Brick Calculator
Plan a brick wall — enter wall size, pick a brick (modular, queen, engineer, Norman, UK), set the mortar joint and bond pattern. The calculator returns brick count, mortar bags, total cost, and a live to-scale layout preview.
Wall & brick setup
Wall size
For openings (windows, doors), subtract their area from the wall before entering. The result is for one wall face.
Typical mortar joint: ⅜″ (10 mm). UK standard brick = 215 × 65 mm with 10 mm joints = a 225 × 75 mm coordinating module.
Bond pattern
Choosing a bond auto-sets a typical waste %. Herringbone and patterned bonds waste more bricks at cut edges.
Mortar & pricing
An 80 lb (36 kg) mortar bag typically lays 30–40 standard bricks at ⅜″ joints; coverage varies by brick size and joint width.
Bond preview (to scale)
Running bond · 20 × 8 ftCalculation breakdown
Buying guide
- Buy by the pallet: Most yards sell bricks in pallets of 500. A pallet is usually cheaper per brick than buying loose.
- Order extra mortar: Mortar mix is cheap compared to the labour of running out — order one extra bag.
- Match the batch: Brick colour varies between firing batches — order all bricks together.
- Watch waste: Herringbone walls waste 10–15% of bricks at cuts. Running bond is the leanest.
Good to know
This is a face count for a single brick veneer wall. Double-wythe (two-brick) or cavity walls will need 2× bricks plus wall ties. Engineering and structural walls also need calculations from a qualified mason.
About the Brick Calculator
The Brick Calculator estimates how many bricks and mortar bags you need for a wall — a garden wall, a feature accent wall, a chimney face, a planter, or any rectangular brick area. Enter the wall width and height, pick a brick size (US modular, queen, engineer, Norman, Roman, or UK standard), set the mortar joint width, and choose a bond pattern. The page returns a brick count, mortar bag count, total cost, and a to-scale SVG preview of the bond.
It supports both imperial (feet · inches) and metric (metres · mm) units, with realistic brick presets for each region. The preview is built with SVG <pattern> tiles so the bond layout stays mathematically accurate even at small previews.
How to Use the Brick Calculator
- Pick your unit. Imperial for US bricks, Metric for UK / EU.
- Enter the wall size. Width and height of the single face you're bricking. Subtract any door / window openings before entering.
- Choose a brick size. Tap a preset chip (modular, queen, engineer, Norman, Roman, or UK standard) or type a custom face width × height.
- Set the joint width. ⅜″ (10 mm) is standard for most masonry.
- Pick a bond pattern. Running, stack, ⅓ offset, or herringbone — waste % is auto-adjusted for the cut-edge losses of each bond.
- Configure mortar yield. A standard 80 lb (36 kg) bag of mortar lays ~30–40 modular bricks at ⅜″ joints. For UK standard bricks expect 55–70 per bag.
- Add prices. Per-brick and per-bag prices give a total estimated cost.
- Read the preview. The to-scale SVG shows exactly how the bond will look on your wall.
Common Use Cases
Garden wall
20 ft × 4 ft, modular brick, running bond, ⅜″ joints — about 525 bricks and 15 bags of mortar.
UK boundary wall
6 m × 1.8 m, UK standard 215 × 65 mm brick, 10 mm joints — roughly 640 bricks.
Feature accent wall
10 ft × 8 ft, Norman brick, ⅓ offset bond — long Norman bricks need fewer per face but more cuts.
Herringbone fireplace surround
4 ft × 6 ft, Roman brick, herringbone — set waste to 12–15% for the diagonal cuts.
Brick veneer course
Single-wythe brick veneer on a stick-framed wall — the calculator's default. Add wall ties separately.
Brick planter
Calculate each face separately and add — the calculator handles one face at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks are in 1 ft² (or 1 m²)?
For US modular brick at ⅜″ joints, about 6.8 bricks per ft². For UK standard 215 × 65 mm brick at 10 mm joints, about 59 bricks per m² (single skin). The calculator shows the exact rate as you change brick size.
What's the difference between modular, queen, engineer, Norman, and Roman bricks?
Modular is the US standard (7⅝ × 2¼ × 3⅝ inches). Queen and engineer are taller than modular, fewer per ft². Norman is longer (11⅝ inches face), so fewer needed across a wall. Roman is flatter, more elegant but used more for accents.
How much mortar do I need per brick?
About 1 ft³ of mortar per 30–40 modular bricks at ⅜″ joints. An 80 lb (36 kg) bag of mortar mix yields about 0.6–0.7 ft³ — so plan around 30–35 bricks per bag. Larger joints or larger bricks use more mortar per brick.
What bond should I pick?
Running bond is the default — strongest, leanest on cuts, and the most familiar look. Stack bond is purely decorative and structurally weaker. ⅓ offset is a softer running-bond variant. Herringbone is decorative and high-waste.
Does this account for openings (windows, doors)?
Not directly — subtract opening areas from the wall before entering the wall size, or compute each rectangular brick zone separately. For complex multi-opening walls, sum each clean rectangle.
Why is herringbone waste so high?
Diagonal bonds create more cut edges where the pattern meets the wall border — each cut produces a partial brick that often can't be reused. Plan on 10–15% waste vs 5% for straight bonds.
Is this a single or double wall count?
Single brick face (one wythe). For a full double-wythe or cavity wall, multiply the brick count by two and add wall ties. Engineering walls should be specified by a structural engineer, not estimated.