Build sturdy.
Bricks and mortar bags for any wall or project. Accounts for brick size, mortar joint width, and typical 10% cut waste.
How we calculated this
Brick count is calculated from the wall area, the brick size, and the mortar joint width. The formula accounts for the effective area each brick covers (brick dimensions plus joint width on two sides). Smaller bricks mean more per square foot; wider joints reduce the count slightly because each brick covers more total area with the mortar included.
Brick sizes vary by manufacturer and region. Modular brick (3.625 × 2.25 × 7.625 inches) is the US standard: 6.86 bricks per square foot with 3/8-inch joints. Standard brick is slightly longer (8 inches). Queen and jumbo are larger formats that reduce brick count and labor but cost more per brick.
Wythe refers to the thickness of the wall in brick layers. Single-wythe (one brick thick) is used for modern veneer, the brick is decorative, with a framed wall behind providing structural support. Double-wythe (two bricks thick, bonded together) was common before 1960 and is still used for structural masonry, garden walls, and chimneys. Double-wythe uses twice as many bricks.
Mortar calculation is approximate. A cubic foot of mortar typically sets about 30 bricks at 3/8" joints. Wider joints use proportionally more mortar per brick. Standard 80-pound bags of pre-mixed mortar yield about 0.75 cubic feet each. The calculator adjusts the mortar estimate based on your joint width.
Waste factor of 10% covers typical cuts at corners, around openings, and breakage during handling. Use 15% for complex masonry with many openings, arches, or decorative patterns; 5% for long straight walls with minimal cuts.
Not included in this calculator: flashing, weep holes, wall ties (1 per 2.67 sq ft of veneer), expansion joints, lintels over openings, and cleaning materials. For structural walls, also factor in rebar (see rebar calculator) and grout for reinforced cells.
A brick is not the size you think it is
The standard US modular brick measures 7-5/8 by 3-5/8 by 2-1/4 inches. Not 8 by 4. The missing 3/8 inch on each dimension is the mortar joint, so brick plus joint lays out to a clean nominal 8 by 4 by 2-2/3 inches, and three courses stack to exactly 8 inches. Every wall dimension in masonry is built on that trick, and every brick order that comes up short traces back to someone doing the math with the number stamped in the catalog instead of the brick plus its joint.
The working number that falls out of it: about 6.9 modular bricks cover one square foot of single-wythe wall. Call it 7 for head math. The calculator above runs the exact figure for your wall size, brick type, and waste factor. This page covers the size chart, the per-square-foot coverage for every common brick, what bricks cost in 2026, and the ordering mistakes that strand projects half a cube short.
How we calculated these numbers▾
Dimensions and coverage follow Brick Industry Association Technical Notes 10 and 10B, which define modular sizing and coursing. Facing brick quality is governed by ASTM C216 and building brick by ASTM C62. Coverage figures assume a 3/8 inch joint and running bond; stack bond and wider joints change the count slightly.
The brick size chart
Actual size (in) | Bricks per ft² | |
|---|---|---|
| Modular | 7-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 2-1/4 | 6.9 |
| Standard | 8 x 3-5/8 x 2-1/4 | 6.6 |
| Queen | 7-5/8 x 3-1/8 x 2-3/4 | 5.8 |
| King | 9-5/8 x 3-1/8 x 2-5/8 | 4.8 |
| Engineer modular | 7-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 2-13/16 | 5.6 |
| Utility | 11-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 3-5/8 | 3.0 |
Common US brick sizes per BIA Technical Note 10B. Coverage is face bricks per square foot of wall with a 3/8 inch mortar joint.
Two answers to the questions people actually type. How many bricks in one square foot: 6.9 for modular, so a 4 inch single-wythe wall runs about 7 bricks per square foot, and a double-wythe 8 inch wall doubles it to 14. How much wall do 1,000 bricks build: 1,000 divided by 6.9 is about 145 square feet of single-wythe face, or a wall 20 feet long and 7 feet high with a few bricks left for the inevitable cuts.
What bricks cost in 2026
Common facing brick runs $0.50 to $0.90 per brick at masonry yards, which lands at $350 to $650 per thousand. Big box stores sell smaller quantities at $0.60 to $1.20 each. Specialty runs higher: glazed, thin veneer, and reclaimed brick each command $1.50 to $4.00 per unit, with genuine reclaimed Chicago common at the top of that range. Delivery matters more than people budget: a cube of brick weighs around 2,000 pounds, most yards charge $75 to $150 per drop, and nobody hauls 870 bricks in a sedan. Mortar rides on top at roughly one 80 lb bag of premix per 35 to 40 bricks, which the mortar calculator figures exactly.
A garden wall along a patio: 20 feet long, 6 feet high, single wythe in modular brick, running bond. Area: 120 ft². Count: 120 x 6.9 = 828 bricks. With 5 percent waste for cuts and breakage: 870 bricks ordered, which is two 500-count cubes.
At a St. Louis yard price of $0.68 per brick, the brick bill is about $592 plus one $95 delivery. Mortar at one bag per 38 bricks is 23 bags of Type N premix, about $210. A wall this height also wants a concrete footing below frost depth and a cap course on top; the footing concrete is its own line item through the concrete calculator. Total masonry materials land near $900 before the footing.
Composite illustration based on typical project dimensions, regional contractor pricing, and 2026 material costs. Not a specific real project.
Where brick orders go wrong
Ordering from the nominal size. Nominal 8 x 4 math on actual walls undercounts by the mortar volume. Use the per-square-foot figures above; they already include the joint.
Skipping the second delivery problem. Brick color varies by kiln run. Order the whole job at once and have the mason blend from three cubes as they lay, because a top-up order six weeks later will not match, and a color-banded wall is forever.
Forgetting openings cut both ways. Subtract windows and doors from the wall area, but add bricks back for the cut units around every opening. Five percent waste covers a clean rectangular wall; use 10 percent when the wall has arches, angles, or more than a couple of openings.
Treating veneer like structure. A single wythe of brick over a frame house is cladding, not a bearing wall, and it needs brick ties to the studs every 16 inches vertically and weep holes at the base per BIA detailing. A freestanding garden wall over 4 feet usually needs an engineered footing and, in many jurisdictions, a permit.
The rest of the masonry math
Brick rarely shows up alone. The mortar calculator covers the bags and sand for the joints, the concrete calculator handles the footing under any freestanding wall, and a brick walkway beside the wall is a base-and-pattern problem the paver calculator already solves.
Measure the wall, run the calculator above, and order once. The color-match rule alone pays for the five minutes of math.
Frequently asked
How many bricks do I need for a 20×8 foot wall?
For a 20×8 ft single-wythe veneer wall using modular brick with 3/8" joints and 10% waste, you need about 1,208 bricks plus 45 bags of mortar. Double-wythe structural walls need twice that. Use the calculator with your specific brick type.
What's the difference between modular and standard brick?
Modular brick is 7.625" long (designed so 4 bricks plus joints = 32"). Standard brick is 8" long. Modular is now the most common US brick; standard is older/regional. Both are 2.25" high and 3.625" deep. Modular gives you 6.86 bricks per sq ft; standard gives 6.55 per sq ft.
How much mortar do I need?
Approximately 1 cubic foot of mortar per 30 bricks at 3/8" joints. An 80-lb bag of pre-mixed mortar yields 0.75 cubic feet. For 1,000 bricks, plan on about 45 bags. Buy extra: running out mid-wall means joints that set before you can finish a course.
Single-wythe or double-wythe, which do I need?
Single-wythe (brick veneer over frame or CMU) is standard for modern construction, the brick is decorative cladding, the structure is behind it. Double-wythe is for standalone structural walls: garden walls, chimneys, retaining walls, or older construction methods. Double-wythe uses twice the brick and twice the labor.
What's the best mortar joint width?
3/8 inch is the US standard: sized to make brick coursing dimensions work out nicely. 1/2 inch is used for rougher bricks like handmade or reclaimed. 1/4 inch is used for thin brick veneer and tight modern styles. Wider joints look more traditional; narrower joints look more contemporary.
How much do bricks cost?
Typical range: $0.50-1.50 per brick for standard face brick. Premium or handmade brick: $2-5 per brick. A 1,000-brick wall costs $500-5,000 in bricks alone. Plus mortar ($7-10 per 80-lb bag × 45 bags = $315-450). Plus labor if not DIY.
Can I buy partial pallets of brick?
Usually yes at retail: home centers and masonry yards often sell by the piece or by bundle (500 bricks). Full pallets (typically 500-525 bricks) are cheaper per piece. For large orders, ordering by the pallet is 10-20% cheaper.
How do I calculate bricks for a chimney or fireplace?
Calculate each wall surface separately: front, back, sides. For chimneys with flue liners, the inside wythe counts separately from the outside wythe. A typical residential chimney uses 800-1,500 bricks. For fireplaces, the firebox uses firebrick (different product, different refractory mortar): calculate that separately.
Sources
- BIA Technical Note 10: Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry - The modular sizing system and per-square-foot coverage this calculator applies
- BIA Technical Note 10B: Brick Sizes and Related Information - The size chart: modular, queen, king, engineer, and utility dimensions
- ASTM C216: Facing Brick Specification - The quality standard facing brick is graded against
- ASTM C62: Building Brick Specification - The standard for structural common brick
- Portland Cement Association: Masonry Mortar - Mortar types and coverage per brick count
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