Brick Calculator
Enter the size of your wall, the face size of one brick and the mortar joint to see how many bricks to order. Openings, wall thickness and waste are included.
How to use this brick calculator
- Measure the length and height of the wall in feet.
- Enter the area of doors and windows to subtract, in square feet.
- Enter the face length and height of one brick and the mortar joint, all in inches. The defaults are for a modular brick with a 3/8 inch joint.
- Set the number of wythes. Use 1 for a single layer of brick.
- Keep or change the waste allowance and press Calculate.
How to calculate how many bricks you need
The calculator divides the wall area by the area of one brick face plus its share of the mortar joint.
- Net wall area = length x height – openings
- Bricks per square foot = 144 / ((brick length + joint) x (brick height + joint))
- Bricks = net area x bricks per sq ft x wythes x (1 + waste % / 100), rounded up
Worked example
A wall is 20 ft long and 8 ft high, so the area is 160 sq ft. With a 7.625 by 2.25 inch brick and a 0.375 inch joint, one brick takes up 8 x 2.625 = 21 sq in of the wall, so there are 144 / 21 = 6.86 bricks per square foot. The exact count is 160 x 6.857 = 1,097.1, which rounds up to 1,098. With 5% waste you need 1,152 bricks.
If the same wall were two bricks thick, the count would double, because each extra wythe is another full layer. Compare your final number with the supplier quote, since many suppliers sell by the thousand and round up to a full pallet or cube.
Assumptions & limits
- The wall is a plain rectangle in a running bond. Arches, corners and decorative patterns use more bricks.
- Brick sizes differ by region and maker. The defaults are for a modular brick and are editable.
- The mortar joint is added to both sides of the brick so the count matches the real wall.
- Mortar, wall ties, flashing, lintels and footings are not included.
- Most suppliers sell by the brick or by the thousand, so you can compare your result with the supplier price.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how many bricks I need?
Divide the wall area by the area of one brick plus its mortar joint. With a modular brick and a 3/8 inch joint there are about 6.86 bricks per square foot.
How many bricks are in a square foot?
About 6.86 for a modular brick laid with a 3/8 inch joint. Other sizes give other numbers, and the calculator updates for your size.
How many bricks are in a thousand?
A thousand bricks cover about 146 sq ft of single-layer wall with these defaults, since 1,000 / 6.857 is about 146.
Should I add waste?
Yes. Five percent is a common allowance for breakage and cuts, and complex walls need more.
Does it include mortar?
No. Mortar depends on the joint and the mix, so check your product or ask a mason.
What are wythes?
A wythe is one layer of masonry in the thickness of a wall. A single-wythe wall is one brick thick.
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Last updated: November 2026