Brick Calculator

Enter your wall dimensions, brick size, and mortar joint to get an instant brick count with waste built in.

How the Brick Calculator Works

The calculation divides your total wall area by the face area of a single brick, including mortar joints on each edge. A modular brick at 7.5 inches long and 2.25 inches tall with a standard 3/8 inch mortar joint covers roughly 0.134 square feet per brick, which works out to about 6.75 bricks per square foot. The calculator handles all of that math, then adds your chosen waste percentage on top.

Mortar joint thickness has a bigger effect on final count than most people expect. Going from a 3/8 inch joint to a 1/2 inch joint on a modular brick reduces the brick count by roughly 4 to 5%. If your mason uses a specific joint width, enter that number rather than leaving it at the default.

Standard Brick Sizes in the US

The modular brick (7.5" x 2.25") is by far the most common in American residential construction. It's designed so three courses plus three mortar joints equal exactly 8 inches in height, which makes it compatible with standard door and window opening heights. The queen brick (7.625" x 2.75") is slightly larger and is often used when a chunkier appearance is desired, or for projects where fewer courses are preferred. If you're matching existing brickwork, measure a few bricks directly and use the custom size option.

How Much Waste to Allow

For a simple straight wall with square corners, 5% is usually enough. Go to 10% for most standard projects, it covers breakage during delivery and handling plus the cuts needed around openings. Step up to 15% for walls with arches, angled cuts, or decorative patterns like herringbone or running bond on a diagonal. For complex feature walls or if you're working with a less experienced crew, 20% gives you a comfortable buffer. Returning leftover bricks is rarely possible once mortar residue is on them, so erring slightly high is the right call.

Rough Material Costs by Project Type

Brick prices vary by region, manufacturer, and order volume. The table below gives ballpark material-only costs to help with early budgeting. These are per-1,000-brick figures and do not include mortar, sand, labour, or delivery.

Brick Type Cost per 1,000 (material only) Typical Use
Standard modular $350 - $600 General walls, foundations, veneer
Face brick (common) $500 - $900 Exterior walls, feature walls
Thin brick veneer $600 - $1,100 Interior accent, lightweight cladding
Reclaimed / antique $800 - $1,500+ Heritage matching, decorative projects
Fire brick $1,000 - $2,000 Fireplaces, pizza ovens, kilns

Prices are approximate US averages as of 2025. Mortar costs add roughly $50 to $120 per 1,000 bricks depending on joint thickness. Labour for brick laying typically runs $10 to $20 per square foot installed.

Mortar Quantity Reference

As a rough guide, one bag of mortar mix (70 lb) covers approximately 25 to 30 bricks when laid with a standard 3/8 inch joint. For a 1,000 brick job you'd need roughly 35 to 40 bags of mortar. Pre-mixed mortar simplifies this, but for larger jobs site-mixed mortar from Portland cement, masonry sand, and lime gives you better control over consistency and working time.

Frequently Asked Questions

A standard modular brick with a 3/8 inch mortar joint covers about 0.148 square feet, which means you need roughly 6.75 bricks per square foot. A queen brick works out to about 5.5 per square foot. The calculator uses the exact dimensions you enter rather than these averages, so your count will be more accurate.
Subtract openings if they're large, say a window or door that takes up more than 10% of your wall area. For small openings or a few courses above a window lintel, the extra bricks often absorb into your waste allowance anyway. When in doubt, calculate the full wall and set your waste to 5%, then the total will roughly account for the openings.
3/8 inch (0.375") is the standard joint for most residential brickwork in the US. It produces a tight, traditional look and is what most masons default to. Thicker joints (up to 1/2 inch) are sometimes used to compensate for dimensional variation in handmade or reclaimed bricks. Check with your mason if you're unsure what they'll be working to.
The calculator works per face of wall. For a single-wythe wall (one brick thick), run it once. For a double-wythe wall (two bricks thick), double the result, or run it twice with the same dimensions. Most garden walls and retaining walls are single-wythe. Structural walls in older homes are often double-wythe or more.
Yes. Enter your patio length as wall length and width as wall height. The calculation is just area divided by brick face area, so orientation doesn't matter. For a running bond patio pattern, 10% waste is usually adequate. For herringbone or diagonal patterns, use 15% minimum.
Angled cuts and corbelling waste more material because each cut brick only uses part of the brick in the visible face. For corbelling details or decorative coursing with significant angles, add 15 to 20% waste. Your mason should be able to give you a more precise estimate once they've seen the drawings.

Brick Project Planning Checklist

Before you order, confirm your footing dimensions, mortar type, expansion joint placement, and delivery access. The checklist covers the prep steps most DIYers skip.

Download Checklist (PDF)

Planning use only. See Methodology and Data Sources. View all project checklists →

Accuracy & Review

Reviewed by: Maria Ramirez, PE

Maria is a licensed Professional Engineer with experience in residential and light commercial concrete quantity takeoffs. She reviewed the volume formulas, unit conversions, bag yield assumptions, and waste factor guidance used in this calculator.

Last updated:

See: Methodology · Data Sources · Review Board

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Disclaimer

Results are provided for general planning purposes only and do not constitute engineering or structural design advice. Actual material quantities may vary based on site conditions, brick dimensional tolerances, mortar consistency, and laying pattern.

Structural or load-bearing brick installations should be reviewed by a qualified professional. Footing requirements, expansion joints, and wall ties are not covered by this calculator.

See our Methodology and Data Sources for details.