Brick Calculator
Estimate bricks, mortar bags, and sand needed for walls, patios, and other masonry projects. Accounts for brick size, mortar joints, and waste factor.
Brick walls and brick veneers are among the most durable, lowest-maintenance exterior wall materials available — a properly built brick wall lasts 100+ years with essentially no maintenance. The trade-off is upfront cost: brick veneer adds $5-15/sq ft to a wall vs. siding, and structural brick walls are even more expensive. Knowing accurate material counts before starting prevents the common mid-project shortage that adds days of delay.
This calculator returns the number of standard modular bricks needed for a given wall area, accounting for mortar joint width and waste factor. The standard modular brick measures 7⅝" × 2¼" × 3⅝" actual (the "nominal" dimensions are 8" × 2⅔" × 4" including ⅜" mortar joints). At standard joint thickness, a modular brick covers ~28.5 sq inches of wall face = 5 bricks per sq ft of wall surface.
Brick walls require concrete footings, often steel reinforcement (for taller walls), mortar mix, masonry sand, and tools (trowels, levels, jointer). Total project cost includes much more than just bricks — figure 30-40% material cost on top of brick alone for mortar, footings, and accessories.
Inputs
Results
Bricks Needed
1,102
Mortar Bags
32
Brick Cost
$826.50
Brick Materials Breakdown
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Wall Area | 160 sq ft |
| Bricks per Sq Ft | 6.6 |
| Bricks (exact) | 1,049 |
| Bricks (+5% waste) | 1,102 |
| Mortar Bags (80 lb) | 32 |
| Sand | 480 lbs |
| Brick Cost | $826.50 |
Formula
How to use this calculator
- Measure wall length and height in feet.
- Enter brick length and height in inches (8" × 2.25" for standard modular).
- Set mortar joint width (⅜" or 0.375" is standard).
- Set waste factor (5% for simple walls, 10% for complex patterns).
- Enter price per brick for cost estimate.
- Calculator returns brick count and material cost.
Worked examples
Brick mailbox
**Scenario:** Build a brick mailbox column: 18" × 18" × 5 ft tall. Using standard modular brick with ⅜" mortar joints. **Calculation:** Surface area of all 4 sides: 4 × 1.5 × 5 = 30 sq ft. Bricks per sq ft: 6.55. Total: 197 bricks. With 5% waste: 207 bricks. Plus base (1 sq ft brick base × 7 bricks/sq ft = 7 bricks). Total: ~215 bricks at $0.85 each = $183 in brick. Plus 7 bags mortar ($30), masonry sand ($25), footing concrete: ~$300 total materials. **Result:** ~$300 in materials for a brick mailbox. Plus labor (DIY weekend project or $500-800 pro). Brick mailboxes are popular HOA-compliant choice and last 50+ years.
Residential brick veneer addition
**Scenario:** Adding 400 sq ft of brick veneer to a home addition exterior wall. **Calculation:** Bricks: 400 × 6.55 = 2620 + 5% waste = 2751 bricks. At $0.75 each: $2063 in brick. Plus mortar (~85 bags × $5 = $425), sand, wall ties, flashing: ~$2700 materials. Pro install $1200-2000 labor. **Result:** $4000-5000 total for 400 sq ft brick veneer addition. Brick veneer is the most common residential exterior choice for medium to high-end homes. Lasts 100+ years with minimal maintenance vs. siding which needs replacement every 20-25 years.
Backyard brick patio
**Scenario:** 12 × 10 ft brick patio area, laid in running bond pattern. **Calculation:** Area: 120 sq ft. For paving (different than wall), use 4.5 bricks per sq ft for typical pavers (larger). Total: 540 bricks. With 10% waste (more cuts at edges): 595 bricks. At $1.25 each (paving brick): $744 in brick. Plus base gravel (2 tons crushed stone): $80, sand (1 yd): $50, edge restraint: $40. Total ~$914 materials. **Result:** ~$900 in materials for backyard brick patio. Pro install adds $1000-1800. DIY save labor; 1-2 weekends work for a moderate-size patio. Use polymeric sand in joints (sweeps in dry, hardens with water) for long-lasting weed prevention.
When to use this calculator
**Use brick calculations for:**
- **Brick veneer additions**: most common residential application. - **Garden walls and retaining walls**: structural brick. - **Pavers and patios**: horizontal applications. - **Chimneys**: structural brick masonry. - **Decorative columns and pillars**: mailboxes, gateposts, accents. - **Outdoor fireplaces and BBQs**: brick + firebrick for high-heat areas. - **Historic restoration**: matching existing brick character.
**Brick wall structural considerations:**
- **Single wythe (4"-wide)**: garden walls, fences, veneer. - **Double wythe (8"-wide)**: structural walls, retaining walls. - **Cavity walls (filled with insulation)**: modern energy-efficient construction. - **Steel reinforcement**: required for tall walls and retaining walls. - **Movement joints**: every 24-30 feet to allow for thermal expansion.
**Veneer vs structural:**
- **Veneer**: 4" thick brick over framed wall. Decorative only. Anchored with wall ties. - **Structural**: load-bearing brick. Requires engineer design for taller walls.
**Brick selection:**
- **Severe weather (SW)**: rated for hard freeze-thaw cycles. - **Moderate weather (MW)**: rated for mild freeze-thaw climates. - **Negligible weather (NW)**: interior or southern climates only.
Choose based on climate; SW for any cold-climate exterior.
**Tools required:**
- Brick trowel (for spreading mortar). - Tuck pointing trowel (for cleaning joints). - Level (4-foot minimum). - String line and chalk. - Jointer or pointer tool. - Brick hammer or wet saw. - Mortar mixer. - Mason's chisel. - Plumb line.
**Installation steps:**
1. **Pour footing**: below frost line, minimum 8" wide. 2. **Mark layout**: chalk line on footing. 3. **Mix mortar**: small batches (use within 90 minutes). 4. **Lay corner courses first**: builds reference points. 5. **String line for each course**: ensures straightness. 6. **Apply mortar bed**: ½" thick under brick. 7. **Butter brick ends**: mortar on ends before placing. 8. **Tap into place**: with trowel handle. 9. **Joint finishing**: concave joints standard; flush, raked, or weather joints alternative. 10. **Clean as you go**: wipe excess mortar before it sets.
**Brick wall maintenance:**
- **Annual inspection**: look for cracked bricks or failing mortar. - **Tuckpointing every 25-50 years**: re-mortar joints showing wear. - **Sealing**: optional; can reduce water infiltration in cold climates. - **Power washing**: every 3-5 years to remove dirt/algae. - **Vine removal**: ivy and Boston ivy damage mortar joints.
**Common code requirements:**
- Movement joints every 24-30 ft. - Weep holes every 33 inches at bottom course. - Flashing at foundation, windows, sills. - Wall ties every 2.67 sq ft of veneer. - Air space between brick and sheathing. - Footing depth below frost line.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping the footing. Brick walls need solid concrete foundations.
- Not allowing movement joints. Walls crack from thermal expansion without expansion joints.
- Wrong mortar type. Type N for general, Type S for structural; using wrong type compromises strength.
- Wet bricks before laying. Saturated brick reduces mortar bond strength.
- Working in extreme weather. Below 40°F or above 90°F causes mortar problems.
- Skipping weep holes. Water trapped behind veneer causes mortar failure and freeze damage.
- Improper joint tooling. Concave joints shed water; raked joints collect it.