How many bricks equal one block?

In terms of wall area coverage, 6 standard bricks equal 1 standard block. A standard UK brick (215 x 102.5 x 65 mm) with 10 mm mortar joints covers approximately 0.017 m² of wall face, while a standard block (440 x 215 x 100 mm) covers approximately 0.101 m². This gives a ratio of roughly 6:1.

Is it cheaper to build with bricks or blocks?

Blockwork is almost always cheaper for the inner leaf of a cavity wall. Blocks are larger so you need fewer units (10 per m² vs 60 bricks per m²), and the labour cost is significantly lower because a bricklayer can lay blocks much faster. However, facing bricks are needed for the outer leaf where appearance matters. A typical cavity wall uses blocks for the inner skin and facing bricks for the outer skin.

What size is a standard UK brick?

A standard UK brick is 215 mm long x 102.5 mm wide x 65 mm high. With 10 mm mortar joints, the working size (also called the coordinating size) becomes 225 x 112.5 x 75 mm. This gives 60 bricks per square metre of single-skin (half-brick) wall.

What size is a standard UK block?

A standard UK concrete block is 440 mm long x 215 mm high x 100 mm thick. With 10 mm mortar joints, the coordinating size is 450 x 225 mm, giving 10 blocks per square metre. Blocks are also available in 140 mm and 215 mm thicknesses for thicker walls.

How much mortar do I need per square metre of wall?

For half-brick (single skin) brickwork, you need approximately 0.024 m³ of mortar per m² of wall. For standard blockwork, you need approximately 0.010 m³ of mortar per m². Blockwork uses less mortar because there are fewer joints — 10 blocks per m² versus 60 bricks per m².

TradeCalcs

Brick to Block Converter — Convert Between Bricks and Blocks

Convert between standard UK bricks and blocks for equivalent wall coverage. See the wall area, mortar needed, and quantities for both options.

Converting: Bricks to Blocks

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Number of Bricks

Enter the number of standard bricks

How We Calculate This

This converter uses standard UK brick and block dimensions with 10 mm mortar joints to calculate equivalent quantities based on wall area coverage.

Standard Dimensions

Standard brick: 215 x 102.5 x 65 mm (60 per m² with 10mm joints)
Standard block: 440 x 215 x 100 mm (10 per m² with 10mm joints)
Area ratio: 6 bricks = 1 block in wall coverage

Conversion Method

The conversion works by calculating the wall area that the input quantity would cover, then determining how many of the output unit would be needed for the same area:

Wall area (m²) = number of units / units per m²
Equivalent units = wall area x units per m² (of the target type)
Mortar volume = wall area x mortar rate per m²

Mortar Rates

Brickwork (half-brick wall): 0.024 m³ mortar per m²
Blockwork: 0.010 m³ mortar per m²

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Verify with your supplier.