Brick Calculator

Estimate wall area, brick count, waste, and a first-pass brick cost. Use the result as your brick order summary, then plan mortar separately.

This page is for brick ordering first. It does not replace structural design, opening-by-opening takeoffs, or a separate mortar estimate.

If you are using a custom brick, enter the actual face dimensions you plan to order rather than the nominal catalog size.

Last updated: March 27, 2026

Enter Wall and Brick Details

Baseline clay brick size for many residential wall projects.

Add brick price (optional)

Get the brick order first. Add your local price after the quantity looks right and you want a quick brick-only budget.

Brick Order Summary

Bricks to Order
1,186
Includes 8% waste (88 extra bricks)
Bricks Needed
1,098
Base wall coverage before waste
Estimated Brick Cost
Add price
Brick-only estimate before mortar and labor
Wall Area
160 sq ft
Planning check only. Use net wall area for cleaner ordering.

Estimate Mortar Next

Use the final brick count as your starting point, then size mortar with joint thickness and product yield so the second order is based on real installation conditions, not one rough combined estimate.

How to Turn Wall Size Into a Brick Order

Wall area
20 × 8
160 sq ft
Brick module area
(7.625 + 0.375) × (2.25 + 0.375)
21 sq in
Bricks per square foot
144 ÷ 21
6.857 bricks/sq ft
Base brick count
160 × 6.857
1098 bricks
Bricks to order
1098 × 1.08
1186 bricks

1. Measure the wall area you actually want to cover.

2. Convert that area into a base brick count using brick size and mortar joint thickness.

3. Add waste so the order reflects cuts, breakage, and matching stock.

4. Use the final brick count as the starting point for mortar planning, then size mortar by joint thickness and product yield.

Project Examples

Garden Wall

20 ft × 3.5 ft · modular brick · 3/8" joint

About 480 bricks before waste, or roughly 504 bricks to order with 5% extra for cuts and breakage.

Garage Accent Wall

18 ft × 8 ft · modular brick · 3/8" joint

About 988 bricks before waste, or about 1,087 bricks to order with a 10% purchase buffer.

Front Veneer Panel

30 ft × 8 ft · queen brick · 3/8" joint

About 1,383 bricks before waste, or around 1,522 bricks to order once a 10% veneer waste factor is added.

Brick Planning Decisions

Standard vs custom brick size

Use a standard size when you already know the product line. Switch to custom only if you have the actual face dimensions from a submittal sheet or manufacturer spec.

When to raise waste

Use around 5% for simple straight walls. Raise waste to 8-10% for corners, returns, pattern shifts, or more trimming around layout breaks.

When to estimate by wall area first

If you are still planning the project, start with wall area. Then use this page to turn that area into a brick order and a first-pass budget.

What This Page Covers vs Next

This page covers

Brick count, brick order quantity, waste, and optional brick cost for wall and veneer-style face areas.

Estimate mortar next

Use the brick count from this page as your first planning step, then estimate mortar separately with joint thickness and product yield data instead of treating it as a simple add-on to brick count.

Use custom size carefully

Enter actual brick face dimensions, not nominal marketing sizes. Small dimensional changes can noticeably shift brick count on larger walls.

Do openings separately

For simple planning, this page works best on net wall area. If your wall has large openings or many interruptions, subtract those areas before final ordering.

Brick Calculator FAQ

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