Brick Calculator

Count face bricks for a rectangular wall from length, height, modular size, mortar joint, and waste — materials math, not a masonry bid.

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Wall takeoff

Wall length (ft) i Length Horizontal run of the face you are covering. Subtract large openings later or bump waste.
Wall height (ft) i Height From foundation or ledge to the top course. Gables need a separate triangle takeoff.
Brick face size i Face size Nominal exposed face. Modular is common U.S. modular brick; standard is the traditional 8×2¼ face; Norman is longer.
Mortar joint (in) i Joint Typical bed and head joints are ⅜ in. Wider joints reduce brick count.
Waste (%) i Waste Breakage, cuts, and corners. 5–10% is common; complex patterns need more.

How to use this calculator

Enter wall length and height in feet.
Pick modular, standard, or Norman face size.
Set mortar joint thickness (often ⅜ in).
Add waste, then round up when ordering cubes.

Results explained

Each brick occupies its face plus the mortar joint on two sides. Bricks per square foot = 144 ÷ ((width + joint) × (height + joint)). Multiply by wall area and waste.

Quick reference: brick faces

Common U.S. nominal face sizes (inches).

Type	Face (W × H)
Modular	7⅝ × 2¼
Standard	8 × 2¼
Norman	11⅝ × 2¼
Typical joint	⅜ in
Rough bricks / sq ft (modular + ⅜)	~6.9

Double-wythe walls and brick veneer over studs still use face count for the exposed wythe.

How the estimate is built

Wall sq ft = L × H. Bricks/sq ft = 144 ÷ ((brick W + joint) × (brick H + joint)). Order = ceil(wall sq ft × bricks/sq ft × (1 + waste%)).

Example scenario

A 20×8 ft wall (160 sq ft) with modular brick and ⅜ in joints is about 6.86 bricks/sq ft → ~1,097 net → ~1,207 with 10% waste.

FAQ

Do I subtract windows?

For a tighter order, subtract opening area first. Many DIYers keep the full wall and raise waste instead.

Is mortar included?

This page counts bricks only. Mortar is sold by bag or yard — ask your supplier for mix yield.

What about corners and soldiers?

Special courses change the count. Treat this as a rectangular field estimate.