🧱 Construction Updated2026-07-19
Brick Calculator.
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Quick answer
Bricks = wall area × 7 per ft² × waste. A 20 × 8 ft wall is 160 ft², so at 7 bricks/ft² plus 10% waste you need 1,232 bricks and about 42 bags of mortar. Enter your wall size below.
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Brick Calculator
Bricks needed
1,232 bricks
7 bricks per ft² · 1.10× for waste
160.0
Wall area (ft²)
42
80 lb mortar bags
✨ Live · Figures are for standard modular bricks on a single-wythe (single-layer) wall. King- or queen-size bricks and double-wythe (full-brick) walls differ. Mortar ≈ one 80 lb bag per 30 bricks laid.
📊 Quick reference
Bricks for common wall areas.
Standard US modular bricks at 7 per square foot, single-wythe, with 10% waste added.
| Wall area (ft²) | Bricks needed | Mortar (80 lb bags) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 ft² | 386 | 13 |
| 100 ft² | 771 | 26 |
| 150 ft² | 1,155 | 39 |
| 200 ft² | 1,541 | 52 |
| 300 ft² | 2,310 | 77 |
❓ FAQ
Common questions.
How many bricks do I need for a wall?
Multiply wall length × height to get the area, then multiply by the bricks-per-unit figure and add waste. With standard US modular bricks you use about 7 bricks per square foot for a single-wythe wall. A 20 × 8 ft wall is 160 sq ft, so 160 × 7 = 1,120 bricks, plus 10% waste = 1,232 bricks. In metric, a standard 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm brick works out to about 60 per square meter, so a 6 × 2.4 m wall (14.4 m²) needs 864 bricks, or 951 with 10% waste.
How many bricks are there per square foot or square meter?
A standard US modular brick laid with a 3/8-inch mortar joint covers roughly 7 bricks per square foot on a single-wythe (half-brick) wall. A standard metric brick (215 × 102.5 × 65 mm) works out to about 60 bricks per square meter for the same single-layer wall. So a 100 sq ft wall needs around 700 bricks before waste, and a 10 m² wall around 600. This calculator adds your waste allowance on top.
How much mortar do I need for bricklaying?
A good rule of thumb is one 80 lb bag of mortar mix per about 30 bricks laid on a single-wythe wall with a standard joint. So a 1,232-brick wall needs roughly 42 bags. For 500 bricks you would need about 17 bags, and 1,000 bricks about 34 bags. Thicker joints, wider bricks or a richer sand-to-cement ratio use more, so buy a little extra rather than running short mid-course.
Why should I add a waste percentage for bricks?
Bricks get cut at corners, window and door openings, and at the end of courses; some arrive chipped or cracked; and it is smart to keep spares that match for future repairs. A 5–10% allowance covers all of this. On the 160 sq ft wall above, a 10% allowance turns 1,120 bricks into 1,232, an extra 112 bricks that stops you halting the job to wait on a second delivery.
Does a double-wythe (full-brick) wall need twice as many bricks?
Roughly, yes. This calculator assumes a single-wythe (half-brick) wall, which is standard for brick veneers and garden walls. A double-wythe wall is two leaves thick, so it needs about double the bricks. The 160 sq ft wall above would jump from ~1,232 to ~2,464. King- and queen-size bricks are larger than modular, so they need fewer per square foot (about 5.5 and 6 respectively). Adjust if you are not using standard modular brick.