Brick Calculator
Estimate how many bricks you need for a single-wythe wall by brick size and mortar joint, plus bags of Type N mortar mix.
Add this calculator to your website — get the free widget
How to Calculate
Each brick plus one mortar joint takes up (brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint) square inches of wall face. Divide 144 by that to get bricks per square foot, then multiply by the wall area. Modular brick with a 3/8 in joint works out to 6.86 bricks per ft².
The mortar estimate assumes one 70 lb bag of Type N masonry cement mix per 35 bricks, a conservative figure for modular brick with 3/8 in joints. Larger brick uses a little more mortar per brick, so round up.
This is for a single wythe (one brick thick). Double the count for a two-wythe wall, and subtract doors and windows from the area before you add waste.
See our methodology for how every calculator on this site is built.
Worked Example: A Brick Garden Wall
A single-wythe garden wall 30 ft long and 5 ft high, laid in modular brick (7-5/8 × 2-1/4 in face) with standard 3/8 in mortar joints, plus 5% waste.
- Wall area: 30 × 5 = 150 ft²
- One brick plus joint: (7.625 + 0.375) × (2.25 + 0.375) = 8 × 2.625 = 21 in²
- Bricks per square foot: 144 ÷ 21 = 6.86
- Bricks for the wall: 150 × 6.86 = 1,028.6
- With 5% waste: 1,028.6 × 1.05 = 1,080 bricks
- Mortar: 1,080 ÷ 35 = 30.9, so 31 bags of 70 lb Type N mix
Brick is often sold by the cube or pallet, typically around 500 modular bricks, so this job is a bit over two cubes. Ask the yard if they will break a cube; many will for a fee. The 35 bricks per bag rule is on the safe side. Experienced masons with tight, clean joints often get closer to 40, so you may end up with a few bags left over, which beats stopping halfway through a course.
Bricks per Square Foot by Size
| Brick | Face size (in) | Bricks per ft² (3/8 in joint) | Bricks per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modular | 7-5/8 × 2-1/4 | 6.86 | 686 |
| Standard | 8 × 2-1/4 | 6.55 | 655 |
| Queen | 7-5/8 × 2-3/4 | 5.76 | 576 |
| King | 9-5/8 × 2-5/8 | 4.80 | 480 |
These numbers are for one wythe without waste. Bigger brick means fewer units and fewer trips up the scaffold, which is why king and queen sizes are popular for veneer on new homes.
Where Brick Estimates Go Wrong
Not subtracting openings
A standard door is about 21 ft² and a typical window 15 ft². On a house veneer that adds up fast. Take the openings out of the area, then add a bit back for the cut brick around them.
Forgetting the second wythe
A freestanding wall over about 3 ft is often built two wythes thick for stability, or with a cap and pilasters. Two wythes means double the brick and a bit more than double the mortar, since there is a collar joint between them.
Culls
Every pallet has chipped, warped or off-color units. On face brick that shows, you will set aside more than you expect. Use 10% waste for veneer with lots of corners.
Practical Tips
- Pull brick from three or four pallets at once so color variation spreads evenly across the wall.
- Mix only as much mortar as you can lay in about 90 minutes. Retempering once is fine, after that throw it out.
- Strike joints when the mortar is thumbprint hard. Concave joints shed water best.
- Don't lay brick below 40°F without cold-weather protection for the mortar.
Rough Cost
Common modular brick runs roughly $0.60 to $1.50 per brick, with specialty face brick higher. A 70 lb bag of Type N mortar mix is usually $10 to $15. Installed brick veneer typically costs around $12 to $25 per square foot including labor.
Sources
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks are in a square foot?
About 6.86 modular bricks with a 3/8 in joint. Standard bricks come out to about 6.55, queen size about 5.76, and king size about 4.8.
How many bricks per bag of mortar?
Plan on roughly 35 to 40 modular bricks per 70 lb bag of premixed mortar. This calculator uses 35 so you are not short at the end of the day.
How much waste should I add for brick?
5% for a plain wall, 10% if you have a lot of cuts around openings, corners or patterns. Chipped and off-color brick also gets culled.
Which mortar type should I use for a brick wall?
Type N for most above-grade walls and veneer. Type S for retaining walls, foundations and anything below grade or carrying lateral load.
Do I need a footing for a brick garden wall?
Yes. A brick wall needs a concrete footing below the frost line, usually twice as wide as the wall. Brick laid on soil or pavers will crack within a few seasons.