Brick CalculatorBrickwork Calculation for Wall & Patio
Free
No signup
US & UK Sizes
Includes mortar estimate
Use this free brick calculator for wall projects to find exactly how many bricks you need. This brickwork calculation tool handles walls, patios, and any masonry structure. Enter your dimensions, select a brick size, set a waste factor — and the brickwork calculation for wall runs instantly. Get bricks per square foot, total brick count, mortar bag estimate, and a step-by-step breakdown. Also works as a wall block calculator and brick patio estimator.
Wall Details
Brick size
Total bricks needed
1,207
including 10% waste - covers 160 sq ft
160 sq ft
Gross area
160 sq ft
Net area
1,097
Base count
12
Mortar bags (est.)
Your 160 sq ft wall (after deducting 0 sq ft of openings) requires 1,207 bricks using US Standard (7⅝″ x 2¼″) with a 10% waste allowance. Also plan for approximately 12 bags of mortar mix.
Getting started
How to use this brick calculator
1
Choose brick size
US Standard covers the most common American residential brickwork. UK Standard is used in Britain. US Jumbo is a taller format.
2
Enter wall dimensions
Measure the full length and height of the wall face in feet (imperial) or meters (metric).
3
Subtract openings
Total up the area of all doors, windows, and vents and enter that figure. This avoids over-ordering.
4
Set the waste factor
Use 10% for a straightforward wall, 15-20% for walls with lots of cuts, up to 25% for decorative patterns.
The calculation
Step-by-step: how your brick count was calculated
1
Calculate gross wall area
Wall Area = Length (ft) x Height (ft)
= 20 x 8
= 160 sq ft
2
Subtract openings (doors + windows)
Net Area = Wall Area - Openings
= 160 - 0
= 160 sq ft
3
Calculate bricks without waste
Bricks = Net Area x 6.86 bricks/sq ft
= 160 x 6.86
= 1,097 bricks
4
Add 10% waste allowance
Total = Base Bricks x (1 + 10 / 100)
= 1,097 x 1.10
= 1207 bricks (rounded up)
Note: Always round up - a partial brick is a whole brick at the supplier.
Formulas
Brickwork calculation formula — bricks per square foot explained
The brick calculator uses an area-based method: find how many bricks fit in one square unit, then multiply by the total net area.
Bricks per sq ft = 144 / [(Brick Length + Mortar) x (Brick Height + Mortar)] Base count = Net Wall Area x Bricks per sq ft Total (with waste) = Base count x (1 + Waste %)
For US standard bricks (7.625″ x 2.25″) with 3/8″ mortar joints:
Brick face + mortar = (7.625 + 0.375) x (2.25 + 0.375) = 8.0 x 2.625 = 21 sq inches
Bricks per sq ft = 144 / 21 = 6.86 bricks/sq ft
100 sq ft wall: 686 base + 10% waste = 755 bricks to order
Reference Table
Brick size quick-reference table
Brick type
Face size
Mortar joint
Bricks/sq ft
Bricks/m²
US Standard
7⅝″ x 2¼″
3/8″
6.86
73.8
US Jumbo
7⅝″ x 2¾″
3/8″
5.76
62.0
UK Standard
215 x 65 mm
10 mm
5.53
59.5
US Oversize
7⅝″ x 3¾″
3/8″
4.50
48.4
US Standard at 6.86 bricks/sq ft is the most common format for residential brickwork in North America. UK Standard yields 59.5 bricks/m² with a 10 mm mortar joint.
Context
Understanding your brickwork estimate
Why deduct openings?
A standard 3 ft x 7 ft door opening is 21 sq ft of wall where no bricks are laid. At 6.86 bricks/sq ft, that is 144 fewer bricks in your base count. Always subtract doors and windows before calculating.
Why do mortar joints matter?
Thicker mortar joints mean fewer bricks per square foot because each brick effectively "occupies" more surface. Match the mortar joint in the calculator to your project specification.
Ordering tips
Order from the same production run to avoid color inconsistency. US bricks come on pallets of 500-525 units. Keep 2-5% of spare bricks stored in a dry location for repairs.
Examples
Worked examples
Example 1 - Exterior house wall
A single side of a house is 40 ft wide x 9 ft tall = 360 sq ft gross. It has two windows (16 sq ft) and one door (21 sq ft): openings total 53 sq ft. Net area = 360 - 53 = 307 sq ft. At 6.86 bricks/sq ft with 10% waste: 307 x 6.86 x 1.1 = 2,318 bricks.
Example 2 - Garden wall
A 25 ft long x 5 ft high garden wall with no openings = 125 sq ft. Using US Standard with 15% waste: 125 x 6.86 x 1.15 = 986 bricks. Order 2 full pallets.
Mistakes
Common brickwork calculation for wall mistakes
Forgetting to deduct openings
A house wall with three doors and six windows can contain 300-450 sq ft of openings. Skipping deductions means a significant over-order and wasted money.
Using one waste factor for every project
Straight walls need only 10% waste. A herringbone or diagonal pattern can waste 25% or more because each brick must be cut to a specific angle.
Not ordering from the same batch
Brick color varies between kiln firings. Always over-order by a small margin and store spares.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q
How do I calculate how many bricks I need for a wall?
Divide your net wall area by the area one brick covers (including mortar joints). For a US standard brick with 3/8-inch mortar, one brick covers (7.625 + 0.375) x (2.25 + 0.375) = 21 sq inches, or about 0.146 sq ft. That equals roughly 6.86 bricks per square foot. Multiply by the net area (gross wall area minus door and window openings), then add your waste percentage on top.
Q
How many bricks per square foot?
A US standard modular brick with 3/8-inch mortar joints covers about 21 sq inches, giving approximately 6.86 bricks per square foot. UK standard bricks with 10 mm joints cover about 16,800 mm², yielding roughly 59.5 bricks per square meter. Brick size and mortar joint thickness are the two variables that determine coverage.
Q
How much mortar do I need for brickwork?
A common rule of thumb is 7 bags of mortar mix per 100 square feet of brickwork (roughly one bag per 14 sq ft). For very large projects, plan on about 1 cubic foot of mortar for every 30-35 standard bricks laid. Always add 10% extra for waste and joint variation.
Q
Should I add a waste factor when ordering bricks?
Yes, always. For a simple straight wall with few cuts, 10% waste is standard. For walls with corners, multiple openings, or pattern work, use 15-20%. If you are doing a herringbone or diagonal pattern, budget up to 25%. Running short mid-project is a serious problem because bricks from different production batches can have visible color variations.
Q
What is the difference between brickwork calculation and block calculation?
The method is identical - divide area by unit coverage - but the unit size is different. Concrete blocks (CMU) are much larger (typically 8″ x 8″ x 16″ face) so you need far fewer units per square foot. Select 'US Standard' brick for standard clay bricks; use a different calculator for concrete masonry blocks. The mortar volume per square foot is also different between brick and block.
