Brick Calculator
Calculate the number of bricks and bags of mortar mix needed for a wall, patio, or chimney based on brick size and grout/mortar joint thickness.
Calculation Results
The overall square footage of the wall.
Surface area of one brick, including the surrounding mortar joint.
Total number of individual bricks needed (rounded up, including waste).
Bags of mortar mix needed (assumes roughly 1 bag per 100 bricks).
How This Calculator Works
To calculate brick wall requirements:
- Enter the length and height of the wall or chimney.
- Enter your brick dimensions (the standard modular brick is 8 inches long by 2.25 inches high).
- Specify the mortar joint width (3/8 inch is the industry standard for masonry walls).
- Add a waste buffer (10% is standard; use 12-15% if you need to cut many bricks around corners or archways).
Formula & Calculations
Wall surface area is calculated as length times height:
Wall Area = Length × Height
Since mortar joint spacing surrounds each brick, we add the joint thickness to the brick length and height, converting the effective area to square feet:
Effective Brick Area = ((Brick Length + Joint) / 12) × ((Brick Height + Joint) / 12)
The total bricks required, including the waste buffer, is calculated by dividing wall area by brick area:
Bricks = ceil((Wall Area / Effective Brick Area) × (1 + Waste / 100))
Mortar requirements are estimated based on standard bricklaying: laying 100 standard bricks typically requires **one 80lb bag of Type N mortar mix**.
Step-by-Step Calculation Examples
Standard Garden Wall (20ft x 6ft wall)
Calculating bricks and mortar bags for a garden wall using standard modular bricks (8" x 2.25") and a 3/8" joint.
- length: 20
- height: 6
- brick_length: 8
- brick_height: 2.25
- joint: 0.375
- waste: 10
- area: 120.0 sq ft
- brick_area: 0.1527 sq ft
- bricks_needed: 865
- mortar_bags: 9
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a standard brick?
The standard US modular brick measures 8 inches long, 2.25 inches high, and 3.625 inches deep. When laid with a standard 3/8-inch mortar joint, three courses of modular bricks equal exactly 8 inches in height.
What type of mortar should I use for brick walls?
Type N mortar is the most common choice for general masonry. It is medium-strength and highly workable, making it perfect for non-load-bearing exterior walls, garden borders, and chimneys.