Brick Calculator
Bricks, mortar bags and cost for a wall with openings.
How it works
Net wall area is length times height less door and window openings. Brick count uses the coordination module: the specified face length and height of one brick plus the intended mortar joint in each direction.
The presets are specified US brick sizes, not nominal module sizes. Waste and mortar-bag yield stay editable because bond, cuts, workmanship, joint profile and product all affect the actual order. This estimates a single-wythe face count, not structural wall design.
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How the Brick Calculator works
The US brick calculator estimates a single-wythe face count, mortar bags and optional material cost from wall dimensions, openings, specified brick face size and mortar joint. Presets cover modular, queen and king sizes, while custom fields keep the calculation usable for another unit.
Specified size plus joint makes the module
Brick is coordinated in masonry by the specified brick dimensions plus the mortar joint. A modular brick has a specified face of 7⅝ × 2¼ in; with a ⅜ in joint, its coordination module is 8 × 2⅝ in. Dividing 144 square inches by that module gives about 6.857 bricks per square foot.
Queen and king presets use their specified face dimensions rather than pretending every format has the same count. The form exposes both dimensions and the joint so supplier data and project details can replace the presets.
Openings, waste, mortar and price
Door and window square footage is subtracted before brick count. The allowance is applied before rounding to whole bricks; the Brick Industry Association recommends at least 5% brick waste and notes that mortar waste can be substantially higher depending on handling and workmanship.
Mortar bags use a separate finished-bricks-per-bag input, because bag weight does not determine yield by itself. The 35-brick starting value follows one published 80 lb Type S mortar example. Use the mortar calculator to compare yields, or concrete block calculator for CMU walls.
Scope of the estimate
The result is a planning count for one visible wythe. It does not design structural masonry, bond pattern, corners, returns, piers, reinforcement, flashing, ties, lintels or movement joints. Complex elevations should be divided into measured wall zones and checked against the project drawings.
FAQ
How many modular bricks are in one square foot? expand_more
With a 7⅝ × 2¼ in specified face and a ⅜ in joint, the module is 8 × 2⅝ in. That gives approximately 6.857 bricks per square foot before waste.
Should I enter nominal or specified brick size? expand_more
Enter the specified brick-only face dimensions. The calculator adds the mortar joint to form the coordination module.
How much brick waste should I add? expand_more
BIA estimating guidance recommends at least 5%. Increase it for difficult bonds, many cuts, corners, handling loss or supplier requirements.
Are mortar bags exact? expand_more
No. They follow the entered finished-bricks-per-bag yield. Replace the preset with the exact product data, brick size and joint conditions.