwork that will not be plastered.

How much mortar do I need per 1000 bricks?

For every 1000 standard stock bricks, budget approximately 3–4 bags of 50kg cement and 0.5m³ of building sand using a 1:4 mix. For maxi bricks, slightly more mortar is needed per 1000 bricks — about 4–5 bags of cement and 0.6m³ of sand.

How many bricks for a 3-bedroom house in South Africa?

A typical 3-bedroom house of 120–150m² floor area typically requires 25,000–35,000 bricks for external walls. This varies significantly based on wall height, perimeter, number of openings, and whether internal walls are brick or another material. Always get a quantity surveyor to verify before ordering.

What mortar mix ratio should I use for brickwork in SA?

The standard mix for general brickwork is 1 part cement to 4 parts building sand (1:4) by volume. For boundary walls and exposed work, a 1:3 mix is stronger. A 1:6 mix is used for internal non-load-bearing walls. Always use building sand, not plaster sand.

Should I add a wastage factor to my brick order?

Always add a minimum of 10% wastage. This covers cutting around openings, broken bricks, and pattern cuts at corners. For complex designs, increase to 15%. It is always cheaper to slightly over-order than to try to match bricks from a later batch.

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Brick Calculator — South Africa