Brick Calculator
Bricks needed for a wall, from the brick face size and a 3/8-inch mortar joint.
Quick answer
- Formula: Bricks per sq ft = 144 ÷ ((brick length + 0.375) × (brick height + 0.375)); Total = ceil(Wall area × per-sq-ft × (1 + waste%))
- Worked example — Wall area: 80.0 sq ft (full example below).
Brick Calculator
| Wall area | 80.0 sq ft |
| Bricks per sq ft (with 3/8 in joint) | 6.86 |
| Bricks needed (incl. waste) | 604 |
A 10 × 8 ft wall is 80 sq ft. Modular bricks with a 3/8 in joint need 6.86 per sq ft, so 549 bricks before waste and 604 with a 10% allowance.
Enter the wall size and the actual face dimensions of your brick. The calculator adds a standard 3/8-inch mortar joint to the brick's length and height, works out how many bricks cover one square foot, and totals the wall with your waste allowance, rounded UP to whole bricks.
The defaults are a US modular brick (7⅝ in long × 2¼ in high actual face), which works out to about 6.86 bricks per square foot with a 3/8-inch joint. Measure your actual brick — sizes vary widely (a queen brick face is about 7⅝ × 2¾ in, a king about 9⅝ × 2⅝ in) and the count depends on the face area, not the brick's depth.
The formula
Worked example
A 10 × 8 ft wall is 80 sq ft. Modular bricks with a 3/8 in joint need 6.86 per sq ft, so 549 bricks before waste and 604 with a 10% allowance.
The example is pre-loaded in the result panel — press Calculate with your own numbers to replace it.
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks are in a square foot?
It depends entirely on the brick's face size and joint width. A US modular brick with a 3/8-inch joint takes about 6.5–6.9 bricks per sq ft in standard estimating tables; larger queen and king bricks need fewer. Enter your brick's measured face size for an exact figure.
Why does the joint size matter so much?
The mortar joint adds 3/8 in to both dimensions of every brick. On a small brick face that is a large percentage — it is the difference between counting nominal face area and the area each brick actually covers in the wall.
How much waste should I allow?
10% covers cuts at ends and openings plus breakage in transit. Intricate work, arches or a first-time mason justify 15%.
Category: Construction & Home calculators
Sources & methodology
This calculator applies the formula shown on this page exactly as written, using the standard definitions for its inputs. Results are computed from the values you enter — no data is stored — and are rounded only for display.
Content last reviewed by CalcHub Editorial.
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