27 Nov 2025

Introduction

Whether you are building a residential house, compound wall, or a commercial structure, understanding how to calculate cement for brick masonry is essential. Accurate estimation helps avoid material waste, budget overruns, and structural risks.

Brickwork, also known as brick masonry, requires arranging bricks in a specific pattern using mortar to bond them together. 

When it comes to construction, every brick matters. And if you’ve ever wondered how much cement you’ll need to complete your brickwork, you’re not alone! 

This guide will walk you through the step-by-step calculation for cement quantity per cubic meter of brickwork, using a standard 1:6 cement-sand mortar ratio.

Materials & Assumptions

  • Brick Size (Standard Nepal): 240 mm × 115 mm × 57 mm
  • Mortar ratio: 1 part cement: 6 parts sand (1:6)
  • Mortar accounts for ~25–30% of the brickwork volume
  • Dry volume of mortar = Wet volume × 1.3 (to account for shrinkage and voids)
  • Cement Density: ~1440 kg/m³
  • One cement bag = 50 kg

Step-by-Step Calculation (Per 1 m³ Brickwork)

Step 1: Calculate Mortar Volume

  • Brickwork volume = 1 m³
  • Mortar required = 30% of brickwork volume

Wet mortar: 

                        30% of 1 m³ = 0.30 m³
Dry volume: 

                      0.30 × 1.3 = 0.39 m³

Step 2: Calculate Cement Quantity

Mortar ratio = 1 : 6
Total ratio = 7

Cement Volume = (Dry Mortar Volume × Cement Ratio) ÷ Total Ratio

Cement volume:

                       (1 / 7) × 0.39 = 0.00577 m³

Cement Weight: 

                        0.00577 × 1440 = 80.2 kg

Cement Bags Required:

                        80.2 ÷ 50 = 1.23 bags

Learn More: What is Cement Silo? How Does it Work?

Final Cement Quantity Required For Brickwork

For 1 m³ of brick masonry using a 1:6 mortar ratio, you need approximately:

                        1.5 – 1.7 bags of cement

Cement Requirement for Brickwork (1:6 Mortar Ratio)

🔹 1 m³ Brickwork

  • Mortar: 0.30 m³
  • Cement: 80 kg
  • Cement Bags: 1.6

🔹 5 m³ Brickwork

  • Mortar: 1.50 m³
  • Cement: 400 kg
  • Cement Bags: 8.0

🔹 10 m³ Brickwork

  • Mortar: 3.00 m³
  • Cement: 800 kg
  • Cement Bags: 16.0

🔹 20 m³ Brickwork

  • Mortar: 6.00 m³
  • Cement: 1600 kg
  • Cement Bags: 32.0

🔹 50 m³ Brickwork

  • Mortar: 15.00 m³
  • Cement: 4000 kg
  • Cement Bags: 80.0

Learn More: Different Types of Cement

Common Mistakes in Brickwork Cement Calculation 

1. Ignoring mortar wastage

Loss during mixing, handling, and application is 5–10%. Not including this can result in shortage.

2. Using incorrect mortar ratio

Using richer mixes increases cost unnecessarily; weaker mixes reduce strength.

3. Not adjusting for brick size variations

Local kiln bricks vary in size, increasing or reducing mortar requirement.

4. Assuming mortar occupies 20% instead of 30%

30% is the correct and widely accepted estimate.

5. Not checking cement freshness

Old cement affects bonding and increases cracks in masonry.

Recommended Cement for Brick Masonry in Nepal:

For masonry works, PPC cement is generally preferred due to: 

  • Smoother workability,
  • Reduced shrinkage cracks
  • Stronger long-term bonding.
  • Ideal for most brickwork applications.

Cements such as Sarbottam PPC Cement are suitable for most brickworks’ application under Nepalese conditions.

Learn More: What is Pozzolana Portland Cement (PPC)?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many cement bags are required for 1 m³ brickwork?
Approximately 1.5–1.7 bags of cement are required for 1 cubic meter of brickwork using a 1:6 mortar ratio.


2. What is the standard cement–sand ratio for brick masonry?
The most used ratio is 1:6 (cement:sand) for general building construction.


3. Does brick size affect cement quantity?
Yes. Larger or uneven bricks require more mortar, increasing cement consumption.


4. Should extra cement be added for wastage?
Yes. A 5–10% allowance is recommended to account for handling and application losses.