Brick Calculator
Estimate brick quantities and optional material cost for walls in Imperial or Metric units.
Use this brick calculator to estimate the number of bricks required for a wall. Enter wall dimensions, subtract standard door and window openings, choose a native Imperial or Metric brick size and mortar joint, then add waste and an optional price per brick.
Your Estimate
Gross Wall Area
160.00 sq ft
Door Deduction
0.00 sq ft
Window Deduction
0.00 sq ft
Net Wall Area
160.00 sq ft
Brick Face Area with Joint
21.00 sq in
Required Bricks
1098 bricks
Waste Allowance (10%)
109 bricks
Total Bricks to Buy
1207 bricks
Standard openings are estimated at 21 sq ft (1.95 m²) per door and 15 sq ft (1.39 m²) per window. Measure actual openings for a more accurate order.
Results Actions
Brick dimensions are listed length × width × height. The wall face uses brick length × height plus the selected mortar joint. Confirm actual brick and joint dimensions with your supplier.
Common Brick Planning Sizes
Dimensions are length × width × height. Brick names, dimensions and availability vary by manufacturer and region, so confirm the actual unit size before ordering.
How to Use the Brick Calculator
- 1Choose Imperial or Metric units; switching modes loads native wall, brick and mortar-joint defaults.
- 2Enter the wall length and height in feet or meters.
- 3Enter the number of standard doors and windows to deduct from gross wall area.
- 4Select the brick type and mortar-joint thickness specified for the project.
- 5Choose a 5%, 10% or 15% waste allowance.
- 6Optionally enter the price per brick.
- 7Review gross area, opening deductions, net area, base brick count, waste and total bricks to buy.
Brick Wall Quantity Formulas
- 1Gross wall area = wall length × wall height.
- 2Door deduction = number of doors × 21 sq ft in Imperial mode or 1.95 m² in Metric mode.
- 3Window deduction = number of windows × 15 sq ft in Imperial mode or 1.39 m² in Metric mode.
- 4Net wall area = maximum of gross wall area − door deduction − window deduction, or zero.
- 5Brick face area with joint = (brick length + joint thickness) × (brick height + joint thickness).
- 6Required bricks = net wall area ÷ brick face area with joint, rounded up.
- 7Waste-adjusted bricks = exact required bricks × (1 + waste percentage), rounded up.
- 8Estimated material cost = waste-adjusted brick quantity × price per brick when a price is entered.
Example Calculation
Imperial example: a 20 ft × 8 ft wall has 160 sq ft of gross area. Deducting one standard 21 sq ft door leaves 139 sq ft. A modular brick with a 3/8 in joint has a nominal face of 8 in × 2 5/8 in, or about 0.146 sq ft, requiring 954 bricks before waste and 1,049 bricks with 10% waste. Metric example: a 6 m × 2.4 m wall has 14.4 m² of gross area. Deducting one 1.95 m² door leaves 12.45 m². A 190 × 90 × 57 mm brick with a 10 mm joint has a nominal face of 200 × 67 mm, requiring 930 bricks before waste and 1,023 bricks with 10% waste.
Accuracy & Assumptions
- Results are planning estimates for a single wall face and do not determine structural wall design.
- Imperial door and window deductions use 21 sq ft and 15 sq ft; Metric mode uses approximately 1.95 m² and 1.39 m².
- Openings cannot reduce net wall area below zero.
- Brick face area uses the unit length and height plus one selected mortar joint in each direction.
- Brick dimensions are treated as actual unit dimensions; nominal names and sizes vary by supplier and region.
- The calculation assumes a regular running-bond wall and does not separately adjust for bond patterns, piers, arches, returns or special shapes.
- Waste is applied to the unrounded calculated brick requirement, and the purchase quantity is rounded up to a whole brick.
- The optional cost includes bricks only, not mortar, reinforcement, ties, flashing, lintels, delivery, labor or tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate how many bricks I need?
Calculate net wall area after openings, divide it by the face area of one brick plus its mortar joint, then add waste and round up to a whole brick.
Does brick size include the mortar joint?
The selected brick dimensions represent the unit itself. The calculator adds the selected joint thickness to brick length and height when calculating nominal wall coverage.
How much waste should I add for brick?
Five percent may suit a simple wall with few cuts, 10% is a common planning allowance, and 15% may be prudent for complex bonds, many corners, matching requirements or fragile units.
How are doors and windows deducted?
Each door is estimated at 21 sq ft or approximately 1.95 m², and each window at 15 sq ft or approximately 1.39 m². Measure actual openings when their sizes differ.
Why do different brick types produce different quantities?
Larger brick faces cover more wall area per unit. Mortar-joint thickness also changes the nominal area covered by each brick.
Can I use this calculator for Metric bricks?
Yes. Metric mode provides native example sizes in millimeters and 10 mm or 12 mm mortar joints. Product dimensions are not universal, so verify locally available brick sizes.
Does the estimate include corner bricks or special shapes?
No. It estimates standard field bricks. Add project-specific quantities for corners, sills, coping, arches, returns and other special shapes.
Does this calculator estimate mortar?
No. Brick count and optional brick cost are included, but mortar quantity is separate and depends on unit dimensions, wall thickness, joint profile and waste.
Can this estimate be used for structural design?
No. Wall thickness, ties, reinforcement, lintels, foundations and load capacity must follow approved plans, manufacturer information and applicable code.
This calculator provides a preliminary brick quantity and material-cost estimate only. Actual brick requirements vary with manufacturer dimensions, bond pattern, wall thickness, mortar joints, openings, corners, cuts, breakage, special shapes and installer technique. Confirm brick dimensions, quantities and compatible mortar with your supplier or mason. Structural walls, veneers, ties, reinforcement, lintels, flashing and foundations must follow approved plans, manufacturer instructions and local code.