How many bricks do I need?
Multiply the wall area by the number of bricks per square foot for your brick size, then add at least 5% for breakage and waste.[1]
bricks = wall length (ft) × wall height (ft) × bricks per sq ft × 1.05
For a 20 × 8 ft wall of modular brick: 160 sq ft × 6.75 = 1,080 bricks, and 1,080 × 1.05 = 1,134 bricks. Enter the wall as length × height (the calculator's width field), add a triangle for a gable, and subtract doors and windows. For the area itself, the square yard calculator and measuring irregular areas can help.
Bricks per square foot by brick size
Modular brick, the most common US size, lays at 6.75 per square foot; larger bricks need fewer. The Brick Industry Association's Technical Note 10 gives these counts for walls in running or stack bond:[1]
| Brick | Size, in | Per sq ft | Per 100 sq ft | Mortar per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modular | 4 × 2⅔ × 8 | 6.75 | 675 | 5.5–6.9 cu ft |
| Engineer modular | 4 × 3⅕ × 8 | 5.63 | 563 | 4.8–6.1 cu ft |
| Closure modular | 4 × 4 × 8 | 4.5 | 450 | 4.1–5.2 cu ft |
| Roman | 4 × 2 × 12 | 6 | 600 | 6.4–8.2 cu ft |
| Norman | 4 × 2⅔ × 12 | 4.5 | 450 | 5.1–6.5 cu ft |
| Engineer Norman | 4 × 3⅕ × 12 | 3.75 | 375 | 4.4–5.6 cu ft |
| Utility | 4 × 4 × 12 | 3 | 300 | 3.7–4.7 cu ft |
| Queen (non-modular) | 2¾–3 × 2¾ × 7⅝–8 | 5.5 | 550 | 6.7–7.4 cu ft |
| King (non-modular) | 2¾–3 × 2⅝–2¾ × 9⅝–9¾ | 4.55 | 455 | 6.5–7.3 cu ft |
| Standard (non-modular) | 3⅝ × 2¼ × 8 | 6.55 | 655 | 9.5–11 cu ft |
Modular sizes are nominal: the brick plus one mortar joint. Mortar figures are for 3/8 in and 1/2 in joints. Patterns with header courses use more brick; BIA gives correction factors for those bonds.[1]
How much mortar do I need?
About 5.5 cubic feet of mortar per 100 sq ft of modular brick wall with 3/8 inch joints, or 8.1 cubic feet per 1,000 bricks; 1/2 inch joints take about 6.9 and 10.3.[1] Add 15–25% to net mortar quantities for waste, as BIA recommends.[1] The calculator includes that allowance in its mortar range.
Two-wythe wallsA double wall uses twice the bricks and face-joint mortar. If the vertical collar joint between the wythes is filled solid, add about 3.13 cubic feet of mortar per 100 sq ft for a 3/8 inch joint, or 4.17 for 1/2 inch.[1]
Metric bricks and custom sizes
For any brick, the count per area is one divided by the face of one brick plus its joints. Choose Custom size and enter the brick's length, height and joint.
bricks per m² = 1,000,000 ÷ ((length + joint) × (height + joint)), all in mm
Example: a brick 215 mm long and 65 mm high laid with 10 mm joints gives 1,000,000 ÷ (225 × 75) = 59.3 bricks per m², so a 6 × 2.4 m wall (14.4 m²) needs about 853, or 897 with 5% extra. For reference, BIA's modular brick works out to 72.7 per m² (727 per 10 m²).[1] Unit conversions use exact NIST factors.[2]
Openings, corners and waste
Subtract openings, then add waste: BIA's estimating method is to work out net quantities first, adjust for bond pattern and partial bricks at corners, and only then add at least 5% for breakage and waste.[1] The calculator follows the same order. For a brick patio on a sand bed, size the base with the paver base calculator; a concrete footing is sized in the concrete slab cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks are in a square foot?
6.75 for modular brick (4 × 2⅔ × 8 in nominal). Other sizes range from 3 (utility) to 6.55 (non-modular standard).[1]
How many bricks do I need for a 10 × 8 ft wall?
80 sq ft × 6.75 = 540 modular bricks, or 567 with 5% extra.
How much mortar do I need per 1,000 bricks?
About 8.1 cubic feet for modular brick with 3/8 inch joints, or 10.3 with 1/2 inch joints, before waste.[1]
How many bricks per square meter?
About 72.7 for US modular brick. For a 215 × 65 mm brick with 10 mm joints, about 59.3.