How to use
Enter the wall length and height and the area of windows and doors. Choose the brick size, the number of wythes and the mortar joint width, and set extra for breakage and cuts. You’ll see how many bricks you need and the wall area. The default is a US modular brick with 3/8 in joints.
You’ll also see bricks per unit of wall area and the mortar volume — the wall volume minus the bricks, with the same waste allowance. In practice you often use a bit more mortar than that.
How it’s calculated
- Wall area = length × height − openings.
- A single-wythe wall is one row of bricks laid lengthwise (stretchers). Bricks per square foot = 1 ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)).
- A double-wythe wall needs twice as many bricks, triple wythe three times as many, and so on.
- Total = area × bricks per sq ft × (1 + extra), rounded up.
Bricks per square foot (3/8 in joint)
| Brick | 1 wythe | 2 wythes | 3 wythes | 4 wythes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modular 7⅝ × 3⅝ × 2¼ in | 6.86 | 13.7 | 20.6 | 27.4 |
That’s why the common rule of thumb is “about 7 modular bricks per square foot” for a single-wythe wall or veneer.
Examples
- A 20 × 8 ft wall with a 21 sq ft door, modular brick, single wythe, 3/8 in joints, 5% extra: 139 sq ft, 1,001 bricks.
- The same wall two wythes thick: 2,002 bricks.
FAQ
How much extra should I add? 5% is typical for breakage and cuts; for face brick or complex bonds, up to 10%.
Does it account for mortar joints? Yes, the joint is entered separately — 3/8 in is standard for modular brick. Wider joints mean fewer bricks and more mortar.
Does it work for other sizes? Yes — choose another format in the list. European and other formats are included in metric sizes.
Pouring a footing first? Use the concrete calculator.