Get quotes

BS-03, building supplies

Bricks for Walls, Houses and Extensions

Face bricks, clay stock bricks, maxi bricks and cement bricks from local brick suppliers. Send one free request and get bricks prices quoted directly to you.

Supplies
Bricks
Quotes from
Building-supply merchants
Area
All nine provinces
Cost to you
Free, with no obligation
Pallets of red clay stock bricks and grey cement maxi bricks stacked on a South African building site
Pallets of red clay stock bricks and grey cement maxi bricks stacked on a South African building site

Most South African houses are still built from bricks, and choosing the right type affects the look, strength and cost of every wall. BuildingContractors.co.za helps you compare. Tell us which bricks you need, how many and where you are building, and we pass your request to independent brick yards and building merchants serving your area. They quote you directly, so you can compare bricks price, availability and delivery. We don't make, sell or deliver bricks ourselves. The request is free and there is no obligation to accept.

Types of bricks used in South Africa

  • Clay stock bricks: fired clay bricks for walls that will be plastered, the standard choice for many houses
  • Face bricks: clay bricks with a finished face and consistent colour, laid without plaster on exposed walls
  • Maxi bricks: larger bricks, usually cement, that build a wall faster with fewer bricks per m²
  • Cement bricks: concrete bricks for plastered walls, foundations and boundary walls
  • Cement blocks: hollow or solid blocks for boundary walls, outbuildings and quick construction

Stock bricks and cement bricks come in standard and maxi sizes. Check the dimensions, as they change how many you need.

How many bricks do you need?

As a rough guide, a single-skin wall uses about 50 to 55 standard bricks per m², and roughly 35 maxi bricks per m². A double-skin (220 mm) wall uses about twice as many. Work out the wall area, subtract doors and windows, multiply by the bricks per m² and add around 5% for breakages and cuts. Your builder or the supplier can check the quantity from your plans. Remember mortar too: building sand and cement are ordered alongside the bricks.

Bricks prices: a rough 2026 guide

Bricks are priced per brick or per 1,000. As a very rough 2026 guide, common cement and clay stock bricks often fall somewhere around R2.50 to R5 a brick, while face bricks can cost from about R5 to well over R10 depending on the range. Prices vary widely by region, distance from the factory, quantity and delivery. Treat these figures as a starting point only and get current quotes for your exact brick and quantity.

Strength, standards and climate

Bricks used in structural walls should meet the relevant SANS standard and the strength your plans call for, as required under SANS 10400. Foundations and retaining walls may need stronger units. On the Highveld, expansive clay soils make good foundations and brickforce in every few courses important to limit cracking. At the coast and in the Cape winter rain, face bricks and good mortar joints resist damp better than poorly burnt or soft bricks. Ask your supplier for the product's strength class and use.

Comparing bricks prices

Material prices change with demand, transport costs and quantity. When quotes arrive, check:

  • Exact product: type, size, grade or strength, and the SANS mark where one applies.
  • Quantity: per unit, per pallet, per m³ or per load, and whether there is a minimum order.
  • Delivery: the delivery charge, offloading, and access for a large truck or crane truck.
  • VAT and validity: whether the price includes VAT and how long it is held.

What to include in your request

  • Brick type, size and colour or range, if face brick
  • Number of bricks, or wall lengths and heights
  • What the bricks are for: foundations, house walls or boundary wall
  • Delivery address and where the truck can offload
  • Whether you also need cement, sand and brickforce

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between stock bricks and face bricks?
Stock bricks are everyday clay bricks meant to be plastered, so colour and finish vary. Face bricks have a finished, consistent face and are laid to be seen without plaster. Face bricks cost more per brick but save on plaster and paint, and need less maintenance over time.
Are maxi bricks cheaper than standard bricks?
Each maxi brick costs more, but you need fewer per m² and the wall goes up faster, so the total for bricks and labour can be lower. Mortar use also changes. Compare the cost per m² of finished wall rather than the price per brick.
Can I use cement bricks instead of clay bricks?
Yes, cement bricks are widely used for houses, extensions and boundary walls, as long as they meet the strength your plans require. They are usually plastered. Some estates specify face brick or clay for appearance, so check any design guidelines before ordering.
Do brick suppliers deliver?
Most brick yards and merchants deliver by flatbed or crane truck, usually in pallets or loads of a set number of bricks. Delivery may be priced per load or by distance. Ask about minimum orders and whether the truck can offload where your builder needs the bricks.

Bricks by province

Bricks by city and town

Get free quotes