Enter the size of the wall and any windows or doors in it. The calculator gives the number of bricks to order for standard modular brick or any custom brick size and mortar joint, with an allowance for breakage.
How to use the brick calculator
- Enter the length and height of the wall. For a building, add the wall lengths together and use the height to the top of the brick.
- Enter the area of windows and doors to subtract.
- Pick modular brick, the most common size in the US, or enter the size of your brick and the mortar joint.
- Use 2 wythes for a double-thickness wall, and keep at least 5% for breakage.
Brick formulas
Wall area = length × height − openings Bricks per ft² = 144 ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)), in inches Bricks = wall area × bricks per ft² × wythes × (1 + waste %)
The Brick Industry Association’s Technical Note 10 lists 675 modular brick per 100 ft² of wall, or 6.75 per ft², for brick laid in running bond with 3/8 or 1/2 in joints. Modular brick is specified at 3⅝ × 2¼ × 7⅝ in and sized so that three courses with their joints make 8 in. The same note adds at least 5% to the net brick count for breakage and waste, and 15 to 25% to the net mortar.
Worked example: a 20 × 8 ft garden wall with a 15 ft² opening
- Wall area: 20 × 8 − 15 = 145 ft².
- Bricks: 145 × 6.75 = 979.
- With 5% waste: 1028 bricks.
Using the custom formula with a 7⅝ × 2¼ in brick and a 3/8 in joint gives 6.86 bricks per ft², slightly more than the table, because the table rounds the course height to the 2⅔ in modular grid.
Modular bricks per wall area
| Wall area | Bricks (net) | With 5% waste |
|---|---|---|
| 50 ft² | 338 | 355 |
| 100 ft² | 675 | 709 |
| 200 ft² | 1,350 | 1,418 |
| 500 ft² | 3,375 | 3,544 |
| 1000 ft² | 6,750 | 7,088 |
Mortar for brick
Mortar depends on the joint, the brick and the bond. The mortar calculator estimates bags for a brick or block wall; add the 15 to 25% the BIA recommends for mortar waste.
Tips for ordering brick
- Order from one production run. Brick colour varies between batches; blend from several cubes as you lay.
- Count specials separately. Sills, corners and soldier courses may use special shapes.
- Ask about cube size. Suppliers sell by the cube or pallet; the count per cube varies by brick.
- Building with block? Use the concrete block calculator.
Questions
How many bricks are in a square foot?
6.75 modular bricks per ft² of wall with standard joints, according to the BIA.
How many bricks do I need for 100 square feet?
675 modular bricks, or 709 with 5% waste.
How many bricks for a double wall?
Twice as many. Set the wythes to 2.
How much waste should I add for brick?
At least 5%, more for walls with many cuts or for brick that chips easily.
Sources
- Technical Note 10: Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry, Brick Industry Association.
Used for: 675 modular brick per 100 ft², modular brick dimensions, at least 5% brick waste and 15–25% mortar waste. - NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Used for: Exact inch and foot definitions.