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One of the most stressful parts of starting a new construction project in Pakistan—whether it’s a 5 Marla dream home in Lahore or a commercial plaza in Burewala—is the budgeting phase.

The biggest question mark is usually the biggest material cost: The Bricks.

Order too few, and your labor sits idle, waiting for the next dumper, delaying your project. Order too many, and you have thousands of rupees wasted in leftover material sitting on your plot.

At Burewala Bricks, we believe an informed customer is our best customer. While your architect or contractor will give you a final Bill of Quantities (BOQ), it is crucial as a plot owner to have your own rough estimate.

Here is a simple guide to understanding how brick quantities are calculated in local Pakistani construction.

1. The Golden Rule: The Size Matters

Before you calculate, you must know the standard size of the brick you are buying.

In our region, the standard framing size for a quality Awal brick is typically 9 inches x 4.5 inches x 3 inches. All calculations are based on this standard.

Click to see more sizes of the bricks

Tip: Beware of cheaper kilns selling undersized bricks. You might pay less per brick, but you will need thousands more to cover the same wall area, costing you more in the end!

2. The “Thumb Rules” for Quick Estimates

If you just need a very rough idea for initial budgeting, contractors often use these standard industry multipliers based on the covered area of your house (gray structure).

• For a 9-inch thick wall (External walls): You need approximately 1350 to 1400 bricks per 100 sq. ft of wall area.
• For a 4.5-inch thick wall (Internal partitions): You need approximately 650 to 700 bricks per 100 sq. ft of wall area.

Disclaimer: These are averages. High ceilings or complex designs will change these numbers.

3. The Hidden Cost: Wastage

This is where most budgets go wrong. No construction project uses 100% of the bricks delivered. Bricks break during transit, during offloading, and while masons are cutting them to fit corners.

The industry standard for wastage is often calculated at 5% to 8% for standard bricks.

However, this is where quality saves you money.

When you buy cheap, تحت پr (under-burnt) or irregular bricks, breakage during transit is high, and masons have to discard many pieces that aren’t shaped right. Wastage can easily hit 10-12%.

When you buy Burewala Bricks’ Machine-Made or Zigzag Fired Awal Bricks, you are buying high compressive strength and uniform shape. Our customers often report wastage as low as 2-3%.

Buying better quality means buying fewer bricks overall.

4. Don’t Do the Math Alone

While it’s good to know the formulas, you don’t need to be a mathematician to build your house.

The easiest way to get an accurate estimate is to send your architectural drawings to our team. We don’t just sell bricks; we partner with you in construction. We can help review your requirements and suggest the right mix of Awal bricks for foundations and Doem bricks for internal partitioning to optimize your budget.

Ready to start planning? Contact Burewala Bricks today via WhatsApp with your plot size, and let’s help you build a solid budget on a solid foundation.