Brick Wall Materials Calculator
The Brick Wall Materials calculator shows how many bricks and how much mortar you need for a wall or veneer, factoring in mortar joints and waste.
We let you enter a wall area, brick face size, an assumed mortar percentage, and a waste allowance. We estimate bricks required and mortar volume in ft³/yd³ with bag counts, so you can order confidently. If you prefer manual math, we outline the formulas and steps below.
Enter your wall area, brick face size (length × height), an assumed mortar % for joints, and a waste %. We estimate bricks required and mortar volume (ft³/yd³) plus bag counts.
Total surface to cover
e.g., 7.5
e.g., 2.25
Typical around 18% for 3/8" joints
Cuts, breakage, patterning
Estimates assume consistent brick size, bond pattern, and joint thickness. Adjust mortar % and waste % to suit your project and layout.
Results interpretation
How it works
We convert brick face size to area, account for mortar joints as a % of the wall face, and then compute bricks and mortar.
Formulas, assumptions, limitations
Brick face area. A_brick = (length_in × height_in) / 144 (ft²).
Brick fraction. f_brick = 1 − mortar%.
Bricks before waste. N_base = wallArea × f_brick ÷ A_brick.
Add waste. N = ceil(N_base × (1 + waste%)).
Mortar volume. V_mortar ≈ N × 0.027 ft³ × (mortar% / 18%).
Bags. 80 lb bag ≈ 0.70 ft³; 60 lb bag ≈ 0.45 ft³. Bags = ceil(V_mortar / yield).
Use cases & examples
Brick face = 0.1172 ft²; f_brick = 82%. Base bricks ≈ 200 × 0.82 ÷ 0.1172 ≈ 1,401; with waste ≈ 1,541 bricks. Mortar ≈ 1,541 × 0.027 ≈ 41.6 ft³ (≈1.54 yd³), 80 lb bags ≈ 60.
f_brick = 85%. N ≈ ceil(60 × 0.85 ÷ 0.1172 × 1.07) ≈ 465 bricks. Mortar ≈ 465 × 0.027 × (15/18) ≈ 10.4 ft³ (≈0.386 yd³).
Face = 0.1563 ft²; f_brick = 80%. For 120 ft² → N ≈ ceil(120 × 0.80 ÷ 0.1563 × 1.08) ≈ 664 bricks. Mortar ≈ 664 × 0.027 × (20/18) ≈ 19.9 ft³.
Brick & mortar FAQs
What mortar % should I use?
For 3/8″ joints on modular brick, 18% is a common face-area fraction. Use a higher % for wider joints or patterns with more joints.
Does pattern (bond) change the result?
Yes. Different bonds change joint density and cut waste. Adjust mortar % and waste % accordingly.
How accurate are bag counts?
Bag yields vary by brand, water content, and sand blend. We use typical finished yields (80 lb ≈ 0.70 ft³; 60 lb ≈ 0.45 ft³) as planning numbers.
Do openings matter?
Yes. Subtract door/window areas from the wall area input to avoid over-ordering.
Can I enter joint thickness directly?
This tool uses a mortar % shortcut for speed. For detailed takeoffs, use a joint-thickness-based estimator or CAD quantities.
Understanding brick coverage
Brick coverage depends on the face size of the unit and the thickness of the mortar joints. The larger the brick or the wider the joint, the fewer bricks you need per square foot. Because joints are woven both horizontally and vertically, it’s convenient to model their effect as a percentage of the wall’s face area.
Choosing a mortar percentage
With nominal modular brick and 3/8″ joints, many masons see mortar make up ~18% of the face. Thicker joints, decorative patterns, or irregular brick push that number higher; thin joints bring it down. If you have a sample panel, a quick photo-measure of brick vs. joint area can calibrate your project-specific percent.
Waste and patterning
Waste covers breakage, selection, and cuts at corners, returns, and openings. Simple running bond may need ~5–10%, while complex patterns, angles, or tight color matching can justify 10–15% or more. We recommend rounding up to full banded bundles where practical.
Mortar yield and bag counts
Bag yields depend on sand, water, and workmanship. Our bag conversions use typical finished yields to translate a volume into bags for ordering. On site, keep a small contingency—weather, substrate absorption, and joint tooling can change the amount you go through.
From estimate to purchase order
After estimating, align selections (brick type, size, color lot, mortar type) with suppliers. Share the link from this page so your assumptions are crystal clear as quotes come back. If your project includes block, stone, or cast units, run those takeoffs separately and combine the mortar volumes.