Counting bricks for a wall
Bricks are sold by the piece or by the pallet, and the number per square foot depends on the size of the brick and the thickness of the mortar joint. This calculator counts the bricks for a single-wythe wall, removes doors and windows, and estimates the mortar in 80 lb bags of premixed mortar.
The formulas
- Net wall area = length × height − openings.
- Bricks per square foot = 144 ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)), in inches.
- Bricks to buy = net area × bricks per square foot × (1 + waste).
- Mortar = the volume of the joints around each brick (bed joint plus head joint, through the brick depth), plus 25% for droppings and furrowing. An 80 lb bag of premixed mortar yields about 0.67 cubic feet.
Worked example: a 30 ft garden wall
The wall is 30 ft long and 8 ft high, with one door of 21 sq ft. It is built in modular brick with 3/8 in joints.
- Net area: 30 × 8 − 21 = 219 sq ft.
- Bricks per square foot: 144 ÷ (8 × 2.625) = 6.86.
- Bricks: 219 × 6.86 × 1.05 = 1,577 bricks.
- Mortar: about 15.1 cubic feet, or 23 bags of 80 lb.
- At $0.75 a brick and $9 a bag, materials cost about $1,390.
Bricks per square foot by size
| Brick | Nominal size | Bricks per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Modular | 7 5/8 × 2 1/4 in | 6.86 |
| Standard | 8 × 2 1/4 in | 6.55 |
| Queen | 7 5/8 × 2 3/4 in | 5.76 |
| King | 9 5/8 × 2 5/8 in | 4.80 |
Larger bricks cover more face area each, so you buy fewer of them and lay the wall faster, but they weigh more.
Waste and ordering
Add 5% for breakage and cuts on a simple wall, and up to 10% for many corners, openings or decorative patterns. Bricks from different production runs can vary in color, so order everything at once and blend bricks from several pallets as you lay them.
Mortar type
Type N mortar is the usual choice for above-grade walls, veneer and chimneys. Type S is stronger and used below grade, for retaining walls and in high-wind areas. Mortar should not be stronger than the brick itself, so follow the brick maker’s advice.
Limits of the estimate
The calculator covers one layer of brick. For a double-wythe wall, double the quantities. Brick veneer over a frame house also needs wall ties, flashing and weep holes, which are not counted here.