The long wall short wall methods are used to estimate the quantity of different work. In this method, the longer walls in a building (generally in one direction) are considered as long walls and measured from out to out and the shorter walls in a perpendicular direction to the long walls are considered as short walls and are measured from in- to-in for a particular layer of work.
These lengths of long and short walls are multiplied separately by the breadth and height of the corresponding layer and are added to get the quantity. Such length of long and short walls varies in every layer of footing.
To calculate lengths of long and short walls determine first their center to center lengths individually from the plan.
Then the length of the long wall out to out may be calculated after adding half breadth of a wall at each end to its center to center length.
Length of the long wall out to out = Centre to center length + half breadth on one side + half breadth on another side.
Thus the length of the short wall measured into in may be found by subtracting half breath at each end from its center to center length.
Read More: Center Line Method of Building Estimation
Long Wall Short Wall Method Of Estimation
Length of a short wall into in= Centre to center length – Half breadth one side – Half breadth on another side.

Centre to centre length of long wall
= 4+ 0.45 + 0.45
=4.9m
Centre to centre length of short wall
= 3+ 0.45+ 0.45
= 3.9 m
Length for excavation:
=4.9 + 0.90
= 5.8 m
3.9 + 0.9
4.8m
Long wall
1st footing length = 4.9+0.6
= 5.5m
2nd Footing length = 4.9 + 0.5
= 5.4m
Plinth wall length = 4.9 + 0.4
=5.3 m
Short Wall
1st Footing length = 3.9 – 0.6
=3.3m
2nd footing length = 3.9 – 0.5
=3.4m
Plinth wall = 3.9 – 0.4
= 3.5m
Long wall= 4.9 + 0.3
= 5.2m
Short Wall= 3.9 – 0.3
= 3.6m
Read More: 12 Types of Estimate | Types of Estimation
Example Of Long Wall Short Wall Method
House Estimation by long wall and short wall method,


Item No. | Item Description (Work Details) | No | Length (L) | Breadth (B) | Height (H) | Quantity |
1. | Earthwork in excavation for the foundation | |||||
For Long Wall: | 3 | 8.3 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 24.65 | |
L = (4+3+2×0.2) + 2×0.45 = 8.3 m | ||||||
H = 0.3 + 0.3 + 0.3 + 0.2 = 1.1 m | ||||||
Short Wall: | 3 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 9.80 | |
L = 4.2 – 2 x 0.45 = 3.3 m | ||||||
Short Wall: | 4 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 9.11 | |
L = 3.2 – 2 x 0.45 = 2.3 m | ||||||
Wall in front of W. C | 1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.40 | |
L = (1.1 + 0.2) – 2 x 0.45 = 0.4 m | ||||||
43.96 m3 | ||||||
or | Brickbat cement Concrete ( 1:4:8) for foundation | |||||
For Long Wall: | 3 | 8.3 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 4.48 | |
For Short Wall: | 3 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.78 | |
For Short Wall: | 4 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.66 | |
wall in front of W.C | 1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.07 | |
7.99 m3 | ||||||
2. | Brick masonry up to plinth in c.m.1:6 | |||||
For Long Wall: | ||||||
First Step: L= 8.3 – 2 x 0.2 = 7.9m | 3 | 7.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 3.56 | |
Second Step: L = 7.9 – 2 x 0.05 = 7.8m | 3 | 7.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 2.81 | |
Third Step: L = 7.8 – 2 X 0.05 = 7.7M | 3 | 7.7 | 0.3 | 0.85 | 5.89 | |
For Short Wall: | ||||||
First Step: L = 3.3 +2 x0.2 =m3.7m | 3 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.67 | |
Second Step: L= 3.7+2×0.2=3.8 | 3 | 3.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.37 | |
Third Step: L=3.8+2X0.05=3.9M | 3 | 3.9 | 0.3 | 0.85 | 2.98 | |
For Short Wall: | ||||||
First Step:L=2.3+2×0.2=2.7m | 4 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | ||
Second Step: L=2.7+2×0.05=2.8m | 4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | ||
Third Step: L=2.8+2×0.05=2.9m | 4 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.85 | ||
Wall in front of W.C.: | ||||||
First Step: L =0.4+2×0.2=0.8m | 1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.12 | |
Second Step: L= 0.8+2X0.2=0.9m | 1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.11 | |
Third Step: L=0.9+2X0.05=1m | 1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.85 | 0.26 | |
Steps: | ||||||
First Step: | 1 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.15 | 0.15 | |
Second Step: | 1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.15 | 0.10 | |
Third Step: | 1 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.15 | 0.05 | |
For step L= D1=1.1m | ||||||
24.99 m3 | ||||||
3. | Brick masonry above plinth up to slab level in c.m. 1:6 | |||||
For Long Wall: | 3 | 7.6 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 13.68 | |
L=7.7-2×0.05=7.6m | ||||||
H=0.7+1.4+0.9=3.0m | ||||||
For Short Wall: | 3 | 4.0 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 7.2 | |
L=3.9=2×0.05=4.0m | ||||||
For Short Wall: | 4 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 7.2 | |
Wall in front of W.C. | ||||||
L-1+2×0.05=1.1.m | 1 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 0.66 | |
Total Quantity= | 28.74 m3 | |||||
Deduction For Doors & Windows | ||||||
D1 | 3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 2 | |
D2 | 2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 0.76 | |
G1 | 1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 0.50 | |
W1 | 4 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.02 | |
W2 | 1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 0.34 | |
W3 | 1 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 0.42 | |
V | 2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.14 | |
Deduction= | (-)5.57 m3 | |||||
Deduction for lintels above door and windows with 15cm bearing at each end. | 3 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.15 | 0.126 | |
2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.15 | 0.072 | ||
1 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.15 | 0.045 | ||
4 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.15 | 0.25 | ||
1 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.15 | 0.045 | ||
1 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.15 | 0.054 | ||
2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.15 | 0.054 | ||
Deduction= | (-)0.646 m3 | |||||
Net qunantity=28.74-5.57-0.646= 22.54m^3 | ||||||
4. | Smooth plaster inside the rooms and ceilings in c.m.1:3 | |||||
Plaster for walls: | ||||||
Drg. Room | 4 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 48.0 | ||
Bed Room | 2 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 24.0 | ||
2 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 18.0 | |||
Kitchen | 2 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 24.0 | ||
2 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 18.0 | |||
Bath | 2 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 18.0 | ||
2 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 10.2 | |||
w.c. | 2 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 7.8 | ||
2 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 6.6 | |||
in front of W.C | 2 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 9.0 | ||
1.1 | 3.0 | 6.6 | ||||
ceiling plaster | ||||||
Drg. Room | 1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 16.0 | ||
Bed Room | 1 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 12.0 | ||
Kitchen | 1 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 12.0 | ||
Bath | 1 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 5.1 | ||
w.c. | 1 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.43 | ||
in front of W.C | 1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.65 | ||
Total Quantity= | 238.38 m2 | |||||
Deduction for Door/ Window | ||||||
D1 | 5/2 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 5.78 | ||
D2 | 4/2 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 3.78 | ||
G1 | 2/2 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 2.52 | ||
W1 | 4/2 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 5.04 | ||
W2 | 1/2 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.84 | ||
1/2 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.05 | |||
Total Deduction= | (-)19.01 m2 | |||||
The area of a ventilator is less than 0.5m2 therefore no deduction is made | ||||||
For Door, half the number of faces is deducted. | Net Quantity= | 219.37 m2 |
Important Notes
- The area of ventilation is less than 0.5 sq m, therefore no deduction is made.
- For Doors, Half the number of faces is deducted.
- For calculation of internal plaster, inner doors have two faces and the external door has one inner face
- For calculation of internal plaster, windows have one internal face.
- for windows, half the number of faces is deducted.
FAQs
what are the long wall and short wall methods?
The long wall and short wall methods are used to estimate the quantity of different work. In this method, the longer walls in a building (generally in one direction) are considered as long walls and measured from out to out and the shorter walls in a perpendicular direction to the long walls are considered as short walls and are measured from in- to-in for a particular layer of work.
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