Brick Calculator
Enter your wall length and height to get the number of bricks needed, plus mortar bags and estimated cost, with a waste allowance built in.
Updated September 4, 2026 ยท Estimates for planning, not a quote
How to estimate bricks for a wall
Bricks per square foot is 144 ÷ ((brick length + mortar joint) × (brick height + mortar joint)), with every measurement in inches. The 144 converts square inches to square feet. Multiply that rate by the wall's square footage, then add a waste allowance for cuts and breakage. A standard modular brick (7-5/8 × 2-1/4 in) with a 3/8 inch joint works out to a little under 6.9 bricks per square foot, close to the 6.75 figure often quoted as a rule of thumb.
Wall area and openings
Wall area is length times height, multiplied by the number of identical walls if you're pricing more than one. Subtract the square footage of any doors, windows, or other openings before the waste allowance is applied, since you don't need brick where there's no wall.
Mortar and cost
A common rule of thumb is one 80 lb bag of pre-mixed mortar per about 125 bricks with a standard 3/8 inch joint. Thicker joints or a taller brick use mortar faster. Enter a price per brick if you have a quote, and this calculator will total the material cost, not including mortar, delivery, or labor.
Method and sources
Where these figures come from: Specified face dimensions for modular, queen, king and utility brick, as published in brick coverage tables.
Bricks per square foot is 144 divided by brick length plus joint times brick height plus joint. Mortar runs about one 80 lb bag of pre-mixed per 125 bricks at a 3/8 inch joint, which is a trade rule of thumb.
QuantiYard writes its own formulas and states them in plain language on every page. How these numbers are made covers where the constants come from, how waste factors are chosen, what these calculators deliberately do not do, and how to report an error.
Save the brick chart
Bricks per square foot for four common sizes, plus how many you need for 100 square feet with 10 percent waste. Save it before you order a pallet.
Save to PinterestOpens Pinterest with the chart and link ready to go.
Brick calculator FAQ
How many bricks do I need per square foot of wall?
Divide 144 by the brick length plus the mortar joint, times the brick height plus the joint, all in inches. A standard modular brick (7-5/8 x 2-1/4 in) with a 3/8 inch joint works out to roughly 6.75 to 6.9 bricks per square foot, depending on how you round the coursing.
How much mortar do I need for a brick wall?
A common rule of thumb is one 80 lb bag of pre-mixed mortar per about 125 bricks, for a standard 3/8 inch joint. Thicker joints or a taller brick use mortar faster, so buy a few extra bags on a large job.
How do I account for door and window openings in a brick wall?
Subtract the total square footage of doors, windows, and any other openings from the gross wall area before figuring bricks. This calculator has a field for that so the openings come out before the waste allowance is applied.
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