How to calculate how many bricks you need
- Measure the wall length and height in feet and multiply for the gross area.
- Subtract openings — doors, windows and vents. A standard door is about 21 sq ft; a typical window 12–15 sq ft.
- Find bricks per square foot for your brick size and joint thickness (table below).
- Multiply and add 5–10% for breakage and cuts.
Brick formula
Bricks = Net wall area × Bricks per sq ft × (1 + waste)
Worked example: a garden wall
A wall 20 ft long and 4 ft high is 80 sq ft. Modular brick (7⅝ × 2¼ in face) with ⅜ in joints occupies 8 × 2.625 = 21 sq in, so 144 ÷ 21 = 6.86 bricks per sq ft. That is 80 × 6.86 = 549 bricks; with 5% extra, order about 576 bricks for one wythe.
Bricks per square foot by size
With ⅜ in mortar joints, using nominal face sizes:
| Brick | Face size (actual) | Bricks per sq ft | Bricks per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modular | 7⅝ × 2¼ in | 6.86 | 686 |
| Queen | 7⅝ × 2¾ in | 5.76 | 576 |
| King | 9⅝ × 2⅝ in | 4.80 | 480 |
| Norman | 11⅝ × 2¼ in | 4.57 | 457 |
| Utility | 11⅝ × 3⅝ in | 3.00 | 300 |
Published tables sometimes round modular brick to 6.75 per sq ft because three courses are laid to exactly 8 in. Sizes vary by manufacturer, so measure a sample or check the spec sheet and use the custom size option.
How much mortar do you need?
The calculator works out mortar from the joint volume around each brick, plus 10% for waste and droppings. For modular brick with ⅜ in joints, that is about 8–9 cu ft of mortar per 1,000 bricks. Bag yields differ by product, so divide the mortar volume by the yield printed on your bag. Type N mortar is common for above-grade veneer and garden walls; Type S is used where higher strength is needed, such as below grade.
Ordering tips
- Order all brick at once so it comes from the same production run; color varies between batches.
- Bricks are commonly sold on pallets of about 500 (counts vary by size and maker).
- For a free-standing wall more than a few feet high, or any wall retaining soil, follow local code and get a design — see the retaining wall calculator for block walls.
- Pour a proper concrete footing below the frost line under brick walls.
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks are in a square foot?
About 6.86 modular bricks per sq ft with ⅜ in joints (often rounded to 6.75). Queen bricks are about 5.8 and king bricks about 4.8 per sq ft.
How many bricks do I need for a 10 × 10 ft wall?
A 100 sq ft wall needs about 686 modular bricks with ⅜ in joints, or about 720 with 5% extra, for one brick thickness.
How much mortar do I need for 1,000 bricks?
Roughly 8–9 cu ft of mortar for 1,000 modular bricks with ⅜ in joints, including some waste.
How much extra brick should I order?
Add 5% for straightforward walls and 10% for walls with many corners, openings or cuts.
How many bricks are on a pallet?
Typically around 500 standard bricks, but it varies by size and manufacturer — ask your supplier.
Sources & standards
This calculator's formulas and default values are based on the following codes, standards and published data. Codes are adopted and amended locally, so check with your building department for permitted work. See how we build and check our calculators.
- Brick Industry Association (BIA) Technical Notes 10 (Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry): brick sizes, joint thickness and estimating method.
- ASTM C216 (Facing Brick) and ASTM C270 (Mortar for Unit Masonry): brick dimensions and mortar types N and S.
- TMS 402/602, Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures.