Materials

Brick Calculator

How many bricks do I need? Work out bricks and mortar bags for any wall — free, in your browser.

Wall length (ft)

Wall height (ft)

Brick size (nominal face, joint included)

Waste allowance (%)

Price per brick ($) — optional

Price per 60 lb mortar bag ($) — optional

Estimates only. Nominal brick sizes already include the 3/8 inch mortar joint. Mortar is estimated at one 60 lb bag per 35 bricks as a rule of thumb — check the coverage printed on the bag you buy. Subtract large openings (doors, windows) from the wall area before calculating, and check local code for structural walls.

How the brick calculator works

Wall area divided by the area one brick covers. A standard modular brick has a nominal face of 8 x 2.625 inches, which already includes the 3/8 inch mortar joint, so one brick covers 0.145833 sq ft. An 80 sq ft wall needs 548.57 bricks before waste and 576 bricks with a 5% allowance for cuts and breakages.

Mortar is estimated at one 60 lb bag per 35 bricks as a rule of thumb: 576 bricks need 16.46 bags, so buy 17. Check the coverage printed on the bag you buy, and subtract large openings like doors and windows from the wall area before calculating.

Building with blocks instead of bricks? Try the concrete block calculator.

How to use the Brick Calculator

Enter the wall length and height.
Choose your brick size — standard modular is 8 x 2.625 inches.
Add a waste allowance (5% is standard).
Read off bricks, mortar bags and estimated cost.

Frequently asked questions

How many bricks do I need for an 80 square foot wall?

576 bricks with 5% waste. A standard modular brick (8 x 2.625 in nominal face) covers 0.145833 sq ft, so 80 sq ft needs 548.57 bricks before waste and 576.0 with 5% waste.

How much mortar do I need for 576 bricks?

16.46 bags of 60 lb mortar mix (576 / 35 = 16.46), so buy 17 bags. This uses the rule of thumb of one 60 lb bag per 35 bricks — check the coverage printed on the bag you buy.

How many bricks are in a square foot?

About 6.86 standard modular bricks per square foot (1 / 0.145833). That is before waste — add 5% for cuts and breakages.

Do I count doors and windows in the wall area?

Measure the full wall, then subtract large openings like doors and windows from the area before calculating. Small openings are usually left in — the bricks you cut around them count as waste anyway.

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