Brick Calculator

Bricks are one of the most durable and aesthetically appealing building materials in the United States. Whether you're constructing an exterior wall, building a chimney, creating a patio, or adding a brick walkway, accurately estimating the number of bricks you need prevents costly over-ordering and project delays.

Bricks are commonly made of fired clay or shale and are laid in courses (rows) held together by mortar — a mixture of cement, sand, and lime. The calculator above supports 6 standard US brick sizes, estimates mortar bags, calculates pallets, and provides a total material cost including both bricks and mortar.

For CMU blocks, see our concrete block calculator. Measure wall area with our square footage calculator. For mortar and footings, use our concrete calculator.

Brick Sizes and Coverage

Brick dimensions in the US follow standard ASTM specifications. The "nominal" size includes the mortar joint (typically ⅜"). When estimating, always use the actual brick dimensions plus the mortar joint.

Note: "Bricks per sq ft" assumes a ⅜" mortar joint. Thicker joints (½") reduce the count per sq ft.

Step-by-Step Brick Estimation

Step 1: Calculate the Wall or Area

Measure the length and height of the wall (or length and width for patios). Multiply to get the total square footage. Subtract square footage of any windows, doors, or openings.

Example: A wall 20 ft long × 8 ft high = 160 sq ft. Minus one 3×5 ft window = 145 sq ft.

Step 2: Find Bricks per Square Foot

Add the mortar joint to each brick dimension. Multiply to get the area of one brick (in square inches), then divide by 144 to convert to sq ft. Divide 1 by that number to find bricks per sq ft.

Modular brick with ⅜" joint: (7.625 + 0.375) × (2.25 + 0.375) = 8 × 2.625 = 21 sq in ÷ 144 = 0.1458 sq ft → 6.86 bricks per sq ft

Step 3: Calculate Total Bricks + Waste

Multiply wall area × bricks per sq ft. Add 10% for waste (cuts, breakage, transport damage). Add 15–20% if the project involves intricate patterns like herringbone or basket weave.

Example: 145 sq ft × 6.86 = 995 bricks. With 10% waste: 995 × 1.10 = 1,095 bricks = ~2 pallets (modular).

Mortar Estimation

Mortar usage depends on brick size and joint thickness. The two most common methods:

Pre-mixed bags: Divide total bricks by 35 to estimate bags. For 1,095 modular bricks: 1,095 ÷ 35 = 32 bags.

Site-mix (1:3 cement to sand): 1 bag cement per 142 modular bricks, 125 queen bricks, or 100 utility bricks. Requires about 1 cu yd of sand per 7 bags of cement.

Ordering by the Pallet

Bricks are sold individually, by the pallet, or in bulk truckloads. Ordering by the pallet is standard for most projects:

• Modular: ~532 bricks/pallet (~2,200 lbs)
• Queen: ~390 bricks/pallet (~2,100 lbs)
• King: ~360 bricks/pallet (~2,400 lbs)

Always round up to the next full pallet. You can return unopened pallets to most suppliers. A forklift is typically needed to move pallets on-site.

2025 US Brick Cost Guide

Mortar: Pre-mixed 80 lb bags cost $8–$15 each. For 1,000 bricks you'll need ~30 bags = $240–$450 in mortar.

Total installed cost: Professional brick masonry in the US runs $10–$25 per sq ft installed, depending on brick type and project complexity.

Common Brick Projects