Brick Buying Guide UK: Facing, Engineering & Common Bricks Explained

Choosing the right brick is one of the most important decisions on any UK construction project. The brick affects the appearance, the structural performance and the long-term value of the building. This brick buying guide explains the three main families of UK bricks, how to calculate how many bricks you need, and what to watch out for when ordering bricks online for new builds, extensions, garden walls and commercial projects.

The Three Families of UK Bricks

Facing bricks Facing bricks are the visible, decorative outer leaf of a cavity wall. They are chosen for colour, texture, blend and how well they match the local planning context. Stock facing bricks are economical and widely used on volume new build. Handmade and waterstruck facing bricks suit heritage projects, conservation areas, planning-sensitive extensions and premium developments.

When specifying facing bricks, always order a sample panel and view it on site in daylight before committing to a full order. Brick colours read very differently in showroom lighting versus natural light, and a mistake on facing brick is the most expensive aesthetic mistake you can make on a build.

Engineering bricks Engineering bricks are dense, low-absorption, high-compressive-strength bricks designed for structural and below-DPC use. They are the right choice for foundations, retaining walls, manholes, inspection chambers, soakaways, parapet walls, chimneys and anywhere water resistance and strength matter most.

• Class A engineering brick — the strongest, with the lowest water absorption. Specified where maximum performance is required.
• Class B engineering brick — the common workhorse for general below-ground and exposed structural use. Cheaper than Class A and suitable for the majority of applications.

Common bricks Common bricks are the cheapest per thousand and are used for internal, unseen masonry such as inner leaves before plastering. They should never be used externally — their porosity and inconsistent appearance make them unsuitable for any visible work.

How Many Bricks Do You Need? A Simple Calculator

The standard UK brick is 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm laid with 10 mm mortar joints. As a practical rule of thumb:

• 60 bricks per square metre for a single-skin (half-brick) wall.
• 120 bricks per square metre for a cavity or one-brick-thick wall (counting both leaves).

Always add 5% for cuts and waste on a simple straight wall, 7% to 10% for walls with corners, returns or openings, and more for elevations with arches, soldier courses or other detailing. For a typical 100 m² external wall on a small extension, that means ordering around 12,600 bricks rather than a flat 12,000.

Mortar, Wall Ties and Accessories

A 1 tonne bag of building sand combined with a 25 kg bag of cement produces approximately 1 m³ of bricklaying mortar — enough to lay about 1,000 bricks. Plan your mortar order in step with your brick order to avoid mid-job stoppages. Don't forget wall ties (typically 2.5 per m² of cavity wall), DPC, cavity insulation, lintels and weep vents — these small items are responsible for a disproportionate share of last-minute trips to the merchant.

Ordering Bricks Online with Nationwide Delivery

Buying bricks online from a trade-focused builders merchant gives you live stock visibility, transparent per-thousand pricing, volume discounts and direct-to-site delivery on full or part pallets. Always check the delivery vehicle access on site, offloading arrangements (HIAB, forklift, manual) and storage location before booking. Bricks should be stored on a hard, level base and covered to protect them from rain and frost.

Shop our full range of facing bricks, engineering bricks and common bricks online with trade pricing and nationwide delivery to your site.