Brick Calculator

This is an estimate, not professional advice. Check your inputs and verify the result against your plans and local building code before you build or order. See terms and disclaimer.

How this calculator works

Enter your dimensions and the result updates instantly. A waste allowance is included so you order slightly over rather than running short.

Worked example

A 20 ft long by 8 ft high wall of single-wythe modular brick with a 10% waste allowance. Inputs: Wall length 20 ft, Wall height 8 ft, Waste allowance 10 %. Result: 1,188 .

Bricks for common wall sizes

Calculated for single-wythe modular brick with a 10% waste allowance. Tap a size to load it above.

Method & assumptions

A standard modular brick has a nominal face of 8 by 2 2/3 inches, which already includes the mortar joint, so it covers 21.33 square inches. That works out to 6.75 bricks per square foot for a single-wythe wall, which is the figure the Brick Industry Association publishes in Technical Note 10, Table 4: 675 brick per 100 square feet. We multiply your wall area by 6.75, add the waste allowance, and round up to whole bricks.

Mortar yield comes from the product, not the brick-size menu. Sakrete Type N states that one 80 lb bag lays 35 standard bricks, while QUIKRETE Mortar Mix No. 1102 states 37. These presets apply only when that product yield matches the brick and joint being laid; otherwise enter the applicable yield or leave it at zero. Mortar loss has its own allowance because extra bricks ordered for breakage do not themselves consume mortar.

This calculator handles modular, queen, king and utility brick. BIA Technical Note 10, table 4 gives 675, 550, 455 and 300 units per 100 square feet, respectively. It assumes a single wythe, and the openings field subtracts door and window area before the brick count. For double-wythe or structural brickwork, confirm the count against your drawings and follow local code; if the backup wythe is block, size it with the concrete block calculator. Cuts at corners, sills and openings are counted as whole bricks, which the waste factor helps absorb.

Pro tips and common mistakes

• Confirm your brick size. Modular brick gives about 6.75 per square foot, but queen, king and utility brick cover more area each. Check the size before ordering, or the count will be off.
• Order from one batch. Brick color varies between production runs. Order all your brick at once from the same batch so the wall does not show a shade line halfway up.
• Keep joints consistent. Hold a steady 3/8 inch joint. Sloppy joints waste mortar, weaken the wall and throw off your coursing over the height.
• Include specified accessories. For veneer, follow the approved requirements for ties, support, flashing, drainage and openings. The brick count does not quantify or design those items.
• Protect fresh brickwork. Cover new walls from rain and do not lay in freezing weather. Wet or frozen mortar loses strength and can stain the brick face.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and references

These references and structured source records support the method and material data used on this page.

• BIA Technical Note 10: Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry (Table 4)
• Sakrete Mortar Mix Type N data sheet (35 standard bricks per 80 lb bag)
• QUIKRETE Mortar Mix No. 1102 data sheet (37 standard bricks per 80 lb bag)

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