About the Brick Calculator
This brick calculator estimates the number of bricks and the amount of mortar needed for a single-wythe brick wall, veneer, planter or garden wall. Enter the wall length and height, subtract the area of any doors or windows, choose the brick size and mortar joint width, and it calculates bricks per square foot, the total brick count with waste, the mortar volume and the number of bags to buy.
It suits homeowners planning a garden wall or brick veneer, DIY builders pricing an outdoor kitchen or barbecue surround, and contractors checking a quantity take-off. Five common US brick sizes are built in: modular, standard, queen, king and utility.
The count assumes a single layer (one wythe) of brick laid in running bond. For a double-wythe wall, double the result. Mortar is calculated from the actual joint volume around each brick; bag yield varies by product, so check the label on the mortar mix you buy.
With the default inputs, the bricks needed (incl. waste) is 1,207. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the brick calculator
- 1Measure the length and height of the wall in feet.
- 2Add up the area of any doors or windows and enter it to subtract.
- 3Choose your brick size and mortar joint width.
- 4Set the waste allowance and the mortar bag yield from the label.
- 5Enter the price per brick to see the total material cost.
Formula and method
Each brick occupies its face size plus one mortar joint horizontally and vertically, so bricks per square foot is 144 ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)). A modular brick with a 3/8-inch joint lays out on an 8 × 2⅔ inch module, giving about 6.86 bricks per square foot. Multiplying by the net wall area and adding waste gives the brick order.
Mortar volume per brick is the joint area around the face — (l + j)(h + j) − l × h — times the brick depth, converted from cubic inches to cubic feet by dividing by 1,728. The mortar total includes the same waste allowance and is divided by the bag yield to get whole bags.
- l, h
- Brick length and height (in)
- j
- Mortar joint thickness (in)
- L, H
- Wall length and height (ft)
- waste%
- Allowance for breakage and cuts
Worked examples
20 × 8 ft modular brick wall
Modular brick with a 3/8-inch joint lays at 6.857 per sq ft, so 160 sq ft needs 1,097 bricks, or 1,207 with 10% waste. The joints hold about 9.7 cu ft of mortar — 15 bags at 0.67 cu ft each — and the bricks cost about $724 at $0.60 each.
30 × 6 ft standard brick wall with a window
The wall is 180 sq ft less a 20 sq ft window, leaving 160 sq ft. Standard 8-inch bricks lay at 6.55 per sq ft, giving 1,048 bricks before waste and 1,153 with 10% extra, plus about 15 bags of mortar.
King brick garden wall, 40 × 3 ft
King bricks with a 3/8-inch joint lay on a 10 × 3 inch module, exactly 4.8 per sq ft. A 120 sq ft wall needs 576 bricks, or 605 with 5% waste, costing $544.50 at $0.90 each, with about 7 bags of mortar.
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks are in a square foot?+
About 6.9 modular bricks per square foot with a 3/8-inch mortar joint. Standard 8-inch bricks lay at about 6.5, king bricks at 4.8 and utility bricks at 3 per square foot.
How many bricks do I need for a 10 × 10 wall?+
A 100 sq ft wall of modular brick needs about 686 bricks before waste, or roughly 755 with 10% extra. Subtract any window or door openings first.
How much mortar do I need per 1,000 bricks?+
With 3/8-inch joints, 1,000 modular bricks use about 8 cubic feet of mortar in the joints, which is roughly 12–13 bags of 80 lb mortar mix. Allow extra for droppings and waste.
How much extra brick should I order?+
Order 5–10% extra to cover breakage, cuts at corners and openings, and chipped units. Keeping a few spare bricks from the same batch also helps with color matching on future repairs.
Does this work for a double brick wall?+
The calculator assumes a single wythe (one brick thick). For a double-wythe or cavity wall, multiply both the brick and mortar quantities by two.