How many bricks do I need per square foot?

A modular brick with ⅜ inch mortar joints takes about 6.86 bricks per square foot, and many people use a rule of 7. Larger bricks take fewer: Norman bricks about 4.6 and utility bricks about 3 per square foot.

How do I calculate how many bricks I need for a wall?

Multiply the wall length by its height in feet, subtract doors and windows, then multiply by the bricks per square foot and add 10% for breakage. A wall 20 feet long and 8 feet high needs about 1,098 modular bricks, or 1,207 with 10% extra.

How much mortar do I need for bricks?

With ⅜ inch joints, a modular brick wall uses about 10 cubic feet of mortar per 1,000 bricks, including 25% for spills, which is about 17 bags of 80 pounds. Real use varies with the mason and the joint style, so buy a few extra bags.

How many bricks are on a pallet?

A standard pallet, or cube, holds about 500 modular bricks, though it varies by brick type and supplier. Ask your supplier, because delivery is usually by pallet.

What size are US bricks?

A modular brick is 7⅝ by 2¼ by 3⅝ inches, a queen brick is 7⅝ by 2¾ by 3⅝, a Norman is 11⅝ by 2¼ by 3⅝ and a utility brick is 11⅝ by 3⅝ by 3⅝. Sizes are actual dimensions, and the joint adds ⅜ inch to the length and height.

How much extra should I order?

Order 5% to 10% extra for breakage and cuts, and more for a pattern with many cuts or for a wall with arches. Bricks from a different batch can vary in color, so it is better to buy all of them together.

Does this work for a structural wall?

It estimates quantity only. Structural, retaining and load-bearing walls need engineered plans, ties, flashing, lintels and footings under local code. Use the calculator for the materials after the design is set.

🏠 Home & Garden

Brick Calculator · How Many Bricks and Bags of Mortar?

The number of bricks in a wall depends on three things: the area of the wall, the size of the brick and the thickness of the mortar joint. This calculator uses the actual size of common US bricks, adds the joint to find how much wall each brick covers, and returns the bricks you need, the mortar and the pallets to order.

Enter the length and height of the wall in feet and subtract doors and windows. Choose the brick size, modular, queen, Norman or utility, the joint thickness, with ⅜ inch as the standard, and whether the wall is one brick thick, like a veneer, or two. The calculator adds 10% for breakage and cuts and shows the bricks per square foot, the number of rows, the bricks in each row, the cubic feet of mortar, the 80-pound bags and the pallets of about 500 bricks.

A modular brick with ⅜ inch joints takes about 6.86 bricks per square foot, which is why many people use a rule of 7. The mortar is computed from the volume of the joints with 25% extra for spills, and real use varies with the mason and the joint style, so buy a few bags more. Ties, flashing, lintels and the collar joint of a double wall are not counted, and a structural or retaining wall should follow engineered plans and local code.

Detailed Breakdown

9 metrics

PRIMARY RESULT

1,207 bricks

Bricks to Buy (With 10% Extra)

Wall Area

160.00 square feet

Bricks Without Extra

1,098 bricks

Bricks per Square Foot (Single Layer)

6.86 bricks

Rows and Bricks per Row

About 37 rows of 30 bricks

Mortar Needed (With 25% for Spills)

11.06 cubic feet

80-lb Mortar Bags

19 bags

Pallets (About 500 Bricks Each)

3 pallets

Brick Cost (1,207 × $0.80)

$965.60

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exploreReal-World Scenarios

When to Use This Calculator

Everyday financial situations where this tool gives you fast, accurate clarity:

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Build a Brick Wall or Veneer

Get the bricks for a wall of any length and height, with openings subtracted.

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Plan a Garden or Fence Wall

See rows, bricks per row and the pallets to order.

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Compare Brick Sizes

Check how modular, queen, Norman and utility bricks change the count.

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Budget Bricks and Mortar

Add a price per brick and see the mortar bags you need.

Calculation Formula

Standard Method

Wall area = Length × Height − Area to subtract Brick cell (sq in) = (Brick length + Joint) × (Brick height + Joint) Bricks per square foot = 144 ÷ Brick cell Bricks = Wall area × Bricks per square foot × Wythes (1 or 2) With extra = Bricks × (1 + Extra %), rounded up Mortar per brick = (Brick cell − Brick face) × 3⅝ in depth Mortar volume = Bricks × Mortar per brick × 1.25 (25% for spills) Bags = Mortar volume ÷ 0.6 cubic feet per 80-lb bag, rounded up Pallets = Bricks with extra ÷ 500, rounded up Brick sizes used (actual, in inches): modular 7⅝ × 2¼, queen 7⅝ × 2¾, Norman 11⅝ × 2¼, utility 11⅝ × 3⅝. All have a depth of 3⅝ inches. The mortar bag yield is a planning figure.

Benchmark Example:

A wall 20 ft long and 8 ft high with modular bricks, ⅜ inch joints, one brick thick and 10% extra: • Wall area: 20 × 8 = 160 square feet • Brick cell: (7.625 + 0.375) × (2.25 + 0.375) = 21 square inches, so 144 ÷ 21 = 6.86 bricks per square foot • Bricks: 160 × 6.857 = 1,097.1, so 1,098 bricks • With 10% extra: 1,207 bricks, about 37 rows of 30 bricks • Mortar: 11.06 cubic feet, so 19 bags of 80 pounds • Pallets: 1,207 ÷ 500 = 2.4, so 3 pallets • Cost at $0.80 a brick: 1,207 × $0.80 = $965.60 Subtracting a door and a window (35 square feet) leaves 125 square feet and 943 bricks with extra. A double wall doubles the bricks and the mortar.

Frequently Asked Questions

7 answers

Applicable Laws & Regulatory Standards

ASTM International, The Masonry Society & International Code Council

Official Legal Reference

ASTM C216 — Standard Specification for Facing Brick (Solid Masonry Units Made From Clay or Shale)

Defines the facing brick sold in the United States and its dimensional tolerances, so the sizes used here are nominal values for a working estimate.

ASTM C270 — Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry

Sets the types and proportions of mortar for brick masonry, which affect the strength of the wall and the bags you buy.

TMS 402/602 — Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures

The reference for the design and construction of masonry walls. A structural or load-bearing wall should follow it and engineered plans, not a quantity estimate alone.

International Residential Code (IRC) §R703.8 — Anchored stone and masonry veneer

Sets the ties, flashing and air space required for brick veneer on a house, items this calculator does not count.

Legal citations and statutes are provided for consumer transparency, analytical validation, and educational reference under U.S. consumer financial regulations. This tool is not a substitute for formal legal, accounting, or tax counsel.

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