Brick Calculator

Calculate bricks and mortar needed for a wall by length, height, and brick size.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: Brick Industry Association, Technical Note 10: Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry

ft
ft
Brick Size
in
%
Brick Veneer (needs wall ties)

Bricks Needed

1,701

Mortar Bags

17

Material Cost

$1,054.50 - $2,755.50

Brick Calculation

Wall Area240 sq ft
Bricks per sq ft (standard)6.75
Bricks (before waste)1,620
Bricks Needed (with waste)1,701
Mortar Bags17

Cost Estimate

Bricks ($0.50 - $1.50 each)$850.50 - $2,551.50
Mortar (~$12/bag)$204.00
Total Material Cost$1,054.50 - $2,755.50

Use the Brick Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only. Results are estimates from the numbers you enter and the assumptions described on this page; check them against local building codes, product specifications and current prices, and have structural, electrical or gas work designed or checked by a licensed professional.

How It Works

Pricing out a wall means knowing two numbers up front: how many bricks the job takes and how much mortar binds them. Feed in your wall dimensions and brick size, and the count lands before you place an order, which keeps you from hauling home pallets you'll never lay. DIY builders and trade professionals lean on the same figures for the same reason.

Brick count comes from multiplying the wall area (length × height, in feet) by a fixed bricks-per-square-foot figure for the brick size you choose, then adding the waste percentage you enter (5% by default) and rounding up. Mortar is estimated from wall area at 7 bags per 100 square feet, with no separate waste allowance, and a veneer wall adds one wall tie per square foot. Costs use $0.50-$1.50 per brick, about $12 per bag of mortar and $0.25 per tie; labor is not included.

Build in that waste factor without exception, since breakage and miscuts catch even seasoned masons. Verify your brick dimensions before you commit, because non-standard sizes shift the final count considerably. Mortar formulations also differ from batch to batch, so confirm the mix ratio with your supplier before ordering material.

Example: 30 × 8 ft Garden Wall

  1. 1 Input: wall length 30 ft, height 8 ft, Standard brick (8 × 3.5 × 2.25 in), 5% waste, not a veneer wall (the calculator's defaults).
  2. 2 Wall area = 30 × 8 = 240 sq ft. At the calculator's 6.75 bricks per sq ft: 240 × 6.75 = 1,620 bricks, plus 5% = 1,701 bricks.
  3. 3 Mortar = 240 ÷ 100 × 7 = 16.8, rounded up to 17 bags. The calculator does not say which kind of bag: with 80-lb bags of premixed mortar, which Quikrete rates at up to 37 standard bricks each, 1,620 bricks need at least 44 bags.
  4. 4 Material cost: bricks $850.50-$2,551.50 plus mortar 17 × $12 = $204, a total of $1,054.50-$2,755.50, or about $4.40-$11.50 per square foot of wall before labor.

Source: Brick Industry Association, Technical Note 10: Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bricks do I need per square foot of wall?
A standard modular brick (3-5/8 x 2-1/4 x 7-5/8 inches) with standard 3/8 inch mortar joints requires about 6.75 bricks per square foot. Always order 5-10% extra for breakage and cuts.
How much mortar do I need per 1,000 bricks?
It depends on the bag. The Brick Industry Association cites a rough mason's rule of eight bags of masonry cement, mixed with sand, per 1,000 modular bricks. Premixed mortar already contains the sand, so a bag goes less far: Quikrete rates an 80-lb bag of its Mortar Mix at up to 37 standard bricks, or about 27 bags per 1,000. Wider joints or larger bricks will require more mortar.
How much does it cost to build a brick wall?
This calculator prices materials only: bricks at $0.50-$1.50 each, mortar at about $12 a bag and veneer ties at $0.25. For its default 30 × 8 ft wall of standard brick that is $1,054.50-$2,755.50, about $4.40-$11.50 per square foot. Labor is not included, so get quotes from local masons for installed prices.

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