Almost every brick estimate starts from one number: about 7 bricks per square foot of wall face. Get that number and the wall area, and the rest of the count follows. Here is where the 7 comes from, and how to turn it into a brick and mortar order with the brick calculator.
Where "7 per square foot" comes from
A standard modular brick has a face about 7 5/8 inches long by 2 1/4 inches high. Add a 3/8-inch mortar joint on two sides and each brick effectively occupies an 8-inch by 2 5/8-inch space — about 21 square inches. A square foot is 144 square inches, so 144 ÷ 21 ≈ 6.86 bricks. Round up to 7 and you have a small built-in cushion.
Count a wall in three steps
- Wall face area: length × height. A 20 ft by 8 ft wall is 160 square feet.
- Subtract big openings: remove the area of doors and windows. Small openings can be left in as cut waste.
- Multiply and add waste: 160 × 7 = 1,120 bricks, then add about 5 to 10% for cuts and breakage.
That puts the 20×8 wall near 1,180 bricks with a 5% allowance. The brick calculator does the openings and waste for you and adds the mortar.
Mortar for the joints
A practical estimate is about 7 bags of mortar mix per 1,000 bricks at standard 3/8-inch joints, combined with sand at roughly a 3-to-1 ratio. So our ~1,180-brick wall needs on the order of 8 to 9 bags. Wider joints, rough brick, and full head joints push that up — check the bag coverage chart for your product.
What the brick count does not include
Brick veneer also needs wall ties to the structure, flashing and weep holes at the base, and a steel lintel over openings. Those come from the wall design, not the per-square-foot count, so plan them separately from the brick and mortar order.
Veneer vs full brick
Most modern homes use a single brick veneer wythe over a framed wall, which is the case the 7-per-square-foot figure assumes. A double-wythe or structural brick wall roughly doubles the brick for the same face area. Confirm which you are building before you order.
FAQ
How many bricks are in a square foot?
For a standard modular brick with 3/8-inch mortar joints, about 7 bricks cover one square foot of wall face. The exact figure is closer to 6.86, so estimators round to 7 to build in a small cushion.
How many bricks do I need for a wall?
Multiply the wall face area (length times height) by about 7 bricks per square foot, subtract large openings, then add roughly 5 to 10% for cuts and breakage. A 20-foot by 8-foot wall is 160 square feet, or about 1,120 bricks before waste.
How much mortar do I need for brick?
A common rule of thumb is about 7 bags of mortar per 1,000 bricks at standard joints, using roughly 3 parts sand to 1 part mortar mix. Joint size and brick texture change the amount, so verify against the bag coverage.
Does brick size change the count?
Yes. Modular brick gives about 7 per square foot, but oversized, engineer, or thin veneer brick cover different areas. Always confirm the bricks-per-square-foot figure for the exact brick you are buying.