Brick Calculator
Brick walls are estimated by face area: each standard brick type covers a known number of bricks per square foot once mortar joints are included. This brick calculator takes your wall dimensions, brick type, wythe thickness, and a waste allowance, then returns the brick count rounded up plus the 80-lb mortar bags to lay them. It covers the three most common face brick types used in residential masonry.
Total horizontal run of the wall.
Finished height from base to top of the brickwork.
Per-ft² rates assume single wythe with ⅜-in mortar joints.
Double wythe doubles the brick count.
Covers cuts, breakage, and color blending. 10% is typical.
Bricks needed
1,232
- 80-lb mortar bagsRounded up — one bag lays ≈35 bricks (rule of thumb).
- 36
- Wall face area
- 160ft²
How it was calculated
- Wall face = 20 ft × 8 ft = 160.0 ft²
- Bricks = ceil(160.0 × 7 bricks/ft² × 1 × 1.10) = 1232
- Mortar bags = ceil(1232 ÷ 35) = 36
How it works
The count starts from wall face area — length times height in feet. Each brick type has a published bricks-per-square-foot rate that already accounts for a ⅜-inch mortar joint, so the wall face converts directly to a unit count.
A double-wythe wall is two bricks thick, so it doubles the count; a single wythe uses the rate as-is. The waste percentage then multiplies everything, and the total rounds up because bricks are bought whole.
Mortar comes from a rule-of-thumb yield: one 80-lb bag of masonry mortar lays about 35 bricks with standard joints. Dividing the brick count by 35 and rounding up gives the bag count, with a little cushion baked in.
Because the per-square-foot rate assumes ⅜-inch joints, masons who lay wider or tighter joints will see slightly different yields — the rate is an industry average, not a guarantee for any specific crew or product.
Worked examples
Garden wall, modular brick
A 20 ft × 8 ft single-wythe wall = 160 ft². At 7.0 modular bricks per ft² that is 1,120 bricks, × 1.10 waste = 1,232 bricks rounded up. Mortar: ceil(1,232 ÷ 35) = 36 eighty-pound bags.
Double-wythe wall, standard brick
A 10 ft × 10 ft double-wythe wall = 100 ft². At 6.8 standard bricks per ft² × 2 wythes = 1,360, × 1.15 waste = 1,564 bricks rounded up. Mortar: ceil(1,564 ÷ 35) = 45 eighty-pound bags.
How to measure
- Measure the wall run along the base, including returns and corners — measure each straight run separately and add them.
- Measure height from the top of the footing or slab to the finished top course, not from existing grade.
- Deduct large openings (doors, windows, vents) from the face area before calculating, or run the calculator per wall section.
- Confirm which brick type you are buying: modular and standard look similar but the 0.2 bricks/ft² difference compounds on big walls.
- Count piers and pilasters as extra wall sections — their two faces add area fast.
- Keep 10–15% spare bricks after the job for future repairs; matching dye lots years later is nearly impossible.
Assumptions & limitations
Planning estimate
- Bricks-per-ft² rates (7.0 / 6.8 / 5.7) are industry rule-of-thumb averages for single wythe with ⅜-in joints; manufacturer yields vary.
- Mortar yield of one 80-lb bag ≈ 35 bricks is a rule of thumb for standard joints — deep joints and cold weather change consumption.
- The wall is treated as a flat rectangle; arches, soldier courses, and decorative bonds change the count.
- This is a material-planning estimate, not structural design — load-bearing masonry requires professional engineering and code compliance.
Frequently asked questions
About 7.0 for modular brick, 6.8 for standard brick, and 5.7 for queen brick — all single wythe with ⅜-inch mortar joints. These are rule-of-thumb industry averages, so a 100 ft² modular wall needs roughly 700 bricks before waste. The calculator uses these rates and adds your waste allowance on top.
They are different face sizes. Modular (3⅝ × 2¼ × 7⅝ in) is the most common residential brick; standard is slightly larger in face; queen is a thinner, taller unit often used for veneer. Bigger face area means fewer bricks per square foot — queen needs only 5.7 per ft² versus 7.0 for modular.
At the rule-of-thumb yield of about 35 bricks per 80-lb bag, 1,000 bricks needs roughly 29 bags. Round up to 30 to be safe. Actual yield moves with joint width and how the mason tools the joints, so treat it as a planning number and confirm with your mason for large jobs.
A wythe is one vertical section of masonry one brick thick. A single-wythe wall is one brick deep — typical for veneer and garden walls. A double-wythe wall stacks two wythes, doubling the brick count, and is used for structural or freestanding walls. The calculator doubles the count automatically when you select double wythe.
Ten percent is the standard planning allowance for straight walls; use 12–15% for walls with lots of openings, corners, or soldier courses. Waste covers cuts, breakage in handling, and blending color variation across pallets. Running short mid-job risks a visible dye-lot change in the new bricks.
Yes for material planning — veneer is a single wythe, so the brick and mortar counts apply. But veneer also needs wall ties, weep holes, flashing, and an air gap behind it, which this calculator does not quantify. Structural and weatherproofing details should follow manufacturer guidance and local code.