Brick Calculator

Calculate how many bricks and mortar bags you need for walls, patios, or walkways. Choose from 6 brick sizes, estimate pallets, and get total material cost.

🧱 Brick Calculator

BRICKS

Wall / Area160.00 sq ft
Bricks per sq ft6.9
Bricks (exact)1,098 bricks
Bricks (+ 10% waste)1,207 bricks
Pallets (532/pallet)3 pallets

MORTAR

Mortar (80 lb bags)35 bags

COST

Brick Cost$785
Mortar Cost$420
Total Cost$1,205

πŸ’‘ How to Calculate Bricks Needed

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 β€” 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 β…œ"). When estimating, always use the actual brick dimensions plus the mortar joint.

Brick TypeActual Size (LΓ—H)Bricks per sq ftPer PalletPallet Weight
Modular7⅝" Γ— 2ΒΌ"6.86~532~2,200 lbs
Queen7⅝" Γ— 2ΒΎ"5.76~390~2,100 lbs
King9⅝" Γ— 2⅝"4.61~360~2,400 lbs
Utility11⅝" Γ— 3⅝"3.00~270~2,300 lbs
Engineer7⅝" Γ— 2 13⁄16"5.63~410~2,200 lbs
Closure7⅝" Γ— 3⅝"4.50~340~2,100 lbs

Note: "Bricks per sq ft" assumes a β…œ" mortar joint. Thicker joints (Β½") 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 Γ— 8 ft high = 160 sq ft. Minus one 3Γ—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 β…œ" joint: (7.625 + 0.375) Γ— (2.25 + 0.375) = 8 Γ— 2.625 = 21 sq in Γ· 144 = 0.1458 sq ft β†’ 6.86 bricks per sq ft

Step 3: Calculate Total Bricks + Waste

Multiply wall area Γ— 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 Γ— 6.86 = 995 bricks. With 10% waste: 995 Γ— 1.10 = 1,095 bricks = ~2 pallets (modular).

Mortar Estimation

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

MethodCoverage per BagBest For
Pre-mixed mortar (80 lb bag)30–36 bricksHomeowners, small projects
Portland cement (94 lb bag + sand)100–142 bricks (varies by size)Contractors, large projects

Pre-mixed bags: Divide total bricks by 35 to estimate bags. For 1,095 modular bricks: 1,095 Γ· 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

Brick TypeCost per BrickCost per PalletCost per sq ft (wall)
Standard Modular$0.50–$0.75$265–$400$3.40–$5.15
Face Brick (colored)$0.75–$1.50$400–$800$5.15–$10.30
Used / Reclaimed$0.50–$2.00$265–$1,060$3.40–$13.70
Thin Brick Veneer$0.80–$2.50Varies$6–$18
Fire Brick$1.50–$3.00$500–$1,000Varies

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

ProjectTypical SizeBricks (Modular)Mortar (80 lb bags)Material Cost
Garden wall (4 ft high)20 Γ— 4 ft = 80 sq ft~605~18$500–$800
Single-story faΓ§ade40 Γ— 10 ft = 400 sq ft~3,020~87$2,500–$4,200
Fireplace surround~50 sq ft~380~11$300–$570
Patio (10Γ—10 ft)100 sq ft (flat)~470 (4.7/sq ft flat)~14 (mortared)$400–$750
Mailbox column~25 sq ft exposed~190~6$150–$280
A 20Γ—8 ft brick wall using standard modular bricks (8" Γ— 2.67" nominal with mortar) = 160 sq ft Γ· 0.148 sq ft/brick = ~1,081 bricks. With 10% waste = ~1,189 bricks.

Brick Calculator FAQ

πŸ”— Related Calculators

Paver CalculatorCalculate how many pavers you need for patios, walkways, and driveways. Includes base material and joint sand estimates.Paver Base CalculatorCalculate gravel base and sand bedding material for paver installations. Enter area and depth for tons and cubic yards.Asphalt CalculatorCalculate how much asphalt you need for driveways, parking lots, and roads. Get results in tons, cubic yards, and truckloads.Square Footage CalculatorCalculate the square footage of any space β€” rectangle, triangle, circle, trapezoid, or rectangular border. Convert to sq m, sq yd, and acres. Estimate project cost with price per sq ft.