NewStats: 3,265,319 , 8,186,369 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 12:14 PM 1t3727

What is the number of blocks required to complete this building?This is a common question asked by prospective home owners especially after the building design phase.It is advised you use trusted professionals for your building project. This saves you time and money. However, if you are taking charge of material procurement or just wish to confirm number of blocks required for your project, these 2 simple steps outline the process outlines the steps you need to take. A simple 1 bedroom apartment is used in this case for clarity.

These are the two basic steps: Step 1: Calculate wall areas. Step 2: Divide total wall area by area of one block.

Step 1:

To calculate wall areas, we will calculate the total length of walls and multiply by wall height(see plan image below).

Area=Length x Breadth, In this case since we are dealing with height,

Area=Length x Height

Calculate Length: Looking at figure 1 below,we take length of vertical walls first(from left to right), then horizontal walls(from top to bottom)

Wall 1= 8000mm , Wall2=7755mm, Wall 3=3675mm, Wall 4=4100mm, Wall 5=3900mm, Wall 6=7950mm

Wall 7=3525mm, Wall 8=5975mm, Wall 9=5600mm, Wall 10=4425mm, Wall 11=4200mm
Sum of all wall length is=59,105mm.

Use height of wall at 3000mm.

Rough wall area (Wall area including openings) =59105mmx3000mm= 177,315,000mm

we have some wall openings at the entrance, doors and windows. We have to subtract areas for these to get the actual wall area:

We have 6 doors with measuring 900mmx2100mm: 6x900mmx2100mm= 11,340,000mm*2

We have 8 windows measuring 1200mmx1200mm: 8x1200mmx1200mm= 11,520,000mm2

We have 1 window measuring 600mmx600mm: 1x600mmx600mm= 360,000mm2

We have 1 opening measuring 3300mmx2100mm: 1x3300mmx2100mm= 6,930,000mm2

Add up all opening areas:

Opening area: (11,340,000+11,520,000+360,000+6,930,000) mm2= 30,150,000mm2

Subtract opening area from the rough wall area:

Actual ground floor wall area: (177,315,000-30,150,000) mm2= 147,165,000mm2

Area of foundation walls:

Also, we have a foundation. The foundation area depends on the number of courses laid. For this building, we use four courses of block wall as foundation (Strip foundation). This is roughly 900mm high.

We simply multiply the perimeter of walls we got in step 1 by the height of the foundation wall. Area is still length x height. But now the height is 900mm.

Area of foundation wall: 59105mmx900mm=53,194,500mm2

Total wall area = Ground floor wall area+Foundation wall area

=147,165,000mm2+53,194,500 mm2= 200,359,500 mm2



Step 2:

Area of one block is 225mmx450mm= 101,250mm2

Number of blocks is total wall area divided by area of one block:

Hence, number of blocks is:200,359,500/101,250= 1978.86 blocks

That’s approximately1,980 blocks. You may want to add a certain percentage for breakages and off-cuts. If you use good quality vibrated blocks you only need to add a little.

Wish you success on your building project.Thank You!

https://nigerianhouseplans.com/calculate-number-blocks-required-building-project-2-simple-steps/

Cc
Lalasticlala
Ishilove
Semid4lyfe
Obinoscopy

Wow this is interesting. Thanks OP.

For the likes of those that don't like Maths, I guess they've seen an additional reason why they need to like the subject

This is nice

Wow

Wow...

What will it cost you to be a part of this great opportunity. What do you stand to gain from grabbing this great opportunity. How would you know if you don't ask?

Swiss golden pays my bills.
0-8-1-4-6-5-0-7-9-6-6
(WhatsApp only).

Ok

Give your Project to a quantity surveyor and don't bother about all these..

What about Frame buildings? Do you also do the calculation yourself?..

Nigerians we like cutting corners..

You can also choose not the remove the calculation for doors and windows. Use that for the extra blocks that you’ll need for offcuts.

At last, a reasonable topic made front page today

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Guy u no dey tire?
Which kine cow u be na

On point OP.. To reduce figures, you can use meters where 8,400mm = 8.4m and 225mm =. 225m

Good information,but those buildings from far go still hear when from helpers @ Home.

Like if you skipped those numbers

Xtopher123:
Give your Project to a quantity surveyor and don't bother about all these..

What about Frame buildings? Do you also do the calculation yourself?..

Nigerians we like cutting corners..

Quantity Surveyor is the most useless profession in small self builds.

I encourage no one waste their money on such nonsense.

The cost to hire a quantity surveyor can be used towards the project.

PS: I’ll be waiting for the associate of Nairaland QS to respond with their typical hunger induced vitriol

This is not my job, my job is to provide the money required. Everybody should eat, if one cheats you, shame on him.

This is the kind of thread we need on front page

Perge:
Like if you skipped those numbers

Good one

Nice

Xtopher123:
Give your Project to a quantity surveyor and don't bother about all these..

What about Frame buildings? Do you also do the calculation yourself?..

Nigerians we like cutting corners..

its not about cutting corners. Its basic knowledge.

At least so you can relate with what the supposed professional says.

Don't be a mumu abeg!

By Area, One square meter will take 10 blocks.

Mehn, me and calculations ehn nor de agree, if i have the opportunity to go back to the university for a second degree I wouldn't near any course with calculations.

Good information.

Verily...there is something about mm that irritates me.

I find inches more appropriate.

/

SafetyFirst:
By Area, One square meter will take 10 blocks.

You a qs?

At last. A topic worth reading.

Sometimes this calculations don't work because of where the bricklayer will need to break the block into two and the second side will not be useful most times blocks break unexpected

do all bricklayers know this?

Op we should always let d professionals do their job before on contractor wld say "u sabi calculate abi" then end up using one bag of cement to mix 100 bags of sand..