Part of the Construction collection — 4 tools available
Brick Calculator
Calculate how many bricks you need for a wall. Enter wall dimensions, brick size, and mortar joint to estimate brick count, mortar, and total material cost.
About This Calculator
Building a brick wall — whether it's a garden border, exterior veneer, or structural load-bearing wall — starts with an accurate material count, and ordering too few bricks halts your project mid-way through a course while ordering too many ties up money you can't easily recover. Standard modular bricks yield about 6.5 per square foot with typical 3/8-inch mortar joints, but that number shifts significantly with king-size bricks, thin-brick veneer, or wider joint patterns like weeping mortar joints. A 20-foot by 8-foot wall needs roughly 1,040 standard bricks before accounting for breakage and cuts around openings. Mortar is equally important to calculate — each bag of mortar lays approximately 35 standard bricks, and running out mid-wall is just as frustrating as running short on brick. Our brick calculator accounts for your exact brick dimensions, mortar joint width, and a configurable waste factor so you order the right quantity of both bricks and mortar the first time.
The Formula Behind This Calculator
Bricks per sq ft ~ 6.75 (with mortar joints) Total bricks = Wall area * 6.75 * 1.05 (waste) Cost = Bricks * Price per brick
Understanding the math helps you verify results and make better decisions for your project.
Related Tools
How to Use
- 1Enter the total wall length and height in feet.
- 2Enter brick dimensions in inches (standard modular: 8 * 2.25).
- 3Set mortar joint thickness (3/8" is standard).
- 4Enter waste factor (5% for simple walls, 10% for complex patterns).
- 5Enter price per brick and click Calculate.
When to Use
- →Ordering bricks for a garden wall, mailbox enclosure, or home veneer project
- →Estimating total material costs when comparing brick vs stone vs siding for an exterior wall
- →Planning a brick patio or walkway and needing the total count before visiting the masonry supply yard
Tips
- ✓Order from the same batch whenever possible — bricks from different batches can have noticeable color variations
- ✓A standard modular brick with 3/8-inch mortar joints gives about 6.5 bricks per square foot for quick estimates
- ✓Soak clay bricks in water for a few minutes before laying — dry bricks suck moisture from mortar and weaken the bond
FAQ
How many bricks are in a square foot?
Standard modular brick (8×2.25") with 3/8" mortar joints: approximately 6.5 bricks per square foot for a single-wythe wall.
How many bags of mortar do I need?
One 80-lb bag of Type S mortar lays about 30-40 standard bricks. For block walls, one bag lays about 12-15 blocks.
What is the difference between brick veneer and solid brick?
Veneer is a single layer attached to a wood or steel frame. Solid brick (double-wythe) is structural. Most modern homes use veneer — it's cheaper and allows standard insulation.
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