What is the difference between the three?
- Interlock bricks have shaped faces that fit into the bricks around them, so each course locks onto the one below.
- Cement blocks are large, plain-faced blocks. Each one is bedded and jointed in mortar.
- Clay bricks are small bricks fired in a kiln. They are also laid in mortar, and a wall takes many more of them.
How do interlock bricks, cement blocks and clay bricks compare?
The table compares how each wall is built and finished. It leaves out strength and price figures, because those depend on the maker and the order. Ask each supplier for theirs.
| Interlock bricks | Cement blocks | Clay bricks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the wall is built | Each brick locks onto the bricks around it | Blocks are laid in mortar | Bricks are laid in mortar |
| Keeping the wall straight | The shaped faces line each course up | Depends on the mason | Depends on the mason |
| Pieces in a wall | A few per square foot (see the table below) | Fewest: the units are large | Most: the units are small |
| Usual finish | Often left exposed | Plastered and painted | Plastered, or left exposed as face brick |
| Typical uses | Houses, boundary walls, larger buildings | Houses, boundary walls, larger buildings | Houses and boundary walls |
Which should you choose for a house?
- Choose interlock bricks if you want an exposed brick finish without plastering, or a wall whose courses line themselves up.
- Choose cement blocks if you plan to plaster and paint the walls anyway and want as few units to lay as possible.
- Choose clay bricks if you want the traditional fired-brick look, or your mason works mainly in clay brick.
Whichever you choose, have the foundations, columns and beams designed by a qualified engineer or builder. The walling material does not replace the structure.
Which is best for a boundary wall?
All three are used for boundary walls. A boundary wall is seen from both sides and stands in the rain, so the finish matters more than it does indoors. An interlock brick wall can be left exposed on both faces. A block wall usually needs plaster and paint on both.
How many interlock bricks do you need per square foot?
We make 4 interlock bricks. Multiply your wall area in square feet by the figure for your brick, or use our calculator. Our interlock bricks guide lists where each one is used.
| Design | Pieces per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Ash Bricks | Ask us |
| Hole Bricks | 2.88 |
| Inter Lock Half | 4.5 |
| Interlock Bricks | 2.25 |
How do the costs compare?
Compare the cost of the finished wall, not the price of one brick. A wall's cost is the bricks or blocks, plus mortar, plaster, paint and labour, and each material needs a different amount of these. Ask for quotes on the same wall area in each material, including the finish.
We don't publish a fixed price list. Our prices go up and down over time, and the price of an order depends on what you order: the design, the quantity and whether you need installation. Send us your area and design and we will quote for your order.
Frequently asked questions
Are interlock bricks better than cement blocks?
Neither is better for every wall. Interlock bricks lock onto each other as the wall goes up and are often left without plaster. Cement blocks are large units laid in mortar and are usually plastered. The right choice depends on the building, the finish you want and who is building it.
Can you build a house with interlock bricks?
Yes. Interlock bricks are used for houses, boundary walls and larger buildings. As with any walling material, the structure should be designed by a qualified engineer or builder.
Do interlock brick walls need plastering?
Often not. Many interlock brick walls are left exposed, because the bricks give a regular, finished face. You can still plaster or paint the wall if you prefer that look.
Which is cheaper: interlock bricks, cement blocks or clay bricks?
Compare the cost of the finished wall, not the price of one brick. The total includes the bricks or blocks, mortar, plaster, paint and labour, and those differ for each material. We quote interlock bricks for each order.
Interlock bricks from Eco Bricks & Tiles
We make interlock bricks and supply them across Sri Lanka. Tell us about your building and we will help you choose a brick and work out the quantity. Because our prices change over time and depend on the order, we quote each order.
Browse our interlocking bricks range or request a free consultation.