How to use this calculator
- Measure the wall. Length × height for each wall section. Subtract openings (doors, windows) at full size.
- Pick bricks per square foot. Modular: 7. Queen: 6.5. Engineer: 6. Oversize: 5.7. Norman (long): 4.5. Always check the manufacturer spec for the exact figure.
- Enter price per brick (optional). Standard red brick: $0.45–$0.80. Premium / handmade: $0.80–$2.50. Reclaimed: $1.50–$4.00.
- Read your bill of materials. Bricks (with 5% waste), mortar bags, sand. With prices, total estimate.
Formula
Bricks = Wall Area × Bricks per ft² + 5% waste
Worked example
A 20 × 8 ft wall (160 ft²) of modular brick: 1,176 bricks (with 5% waste), 6 bags of mortar (70 lb), 1.6 tons of sand. At $0.65/brick + $9/bag + $30/ton: $836 in materials.
Common project sizes
Quick reference for the most common brick calculator use cases. Use these as a sanity check on your calculator inputs.
| Project | Dimensions | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Front wall veneer (40 × 8 ft) | 320 ft² | ~2,352 bricks · 11 bags mortar |
| Chimney (4 × 4 × 30 ft tall) | 480 ft² | ~3,528 bricks · 16 bags mortar |
| Garden wall (40 × 4 ft) | 160 ft² | ~1,176 bricks · 6 bags mortar |
| Whole-house veneer (1,800 ft²) | 1,800 ft² | ~13,230 bricks · 60 bags mortar · 18 tons sand |
2026 cost reference
Typical retail price range in the United States for brick. Local pricing varies by region, supplier, and grade — confirm with two or three quotes before ordering.
Per square foot (installed)
$14 – $50
Standard red brick veneer: $14–$25/ft² installed. Premium / handmade: $25–$45/ft². Reclaimed antique: $30–$60/ft². Stone-look brick: $20–$35/ft². Materials alone are $5–$15/ft².
How we calculate this
Assumptions baked in
Modular brick (3⅝" × 2¼" × 7⅝") with 3/8" mortar joints yields 6.86 bricks per ft² of wall — we round to 7 by convention. King-size and oversize bricks change that ratio; the calculator accepts a custom bricks-per-ft² value. Mortar usage assumes 1 bag of 70 lb Type N covers ~30 ft² of single-wythe veneer at 3/8" joints. 5% waste is built into the final count.
Accuracy and margin of error
For rectangular wall sections, ±2% on the brick count. Soldier and rowlock courses, jack arches, and corbeled details add ~5–10% to the order — add it yourself if the design has decorative coursing. Estimated sand at ~1 ton per 100 ft² of brickwork is a rule-of-thumb from the Brick Industry Association.
Edge cases this calculator does not handle
Reclaimed and antique brick varies in dimension; measure 10 bricks side-by-side, divide by 10 for true average, and recompute. Pavers (4×8) are a different product entirely — use a paver-specific calculator. Adhered thin brick (½" veneer) doesn't use mortar joints in the same way; the calculator overstates mortar for that product.
Cited sources for this page
The figures and rules above are anchored to the following normative references. We link the underlying claim to its standard — not as generic SEO trust signals, but so you can audit any number on this page against a primary source.
Modular brick standard dimensions of 3⅝" × 2¼" × 7⅝" are defined by ASTM C216 (facing brick) and BIA Technical Note 10.
Source: ASTM C216 / Brick Industry Association Technical Note 10
Type N mortar (750 psi) is standard for above-grade exterior brick veneer; Type S (1,800 psi) is required for parapets and chimneys.
Source: ASTM C270 Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry
Tips for accurate results
- A standard mortar bag (70 lb) lays about 30 ft² of brick at 3/8" joint. Buy 1 extra for full-job tolerance.
- Sand requirement: 1 ton of mason's sand per 100 ft² of brick. Mason's sand is finer than concrete sand — don't substitute.
- For thin brick veneer (½-inch thick), the brick count per ft² is the same; you skip the structural masonry but still need adhesive.
- Always order bricks in pallets (typically 500 bricks = 1 pallet). Color and texture vary slightly between batches; mix from multiple pallets to avoid streaks.
- Plan for 3% breakage during shipping plus 2% breakage during cutting/laying.
When to consult a pro
Brick laying is a skilled trade with a real learning curve — joint consistency and plumb walls require practice. For garden walls under 4 ft, DIY is workable. Anything load-bearing, taller than 4 ft, or visible from a street: hire a mason. Reclaimed brick is especially tricky because each brick varies in size and condition.