Brick Calculator
Calculate modular brick coverage from actual face size plus mortar joint. The tool subtracts openings and rounds a waste-adjusted order to whole bricks.
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View all saved project estimatesWhat does the brick calculator calculate?
Add mortar-joint width to the brick’s actual face length and height to find its installed module. Divide net wall area by that module area, add cut and breakage waste, and round up. Estimate corners, bonds, arches, sills, and special shapes from a masonry layout.
Brick quantity from installed face module
Adding joint width to both actual face dimensions creates the installed module. Dividing net wall area by module area estimates field bricks before waste and whole-unit rounding.
How to measure for an accurate estimate
- Measure gross wall face area and subtract full door and window openings.
- Use the manufacturer’s actual brick face length and height, not a generic nominal size.
- Enter the specified bed and head joint width when both are the same.
- Calculate piers, returns, multi-wythe sections, arches, and decorative bonds separately.
Brick veneer wall
A 24 ft by 8 ft wall has a 21 sq ft opening, modular-size brick, 3/8-inch joints, and 7% waste.
Net area is 171 sq ft; the 8-by-2.625-inch module uses 1,172.6 bricks, so order 1,255.Before you purchase material
- Order enough matching brick at once because later production runs can differ in color and size.
- Blend bricks from multiple cubes or pallets as recommended to distribute natural variation.
- Include closure, corner, sill, coping, and other special shapes from the elevation drawings.
- Estimate mortar, ties, flashing, weeps, lintels, reinforcement, cleaning, and delivery separately.
Common questions
How many standard bricks are in a square foot?
It depends on actual brick size and joint width. A modular brick face of 7⅝ by 2¼ inches with ⅜-inch joints forms an 8-by-2⅝-inch module, requiring about 6.86 bricks per square foot.
Do mortar joints count in a brick calculator?
Yes. Installed coverage includes bed and head joints, so this calculator adds entered joint width to the actual brick face dimensions. Using nominal dimensions and adding the joint again would undercount bricks by double-counting the joint.
How much extra brick should I order?
Five to ten percent is a common early allowance. Complex bonds, arches, many corners, cuts, breakage, sorting, and desired repair stock can increase it. Ask the mason and supplier to review the final takeoff before ordering.
Can I subtract every opening from a brick wall?
Subtract full openings for field quantity, but small penetrations may not reduce purchased brick because adjacent units are cut. Openings also introduce returns, sills, arches, lintels, and special shapes that an area-only estimate does not capture.
Sources and reference standards
- Brick Industry Association — Technical NotesIndustry technical guidance for brick dimensions, mortar joints, estimating, and construction.
See every citation and the calculators that use it in the calculator source index.
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