Concrete & Masonry

Brick Calculator

This brick calculator counts bricks and mortar for a wall or veneer; see our masonry repair guide for repointing and brickwork costs. Estimate the number of bricks for a single-wythe wall or veneer from the wall area, the brick size and the mortar joint. It also estimates the volume of mortar in the joints — enter the yield printed on your mortar bag to turn that into a bag count. For mortar repair on an existing wall, see our masonry and repointing guide.

Results from this brick calculator are planning estimates; confirm quantities and prices with your supplier or contractor before you order.

Your results will appear here

Enter your measurements and press Calculate. Defaults show a typical example.

How to use the brick calculator

Enter the wall length and height and subtract any openings.
Pick your brick size or enter a custom size.
Keep 3/8 in joints unless your design differs.
Optionally enter your mortar bag's yield to get a bag count.

Formula

Bricks per sq ft = 144 ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)). Mortar volume = wall area × (144 × bed depth − bricks per sq ft × brick face area × bed depth) ÷ 1,728.

Worked example

Modular brick with 3/8 in joints: 144 ÷ (8 × 2.625) = 6.86 bricks per sq ft. A 20 × 8 ft wall (160 sq ft) needs 1,097 bricks, or 1,152 with 5% waste.

Tips for using the brick calculator

Measure the actual brick, not the nominal size; modular and standard bricks differ enough to change the count.
Add 5–10% for broken bricks and cuts around openings and corners.
Buy all bricks from one batch, because color varies between production runs.