Most Lagos buildings are walled in hollow blocks, and choosing the right size is the first decision on every wall. We mould 4, 6 and 9 inch hollow blocks and solid blocks at our yard in Satellite Town, cure them before they are sold, and deliver them to site across Lagos. This page compares the four so you can match each wall to the right block, then work out how many you need.
Which block size do you need?
All four share the same 450 x 225mm face. Only the width changes, and the width decides the strength and the job each block is made for.
| Block | Size (mm) | Rated strength | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 inch hollow block | 450 x 225 x 100 | 3.5 N/mm² | Light internal partitions and screen walls |
| 6 inch hollow block | 450 x 225 x 150 | 4.5 N/mm² | Internal walls and general walling |
| 9 inch hollow block | 450 x 225 x 225 | 7.0 N/mm² | External, load-bearing and multi-storey walls |
| Solid block | 450 x 225, in 100, 150 or 225 widths | 10 N/mm² | Foundations, below damp proof course, retaining walls |
The rule most Lagos engineers work to: 9 inch for external and load-bearing walls, 6 inch for internal walls, 4 inch only for light partitions that carry nothing, and solid blocks below ground and wherever a wall holds back soil. If your drawings say something different, follow your drawings. For the full reasoning, read 6 inch vs 9 inch blocks.
How many blocks per square metre?
Because every size has the same 450 x 225mm face, the count is the same whichever width you choose: about 10 blocks for each square metre of wall once 10mm mortar joints are included.
- Measure the total length of wall in metres.
- Multiply by the wall height to get the area.
- Take away the area of doors and windows.
- Multiply by 10, then add 5 to 10 percent for cutting and breakage.
For example, a wall 20m long and 3m high with two 1m x 1.2m windows is 60 minus 2.4, which is 57.6 square metres. That is 576 blocks, so plan for roughly 605 to 635 once wastage is added. The block calculator above gives a quick figure, and our guide to how many blocks a 3-bedroom house needs works through a whole building.
Hollow or solid?
Hollow blocks have two open cores. They are lighter to lift and lay and use less material per wall, which is why they carry most of the walling above ground. Solid blocks have no void, so they are heavier and stronger. That is why they go into foundations, the courses below damp proof course, and walls that retain earth.
How we check a block before it leaves the yard
Blocks are cured under controlled conditions until they reach strength, and we do not sell green blocks that are still soft. Every batch is compression tested against its rated strength before it is released for dispatch. The full process is on our quality page, or you can visit the yard in Satellite Town and see it for yourself.
Ordering and delivery
Delivery is free within our Lagos service area, which covers Satellite Town, Ikorodu, Lekki, Ikeja, Victoria Island, Ajah, Epe and Yaba. Outside it, delivery is quoted per project. Send us the products and quantities you need and your site location, and we reply with a written price and a delivery date, the same working day wherever possible.
Orders start from a few hundred blocks. Request a price for your blocks or call +234 903 760 5316.
Common questions
Are concrete blocks and sandcrete blocks the same thing?
In Lagos, “sandcrete block” is the everyday name for the hollow and solid blocks used in most walls. Whatever the name, what matters is how much cement is in the mix and how long the block has cured, and that is what a rated strength figure tells you.
How much does a block cost in Lagos?
Block prices move with cement, sand and diesel costs, so we quote per order rather than publish a fixed list. Our 9 inch block price guide explains the current ranges and what moves them.
Can you supply a large project?
Yes. We supply individual builders, contractors, estate developers and government projects, and we hold warehouse stock so volume orders do not stall. Share your programme and we will schedule deliveries against it.
Curious how these blocks are made? Read about us as a concrete block manufacturer in Lagos, or browse our full building materials range. Buying for a larger job? See materials for contractors and developers.
Also in our range: bricks, paving stones and precast concrete, and iron rods and reinforcement steel.
