Construction & DIY

Brick and Mortar Calculator (Wall Bricks and Mortar Bags)

Enter wall size and brick size to get bricks and mortar.

Your numbers

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Your results

Wall area (sq ft)
Wall area (sq ft)
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Bricks per sq ft
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Bricks to buy (with waste)
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Mortar needed (cu ft)
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Bags of mortar mix
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Brick and Mortar Calculator (Wall Bricks and Mortar Bags) by TheCalcTools

How the Brick and Mortar Calculator (Wall Bricks and Mortar Bags) works

Wall area is length × height minus openings.

Bricks per sq ft = 144 ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)).

Mortar per brick is the volume of one bed joint plus one head joint across the brick’s thickness; waste is added.

The formula

Bricks per sq ft = 144 ÷ ((L + j) × (H + j))Mortar per brick = j × (L + H) × thickness

Worked example

Using the default values shown in the calculator:

Wall length (ft)20
Wall height (ft)6
Doors and windows (sq ft)0
Brick length (in)7.625
Brick height (in)2.25
Brick thickness / wall depth (in)3.625
Mortar joint (in)0.375
Brick waste7 %
Mortar waste25 %
Mortar bag yield80 lb bag (0.60 cu ft)
  1. 20 ft × 6 ft = 120.0 sq ft. Bricks per sq ft: 6.86.
  2. Buy 881 bricks with waste and 14 bags of mortar mix (8.0 cu ft).

Result:

Wall area (sq ft)120.0
Bricks per sq ft6.86
Bricks to buy (with waste)881
Mortar needed (cu ft)8.0
Bags of mortar mix14

Frequently asked questions

How many bricks per square foot?

About 6.9 for a standard modular brick with a 3/8 inch joint, so about 690 bricks per 100 sq ft.

How much mortar for 1,000 bricks?

About 8 to 10 cubic feet with waste for a single wythe wall, which is roughly 13 to 17 bags of 80 lb mix.

Sources and further reading

More in Construction & DIY · All calculators

This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.