---
title: "Materials for 10 m³ brick masonry 1:3"
subject: "Estimating and Costing"
chapter: 4
key: "semester_7/estimating_and_costing:materials-brick-10m3-1-3-old-size"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/materials-brick-10m3-1-3-old-size
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Materials for 10 m³ brick masonry 1:3

Estimating and Costing · Chapter 4: Analysis of Rates

- Asked in: 2075 Chaitra, 5 marks
- Video: [Calculation of Material required per 10 m3 volume of brickwork](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swUTyaJk2J4) — Amazing Engineering | ACES
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/materials-brick-10m3-1-3-old-size
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/chapter-4

## Question

Calculate the quantities of material required for 10 m³ brick masonry in (1:3) cement sand mortar. (Normal size of brick = 9" × 4½" × 3")

## Short answer

For 10 m³ brickwork in 1:3 mortar, nominal brick (9″×4.5″×3″) gives 5,023 bricks. Wet mortar 2.419 m³, dry 3.072 m³; cement 22.1 bags, sand 2.30 m³.

## Answer

Assumptions: dry volume = 1.54 × wet volume for concrete and 1.27 × wet volume for mortar; 1 m³ of cement = 28.8 bags of 50 kg; no wastage is added.

The "normal" (nominal) brick size of 9" × 4½" × 3" is taken as the size including mortar, with a joint of 10 mm; the actual brick is then 10 mm smaller in each direction.

#### Bricks

- Nominal size $= 0.2286 \times 0.1143 \times 0.0762 = 1,991\times10^{-6}$ m³
- Bricks per m³ $= 1/(0.2286\times0.1143\times0.0762) = 502.25$
- Bricks for 10 m³ $= 5,023$ nos

#### Mortar

- Actual brick size $= 0.2186 \times 0.1043 \times 0.0662 = 1,509\times10^{-6}$ m³
- Volume of bricks in 1 m³ $= 502.25 \times 1,509\times10^{-6} = 0.7581$ m³; so wet mortar $= 0.2419$ m³ per m³, i.e. 2.419 m³ for 10 m³
- Dry mortar $= 1.27 \times 2.419 = 3.072$ m³
- Cement $= 1/4 \times 3.072 = 0.768$ m³ $= 22.1$ bags
- Sand $= 3/4 \times 3.072 = 2.304$ m³

**Answer: bricks = 5,023 nos; cement = 22.1 bags; sand = 2.30 m³.**

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. How is 'normal' brick 9 x 4.5 x 3 in treated?
   A. As the size without mortar
   B. As size including mortar, with 10 mm joint
   C. As metric 230 x 110 x 55 mm
   D. As only the stretcher face
   Answer: B. The actual brick is 10 mm smaller in each direction. (Key point: Nominal size)

2. How many bricks for 10 m^3?
   A. About 5,023 (502.25 per m^3 x 10)
   B. About 7,000
   C. About 4,000
   D. About 502
   Answer: A. 1/(0.2286 x 0.1143 x 0.0762) = 502.25 per m^3. (Key point: Bricks)

3. How is wet mortar per m^3 found?
   A. 1 - 502.25 x nominal brick volume = 0
   B. 0.30 x 1
   C. 1.27 x 502.25
   D. 1 - 502.25 x actual brick volume (0.2419 m^3)
   Answer: D. Actual brick volume 1,509 x 10^-6 m^3, so bricks occupy 0.7581 m^3. (Key point: Mortar)

4. 1:3 mortar gives cement as?
   A. 1/3 of 3.072
   B. 1/3 of 2.419
   C. 1/4 of dry mortar 3.072 m^3 = 0.768 m^3 = 22.1 bags
   D. 3/4 of 3.072
   Answer: C. Ratio sum is 4. (Key point: Cement ratio)

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## Related in other subjects

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