Brick Calculator
Work out how many bricks a wall needs. Enter the wall size, take off doors and windows, pick the brick and mortar joint, and get the number of bricks to order with wastage included.
- US, UK and Indian brick sizes
- Doors and windows subtracted
- Wastage and brick price included
Brick Calculator
Count the bricks for a wall
3/8 in in the US, 10 mm in the UK, Europe and India.
Results
Need the mortar for this wall? Get the bags, or the cement, lime and sand, in the Mortar Calculator.
Live wall preview
Brick wall——
How the count works
- Brick area = wall area − openings = —
- One brick plus its joint covers —
- Bricks per area = 1 ÷ that = —
- Bricks = brick area × bricks per area × wythes = —
- Add wastage and round up = —
The count uses the brick's face (length × height) plus one mortar joint each way. Brick depth does not change a single-wythe count.
What Is a Brick Calculator?
A brick calculator is an online construction estimator that counts the bricks in a wall from the wall length, wall height, brick dimensions and mortar joint thickness. The same tool goes by 4 other names: brick estimator, brick quantity calculator, brick count calculator and brick wall calculator.
The brick calculator measures the wall face, not the wall volume. Every brick in a single-wythe wall shows one face, so the number of bricks depends on 2 areas only: the area of the wall and the area one brick covers with its mortar joint. Wall thickness matters only when the wall is 2 bricks thick.
Our brick calculator has 5 working parts:
- Input fields take the length of the wall, the wall height and every door and window.
- A brick dimensions list holds 8 common sizes, from US modular and queen bricks to UK and Indian bricks, plus a custom size.
- Mortar gap settings set the joint thickness in inches or millimetres.
- A wastage factor adds a percentage for broken and cut bricks.
- An output display shows the brick area, bricks per square foot or square metre, the brick count, the order quantity and the brick cost.
How to Use the Brick Calculator
To use the brick calculator, follow 7 steps. Results update as you type, and the Count Bricks button jumps to the full breakdown.
- Enter the wall length and wall height in feet, or switch to metric and enter metres.
- Add each door and window with its width, height and count. The calculator subtracts their area from the wall.
- Pick the brick size from the list, or choose Custom and type the brick length and height.
- Set the mortar joint. 3/8 in (9.5 mm) is the US default, and 10 mm is standard in the UK, Europe and India.
- Choose the wall thickness: single wythe (half brick) or double wythe (full brick).
- Keep the wastage allowance at 5%, or raise the figure for a cut-heavy wall.
- Add the brick price to see the cost of the bricks you need.
The results panel gives 2 brick numbers: bricks before wastage, which is the number of bricks in the finished wall, and bricks to order, which includes the wastage allowance. Switch to metric to read bricks per square metre (m²) instead of bricks per square foot (sq ft).
Brick Sizes and Mortar Joints
A US standard brick measures 8 × 2¼ × 3⅝ in (203 × 57 × 92 mm) and fills a wall at 6.55 bricks per square foot (70.5 per m²) with 3/8 in (9.5 mm) mortar joints. Smaller brick faces need more bricks per square foot, and larger faces need fewer. The table lists 8 brick sizes.
| Brick | Size (L × H × W) | Per sq ft | Per m² | Per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US modular | 7⅝ × 2¼ × 3⅝ in (194 × 57 × 92 mm) | 6.86 | 73.8 | 686 |
| US standard | 8 × 2¼ × 3⅝ in (203 × 57 × 92 mm) | 6.55 | 70.5 | 655 |
| Queen | 7⅝ × 2¾ × 3 in (194 × 70 × 76 mm) | 5.76 | 62.0 | 576 |
| Engineer modular | 7⅝ × 2¹³⁄₁₆ × 3⅝ in (194 × 71 × 92 mm) | 5.65 | 60.8 | 565 |
| UK standard | 215 × 65 × 102.5 mm (8.46 × 2.56 × 4.04 in) | 5.51 | 59.3 | 551 |
| King | 9⅝ × 2⅝ × 3 in (244 × 67 × 76 mm) | 4.80 | 51.7 | 480 |
| Indian modular | 190 × 90 × 90 mm (7.48 × 3.54 × 3.54 in) | 4.65 | 50.0 | 465 |
| Utility | 11⅝ × 3⅝ × 3⅝ in (295 × 92 × 92 mm) | 3.00 | 32.3 | 300 |
Assumptions: US bricks laid with 3/8 in (9.5 mm) mortar joints, UK and Indian bricks with 10 mm joints. Multiply by 2 for a double-wythe wall.
Mortar Joint Thickness. A thicker mortar joint means fewer bricks. Each brick plus its joint covers more wall, so every extra 1/8 in (3 mm) of joint cuts the brick count by about 6%. US standard brick takes 6.98 bricks per square foot with 1/4 in (6.4 mm) joints, 6.55 with 3/8 in (9.5 mm) joints and 6.16 with 1/2 in (12.7 mm) joints. Use the joint the drawings call for. 3/8 in is the US default, and 10 mm is the UK, European and Indian default.
Half Brick and Full Brick Walls. A half brick wall is one brick thick, and a full brick wall is two bricks thick. In the UK a half brick wall measures 102.5 mm (4 in) and a full brick (one brick) wall 215 mm (8½ in). In India and Pakistan the common terms are a 4½ in (115 mm) half brick wall and a 9 in (230 mm) full brick wall. Pick single wythe for a half brick wall and double wythe for a full brick wall.
Nominal and Actual Brick Dimensions. Brick sizes come in 2 forms. The nominal size includes one mortar joint, and the actual size is the brick itself. A US modular brick has a nominal size of 8 × 2⅔ × 4 in and an actual size of 7⅝ × 2¼ × 3⅝ in. The brick calculator uses the actual size and adds the joint you enter, which gives the true brick count for any joint thickness.
Brick Count Formula
The brick count formula divides the wall area by the area one brick covers with its mortar joint. One brick plus half a joint on every side fills a rectangle one joint longer and one joint taller than the brick face.
Number of bricks = (L × H − openings) ÷ ((l + t) × (h + t)) × wythes
Bricks to order = number of bricks × (1 + wastage %), rounded up
The formula uses 6 values:
- L: length of the wall.
- H: height of the wall.
- l: length of one brick.
- h: height of one brick.
- t: mortar joint thickness.
- wythes: 1 for a half brick wall, 2 for a full brick wall.
Keep the units consistent. With the wall in feet and the brick in inches, divide 144 sq in by the brick cell: 144 ÷ ((8 + ⅜) × (2¼ + ⅜)) = 144 ÷ 21.98 = 6.55 bricks per square foot. With the wall in metres and the brick in millimetres, divide 1,000,000 mm² by the brick cell: 1,000,000 ÷ (225 × 75) = 59.3 UK bricks per m².
Doors, Windows and Other Openings
To count bricks for a wall with openings, subtract the area of every door and window from the wall area before multiplying by bricks per square foot. Leaving the openings in is the most common reason a brick estimate comes out high. The table shows the US standard bricks that 5 common openings remove.
| Opening | Size | Area | Bricks saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single door | 3 ft × 6 ft 8 in (0.91 × 2.03 m) | 20 sq ft (1.86 m²) | 131 |
| Double or patio door | 6 ft × 6 ft 8 in (1.83 × 2.03 m) | 40 sq ft (3.72 m²) | 262 |
| Window | 3 × 4 ft (0.91 × 1.22 m) | 12 sq ft (1.11 m²) | 79 |
| Small window | 2 × 3 ft (0.61 × 0.91 m) | 6 sq ft (0.56 m²) | 39 |
| Single garage door | 9 × 7 ft (2.74 × 2.13 m) | 63 sq ft (5.85 m²) | 413 |
Do not add the opening area back to cover cut bricks at jambs and sills. The wastage allowance covers that cutting. Two details around openings need extra bricks:
- Rowlock sills use about 4.6 bricks per linear foot (15 per metre) of sill, laid on edge across the wall.
- Brick lintels and soldier courses over an opening use the same bricks per square foot as the wall, so the area count already includes them.
Single-Wythe and Double-Wythe Walls
A double-wythe wall needs twice the bricks of a single-wythe wall of the same length and height. A wythe, or single stack, is one vertical layer of brick. Garden walls and brick veneer on a framed house are single wythe. Solid load-bearing walls and many taller freestanding walls are double wythe, known as a double wall or double stack.
| Wall type | US standard per sq ft | UK brick per m² | Wythes setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single wythe, half brick, brick veneer | 6.55 | 59.3 | Single |
| Double wythe, full brick | 13.1 | 118.5 | Double |
| Cavity wall, brick both leaves | 13.1 | 118.5 | Double |
| Cavity wall, brick outer leaf and block inner leaf | 6.55 | 59.3 | Single, plus blocks |
A cavity wall with a block inner leaf, common in UK houses, needs bricks for the outer leaf only. Count the inner leaf with the concrete block calculator.
Brick Wastage and Ordering Allowance
Order at least 5% more bricks than the calculated number of bricks. The Brick Industry Association (BIA) suggests that allowance for chipped, broken and cut bricks. The right wastage allowance depends on the job, and the table gives 5 typical figures.
| Job | Wastage allowance |
|---|---|
| Straight wall with few openings | 5% |
| Wall with many openings, corners or piers | 8 to 10% |
| Decorative bond with cut half bricks | 10% |
| First brick wall for a DIY builder | 10% |
| Reclaimed or used bricks | 10 to 15% |
Follow 3 ordering rules with the final figure:
- Round up to full pallets. A pallet of US modular brick holds 500 to 530 bricks, and 525 is the most common count.
- Buy one production run. Bricks from different runs differ slightly in colour, and a top-up order shows as a band in the finished wall.
- Keep 10 to 20 spare bricks after the job for later repairs to the same wall.
Brick Calculation Example
A 20 × 8 ft (6.10 × 2.44 m) garden wall with one door needs 917 US standard bricks, and 963 bricks to order with 5% wastage. The table walks through each step.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Wall area | 20 ft × 8 ft | 160 sq ft (14.86 m²) |
| Door area | 3 ft × 6.67 ft | 20 sq ft (1.86 m²) |
| Brick area | 160 − 20 | 140 sq ft (13.01 m²) |
| Brick cell | (8 + ⅜) × (2¼ + ⅜) in | 21.98 sq in (141.8 cm²) |
| Bricks per sq ft | 144 ÷ 21.98 | 6.55 (70.5 per m²) |
| Number of bricks | 140 × 6.55 | 917 |
| Bricks to order | 917 × 1.05, rounded up | 963 |
| Brick cost at 0.65 per brick | 963 × 0.65 | 625.95 |
The same steps work in metric. A 5 × 2 m (16.4 × 6.6 ft) half brick wall in UK bricks with one 1.2 × 1.0 m window has 8.8 m² (94.7 sq ft) of brick. At 59.3 bricks per m² with 10 mm joints, the wall needs 521 bricks, and 548 bricks to order with 5% wastage.
Mortar for the Same Wall
The brick calculator counts bricks only. The Mortar Calculator works out the mortar for the same wall: the mortar volume in cubic feet (ft³) or cubic metres, the number of pre-mixed bags, and the cement bags, hydrated lime and sand to mix on site. Enter the same wall length, wall height, brick and mortar thickness in both tools, and the brick and mortar estimates match.
The mortar mix ratio sets the cement and sand split. Type N mortar, the general-purpose mix for above-grade brick walls, uses 1 part cement, 1 part hydrated lime and 6 parts sand. A 94 lb (43 kg) cement bag holds about 1 cu ft (28 L) of cement. The bag coverage guide shows how many bricks each 60 lb (27 kg) or 80 lb (36 kg) mortar bag lays.
Use the brick calculator first to fix how many bricks you need, then the Mortar Calculator for the mortar, cement and sand. Together the two estimates cover the materials you need to build a brick wall, from the brick count and wastage allowance to the brick price and the mortar order. For coursing and wall heights, the brick course height calculator shows how many brick courses fit a target height.
More Masonry Calculators
Each tool answers one question. Mortar volume, bags and the cement, lime and sand split live in the main Mortar Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks do I need for a 10 × 10 ft wall?
A 10 × 10 ft (3.05 × 3.05 m) single-wythe wall needs about 655 US standard bricks, or 688 bricks with 5% wastage, laid with 3/8 in (9.5 mm) mortar joints. The same wall takes 686 modular bricks (720 with wastage) or 551 UK bricks with 10 mm joints (579 with wastage). A double-wythe wall doubles the count to 1,310 standard bricks, or 1,376 with wastage. Subtract any door or window before ordering.
How many bricks are in a pallet?
A pallet, or cube, of US modular brick holds 500 to 530 bricks, and 525 is the most common count. Pallet counts change with the brick size and the plant, so confirm the number with the supplier. A 963-brick order, for example, is about 2 cubes of 525.
Does the brick laying pattern affect the brick count?
Yes, the brick laying pattern changes the brick count when the pattern turns bricks to show a smaller or larger face. Running bond, stack bond and soldier courses all show the 8 × 2 1/4 in stretcher face and use 6.55 standard bricks per square foot. Header and rowlock courses show the 3 5/8 × 2 1/4 in end and use 13.7 bricks per square foot, about twice as many. Sailor courses show the 8 × 3 5/8 in bed face and use 4.3 bricks per square foot.
Can I use a brick calculator for a garden wall?
Yes, a brick calculator works for a garden wall. Enter the wall length, and add the courses below ground down to the footing to the wall height. Count the cap separately: a rowlock cap on a double-wythe wall uses about 4.6 bricks per linear foot (15 per metre). Taller freestanding garden walls are usually built double wythe or with brick piers, so check the local building rules before choosing single wythe.
Can I calculate bricks for an L-shaped wall?
Yes, a brick calculator handles an L-shaped wall. Add the lengths of both legs, measured along the outside face, and enter the total as the wall length. The two legs overlap by one brick width at the corner on each course, and the 5% wastage allowance covers that overlap.
Why is my brick estimate different from my contractor's estimate?
There are 5 common reasons a brick estimate differs from a contractor's estimate: a higher wastage allowance, extra bricks for header, rowlock and soldier details, courses below ground level, a different treatment of doors and windows, and rounding up to full pallets. Ask the contractor for the wall area and the bricks per square foot behind the number, then compare those two figures first.