Brick Calculator
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Bricks per square foot = 144 ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)). A modular brick (7⅝ × 2¼ in) with a ⅜ in joint takes up 8 × 2⅝ in, so a wall needs 6.86 bricks per square foot, or about 686 per 100 sq ft before waste.
⅜ in (0.375) is standard in the US; 10 mm (0.394 in) in the UK.
| Wall | |
| Wall area | 120 sq ft |
| Openings | 0 sq ft |
| Brick area | 120 sq ft |
| Bricks | |
| Bricks per sq ft | 6.86 |
| Bricks with no waste | 823 |
| Bricks to buy | 864 |
| Mortar | |
| 80 lb bags of mortar mix (estimate) | 6 |
Show steps
- Wall area = 20 × 6 − 0 = 120 sq ft.
- Each brick with its joint covers (7.625 + 0.375) × (2.25 + 0.375) = 21 sq in.
- Bricks per sq ft = 144 ÷ 21 = 6.857.
- Bricks = 120 × 6.857 = 822.9; add 5% and round up: 864.
How to use the brick calculator
- Enter the wall length and height in feet and the total area of any doors and windows.
- Choose the brick size and the mortar joint width.
- Choose one or two bricks thick and add extra for breakage, then press Calculate.
Bricks per square foot
Bricks per sq ft = 144 ÷ ((L + j) × (H + j)), where L and H are the brick length and height in inches and j is the joint width.
| Brick | Size (in) | Per sq ft with ⅜ in joint |
|---|---|---|
| Modular | 7⅝ × 2¼ | 6.86 |
| Standard | 8 × 2¼ | 6.55 |
| Queen | 7⅝ × 2¾ | 5.76 |
| King | 9⅝ × 2⅝ | 4.80 |
| Utility | 11⅝ × 3⅝ | 3.00 |
The face height of a brick is what counts for a wall, so the depth of the brick does not change these numbers.
Worked example
A garden wall is 20 ft long and 6 ft high with no openings: 120 sq ft. With modular bricks at 6.857 per sq ft, 120 × 6.857 = 822.9 bricks. Adding 5% gives 864 bricks to buy.
Brick practice questions
Test yourself with 6 multiple-choice questions. Choose an answer and press Submit to see if you are right and why. Your score appears at the end.
Each brick plus its joint covers more area, so fewer bricks fill the wall.
Quiz complete
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks are in a square foot?
About 6.86 modular bricks with a ⅜ in joint. Larger bricks need fewer: about 4.8 king bricks or 3 utility bricks.
How many bricks do I need for a wall?
Multiply the wall area in square feet (minus doors and windows) by the bricks per square foot, double it for a two-brick-thick wall, and add about 5% for breakage.
How much mortar do I need for 1,000 bricks?
A common rule of thumb is about seven 80 lb bags of mortar mix per 1,000 modular bricks. Larger joints or hollow bricks use more.
Does the joint size matter?
Yes. The calculation adds the joint to the brick length and height, so a wider joint means each brick covers more area.
Sources
- Brick Industry Association: Technical Note 10, dimensioning and estimating brick masonry
- NIST Handbook 44: Units and conversions
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