How many bricks does your wall need?
Enter the wall size and brick type. See the number of bricks, mortar bags and a side by side comparison of every common brick size, updated live as you type.
Your wall
Bricks per square foot assume a standard 3/8 inch mortar joint. Subtract the total area of doors and windows in the openings box.
What these numbers mean
Materials breakdown
| Item | Amount | How it is figured |
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Bricks by size, same wall
Every brick type applied to your net wall area with the same waste allowance, so you can compare quantities and cost.
| Brick size | Per sq ft | Bricks needed | Mortar bags |
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Estimating brick, explained
How Many Bricks Per Square Foot
For a single brick wall (one wythe) with a standard 3/8 inch mortar joint, the number of bricks per square foot of wall face depends only on the brick size. Common modular brick runs about 6.86 per square foot, standard and queen sizes about 6.5, engineer modular about 5.76, king size about 5.6, and large utility brick about 3.0. Multiply your net wall area by the figure for your brick to get the raw count, then add waste.
The joint thickness matters too. A thicker joint spreads the bricks out, so fewer are needed; a thinner joint packs them tighter. The figures above use the 3/8 inch joint that most residential brickwork is built with.
Working Out Wall Area and Openings
Start with the gross area: wall length times wall height. Then subtract the square footage of every door and window, because you do not brick over an opening. The result is the net brick face area, and that is the number you multiply by the bricks per square foot value.
For a wall 20 feet long and 8 feet high with no openings, the gross and net area are both 160 square feet. Take out a 3 foot by 7 foot door (21 square feet) and the net area drops to 139 square feet, which is roughly 90 fewer modular bricks.
Mortar and Waste Allowance
A handy rule of thumb is about 7 bags of mortar per 1,000 bricks for a standard 3/8 inch joint, so a 1,000 brick wall needs roughly 7 bags. Wider joints, deeper tooling or a parge coat push that number up, so treat it as a starting estimate and confirm with your mason.
Always order 5 to 10 percent more brick than the bare calculation. That covers breakage in transit, cuts around corners and openings, and a small attic stock for future repairs, since a later batch can differ slightly in color.
Common questions
How many bricks do I need for a wall?
Multiply the wall length by its height to get the area, subtract any door and window openings, then multiply the net area by the bricks per square foot for your brick size (about 6.86 for modular brick). Add 5 to 10 percent for waste and round up.
How many bricks are in one square foot?
With a standard 3/8 inch mortar joint, a single wythe of modular brick uses about 6.86 bricks per square foot, standard or queen about 6.5, king about 5.6 and large utility brick about 3.0. Bigger brick faces cover more wall, so fewer are needed.
How much mortar do I need for 1,000 bricks?
Plan on roughly 7 bags of mortar per 1,000 bricks for a standard 3/8 inch joint. Wider joints, a parge coat or deep tooling use more, so add a bag or two to be safe.
How much extra brick should I order?
Order 5 to 10 percent more than the calculated amount. This covers breakage, cuts around openings and corners, and a small stock kept for repairs, since bricks from a later batch may not match the color exactly.
Estimates for planning only. Actual counts vary with brick dimensions, joint thickness, bond pattern, cuts around openings and jobsite breakage. Order a little extra and confirm quantities with your supplier before you buy.