Brick Calculator — How Many Bricks Do I Need?
Estimate bricks, mortar bags, and mason sand for any wall, patio, or walkway. Supports standard, modular, queen, king, and utility brick sizes, plus single or double wythe walls. Includes door and window deductions.
Brick Calculator
Brick Sizes Reference Table
| Brick Type | Nominal Size (in) | Metric (mm) | Per Sq Ft | Per m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (modular) | 8 × 2.25 × 3.625 | 203 × 57 × 92 | 6.75 | 72.6 |
| Modular | 7.625 × 2.25 × 3.625 | 194 × 57 × 92 | 6.86 | 73.8 |
| Queen | 9.625 × 2.75 × 3.125 | 244 × 70 × 79 | 5.76 | 62.0 |
| King | 9.625 × 2.625 × 2.75 | 244 × 67 × 70 | 5.76 | 62.0 |
| Utility | 11.625 × 3.625 × 3.625 | 295 × 92 × 92 | 3.00 | 32.3 |
| Engineer | 7.625 × 2.81 × 3.625 | 194 × 71 × 92 | 5.63 | 60.6 |
| UK metric | 8.5 × 2.6 × 4.1 | 215 × 65 × 102.5 | ~6.20 | ~60 |
Counts assume standard 3/8″ (10 mm) mortar joints in a running bond pattern. UK/Australian metric bricks include the joint in their nominal dimension.
How to Calculate Bricks for a Wall
- Measure wall length and height in feet (or meters). Multiply for area.
- Subtract openings: standard door = 21 sq ft (1.95 m²), standard window = 15 sq ft (1.39 m²). Skip openings smaller than 5 sq ft (0.46 m²).
- Multiply by bricks per sq ft for your size (e.g., 6.75 for standard).
- Multiply by wythes: 1 for veneer/garden wall (4″ thick), 2 for full structural wall (8″ thick).
- Add 10% waste for cuts and breakage. 15% for complex patterns or many openings.
- Mortar: 1 bag (80 lb / 36 kg Type S) per 30 bricks — or ~33 bags per 1,000 bricks.
- Sand: ~200 lbs (90 kg) per bag of mortar.
Imperial example: 20×8 ft wall, standard brick, single wythe, 0 doors, 0 windows, 10% waste → 160 sq ft × 6.75 = 1,080 bricks × 1.10 = 1,188 bricks. Mortar: 40 bags. Sand: ~8,000 lbs.
Metric example: 6×2.4 m wall = 14.4 m² × 72.6 = 1,045 bricks × 1.10 = 1,150 bricks. Mortar: 39 bags (36 kg each). Sand: ~3,500 kg.
Mortar Types and Quantities
| Type | Compressive Strength | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Type M | 2,500 psi (17 MPa) | Foundations, retaining walls, paving, heavy loads |
| Type S | 1,800 psi (12 MPa) | Structural walls, below grade, exterior — most common |
| Type N | 750 psi (5 MPa) | Above-grade non-load-bearing, veneers, soft brick |
| Type O | 350 psi (2.4 MPa) | Interior tuckpointing and repair only |
| Type K | 75 psi (0.5 MPa) | Historical restoration of soft, lime-based masonry |
Coverage: 1 bag (80 lb / 36 kg) of pre-mixed Type S mortar covers approximately 30 standard bricks with 3/8″ (10 mm) joints. For concrete blocks (CMU), 1 bag covers about 12–15 blocks.
Brick Patterns and Bonds
- Running bond (most common) — each course offset by half a brick. Strong, simple, low waste.
- Stack bond — bricks stacked vertically aligned. Decorative only; needs reinforcement.
- Flemish bond — alternating headers and stretchers in each course. Traditional, structural.
- English bond — alternating courses of all headers and all stretchers. Strongest pattern.
- Herringbone — 45° or 90° pattern, used for paving. Increases brick count by ~5%.
- Basket weave — pairs of bricks alternating direction. Decorative paving pattern.
Pattern affects waste: simple running bond ~5%, complex patterns or diagonal cuts can hit 15–20%.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks do I need for a wall?
For a standard brick wall: multiply wall area (length × height in sq ft) by 6.75 bricks per sq ft (with 3/8″ / 10 mm mortar joints). A 20×8 ft (6×2.4 m) wall needs ~160 sq ft × 6.75 = 1,080 bricks plus 10% waste = 1,188 bricks.
How many bricks are in a square foot?
Standard bricks (8×2.25×3.625″ / 203×57×92 mm) with 3/8″ (10 mm) mortar joints: 6.75 bricks per sq ft for a single-wythe wall. Modular: 6.86/sq ft. Queen/King: 5.76/sq ft. Utility: 3.0/sq ft.
How much mortar do I need per 1000 bricks?
Approximately 33 bags (80 lb / 36 kg each) of Type S mortar for 1,000 standard bricks. Each bag covers about 30 bricks with standard 3/8″ (10 mm) joints. You’ll also need about 33 cu ft (~1.2 cu yd / 0.93 m³) of mason sand — ~6,600 lbs (3,000 kg).
What type of mortar should I use?
Type S for structural walls, retaining walls, and below-grade. Type N for above-grade non-load-bearing walls and veneers. Type M for foundations and heavy loads. Type O for interior or repair work only. Type S is the most common all-purpose choice.
Related Calculators
- Concrete Calculator — need a foundation for the brick wall?
- Sand Calculator — need mason sand for mortar?
- Gravel Calculator — need a gravel base?
- Paver Calculator — laying brick pavers instead?
- Area Unit Converter — convert between square feet, square meters, acres, hectares
- All Construction Calculators
Brick counts assume 3/8″ (10 mm) mortar joints, running bond. Mortar coverage: 80 lb (36 kg) Type S bag ≈ 30 standard bricks. Sand: ~200 lbs (90 kg) per mortar bag. Brick weight: ~4.5 lbs (2 kg) each — 1,000 bricks ≈ 4,500 lbs (2 tons / 2,000 kg). Sources: Brick Industry Association (BIA) Technical Notes, ASTM C90 (CMU) and C216 (face brick). Always reinforce structural walls per local code (US: TMS 402 / ACI 530).
