Brick Calculator
- Materials
- Labor
- Profit
Wall ties, flashing, lintels and scaffolding are extra. Add them to the job as separate lines.
Turn this into a quote
A one-page PDF for your customer, filled in from the numbers above. Your markup isn't shown.
How the brick calculation works
Wall area = length × height − openings
A 30 × 8 ft wall with 20 sq ft of windows is 220 sq ft of brick.
Bricks = area × bricks per sq ft
The Brick Industry Association puts US modular brick at 675 per 100 sq ft (6.75 per sq ft), so 220 sq ft needs 1,485 bricks.
Add waste and round up
The BIA suggests at least 5% for cuts and breakage, which takes 1,485 to 1,560 bricks.
Mortar bags = bricks ÷ bricks per bag
At about 35 bricks per 80 lb bag of mortar mix, 1,560 bricks need 45 bags.
Price it with labor and markup
Add mason hours at your cost per hour, then apply your markup to materials plus labor.
Worked example. A 30 × 8 ft wall minus 20 sq ft of openings is 220 sq ft. At 6.75 bricks per sq ft plus 5% waste you need 1,560 bricks ($1,170 at $0.75) and 45 bags of mortar ($405). With 32 labor hours at $65 the cost is $3,655, and a 25% markup prices the wall at $4,568.75.
Brick FAQ
How many bricks are in a square foot?
6.75 US modular bricks per sq ft (675 per 100 sq ft), according to Brick Industry Association Technical Note 10. The count is the same with 3/8 or 1/2 in joints. Queen brick is about 5.5 per sq ft and king brick about 4.55. Add waste on top.
How do I calculate bricks for a wall?
Multiply length by height, subtract doors and windows, multiply by bricks per sq ft and add 5–10% waste.
How much mortar do I need for bricks?
QUIKRETE says one 80 lb bag of Mason Mix lays up to 37 standard bricks, so about 35 is a safer planning figure. By volume, the BIA estimates 8.1 cu ft of mortar per 1,000 modular bricks with 3/8 in joints (10.3 cu ft with 1/2 in joints), before 15–25% mortar waste.
How much does a brick wall cost per square foot?
Add bricks, mortar, labor and markup and divide by the area. The default wall works out to about $20.77 per sq ft.
How many bricks do I need for a 10 × 10 ft wall?
A 10 × 10 ft wall is 100 sq ft, so it takes 675 modular bricks, or 709 with 5% waste. At 35 bricks per bag that is about 21 bags of mortar mix.
Can I use this for a brick patio?
For a patio laid flat, use the paver calculator instead: it counts units from the brick size and adds base gravel and sand.
Sources: Brick Industry Association: Technical Note 10, Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry (Table 4) · QUIKRETE: Mason Mix data sheet (yield per 80 lb bag)