Loan Brick Estimator
Brickwork is bought by the count, not the square foot. Enter the wall, pick your brick and joint, and get the exact brick count plus the mortar bags to lay them — with the breakage allowance every mason quietly adds.
This is a single-wythe wall (one brick thick) — a veneer over framing, or a freestanding garden wall one brick thick. For a double-wythe structural wall, double the brick count.
How it works
Each brick covers its face plus one joint: a modular brick at a ⅜-in joint occupies 8 × 2.625 in = 21 sq in, so a square foot of wall takes 144 ÷ 21 ≈ 6.86 bricks. Bigger faces cover more per brick — a king brick needs only about 4.55 per sq ft at a ½-in joint. The estimator divides the wall area by the brick-with-joint face, adds your waste allowance, and counts mortar at one 80-lb bag of premix per 35 modular bricks (30 queen, 28 king, 20 utility — bigger bricks carry more mortar each). Those per-bag yields are the standard premix planning figures; scratch-mix mortar from cement, lime and sand works out cheaper per wall but is bought by the yard, not the bag.
Formula & worked example
Formula: Bricks per sq ft = 144 ÷ [(brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)], all in inches. Total bricks = wall area × that rate, plus your waste allowance. Mortar bags = bricks ÷ bags-yield for the size (35 per bag modular, 30 queen, 28 king, 20 utility, for 80-lb premix at the chosen joint).
Worked example: A 20 × 8 ft wall in modular brick at a ⅜-in joint: 160 sq ft × 6.857 per sq ft = 1,097 bricks — 1,207 with 10% waste — and 35 bags of mortar. Switch to king brick at a ½-in joint and the same wall would take about 800 bricks.
When to use this
- Building a garden wall, raised planter or brick edging and ordering bricks plus mortar bags.
- Quoting a brick veneer job and checking a mason's material count.
- A mailbox, pier or small structure where a wrong brick count means a second delivery.
- Choosing between brick sizes — the count and mortar per wall change substantially.
How to use it, step by step
- Measure the finished wall: length and height of one face.
- Pick the brick size you are actually laying — modular is the US default.
- Choose the joint: ⅜ in unless the design says otherwise.
- Keep the 10% waste unless the wall is long and straight (5%) or heavily cut (15%).
- Order bricks, then bags from the result — mortar is cheapest bought with the brick delivery.
What the inputs mean
| Input | What it is | Typical values |
|---|---|---|
| Wall length & height | Finished dimensions of the wall face | Garden walls 10–40 ft × 2–8 ft |
| Brick size | Face dimensions that set bricks per sq ft | Modular unless specified otherwise |
| Joint thickness | Mortar gap included in each brick's coverage | ⅜ in standard, ½ in rustic |
| Waste % | Breakage, cuts and colour culls | 10% typical, 15% intricate |
Another worked example
A low garden edge wall, 12 × 4 ft, laid in king brick at a ½-in joint for a chunkier look: 48 sq ft × 4.551 bricks per sq ft = 218 bricks, 241 with waste — and just 9 bags of mortar, because big bricks carry long joints but there are far fewer of them.
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks are in a 20 × 8 ft wall?
At modular size with a standard ⅜-in joint: 160 sq ft × 6.857 bricks per sq ft = 1,097 bricks, or 1,207 with a 10% breakage allowance — and 35 bags of 80-lb mortar mix to lay them.
Why does joint thickness change the count?
The joint is part of the area each brick covers. Widen the joint from ⅜ to ½ in on a modular brick and the count drops from 6.86 to about 6.55 bricks per sq ft — a 4–5% material saving that costs you a slightly different look and a weaker rain-shedding profile if overdone.
How many bricks does one bag of mortar lay?
Plan on 35 modular bricks per 80-lb bag of premix mortar at a ⅜-in joint. Queen bricks run about 30 per bag, king 28, and big utility bricks about 20, because each unit carries a longer bed of mortar.
Should I really add 10% waste?
Yes for most projects. Bricks chip in transit, get cut at ends and corners, and a few in every cube are off-colour or cracked. Ten percent covers normal loss; for intricate patterns or a first DIY wall, 15% is cheap insurance.
What about a double-thick wall?
Multiply the brick count by the number of wythes (layers). A structural double-wythe wall uses twice the bricks and roughly twice the mortar of the single-wythe estimate shown here.
🧱 Blocks instead of brick?
Building the wall from concrete block instead? The Concrete Block Estimator counts CMUs and mortar for the same wall in one pass.
How many bricks are in a cube or pallet?
A cube of modular brick is typically 500–530 bricks; queen and king cubes hold fewer, larger units. The default wall here (1,207 bricks) is a little over two cubes — delivery pricing usually turns favourable at the cube.
Can I lay brick with sand and cement instead of premix bags?
Yes — masons mix Type N mortar from masonry cement (or cement + lime) and sand on larger jobs, which costs less per wall. The bag count here is the premix equivalent; a yard will convert it to bulk materials if you ask with the brick count in hand.