Primary material
1,176 bricks
Bricks
Use the brick count as a buying starting point, then confirm the brick size and bond pattern, and order a few extra for cuts and breakage.
Brick calculator
Brick calculator for bricks and mortar.
Enter wall length, height, and openings to estimate how many bricks and bags of mortar you need. Uses about 7 modular bricks per square foot. A 20 x 8 ft wall needs about 1,176 bricks.
20 x 8 ft wall
1,176 bricks
~9 bags mortar
Coverage
~7 /sq ft
modular brick
Mortar
~7 / 1,000
bags per 1,000 bricks
Quick reference
Bricks and mortar for common wall sizes
Modular brick at about 7 per square foot with 3/8 in joints and the default 5% waste, no openings.
| Wall size | Wall area | Bricks | Mortar bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 4 ft | 40 sq ft | 294 | 3 |
| 20 x 4 ft | 80 sq ft | 588 | 5 |
| 20 x 6 ft | 120 sq ft | 882 | 7 |
| 20 x 8 ft | 160 sq ft | 1,176 | 9 |
| 40 x 8 ft | 320 sq ft | 2,352 | 17 |
Measure one face of the wall. Subtract doors and windows as openings.
Quick brick answers
Common brick walls
20 x 8 ft wall
1,176 bricks
about 9 bags of mortar
10 x 8 ft wall
588 bricks
about 5 bags of mortar
30 x 4 ft wall
882 bricks
about 7 bags of mortar
Veneer vs structural
This counts a single-wythe (one brick thick) wall or veneer. A double-wythe structural wall roughly doubles the brick. Plan ties, flashing, and weep holes for veneer over a frame.
Shopping list
Brick, mortar, and tools
Brick and mortar counts update from the calculator. Confirm brick size and bond before ordering.
Setting material
9 bags
Mortar mix
Type N or Type S mortar, roughly 7 bags per 1,000 bricks at standard joints. Verify against the bag coverage and your joint size.
Reinforcement
Wall ties and flashing
Brick veneer needs wall ties to the structure, plus flashing and weep holes at the base. Plan these from the wall design.
Install tools
Trowel, jointer, line, and level
Brickwork needs a brick trowel, a jointer or sled runner, mason line and blocks, a level, and a brick hammer or saw for cuts.
Formula shown
How the brick estimate works
1. Net wall area
length ft x height ft - openings sq ft
2. Brick count
bricks = ceil(net area x 7 x (1 + waste))
3. Mortar
mortar bags = ceil(bricks / 1,000 x 7)
Sources
- Brick coverage reference — modular brick coverage (~7 per sq ft) and mortar per 1,000
- Brick Industry Association — brick sizes, bonds, and installation guidance
Sources checked
Checked against
Bag yields checked against Quikrete and Sakrete product specs; price ranges against published concrete cost guides.
How we check our numbersLast updated: June 26, 2026
Estimate only.
This calculator is not a quote. Verify product yield, price, delivery minimums, and local conditions with your supplier or contractor before buying materials.
Related calculators
Other masonry tools
Guide: How many bricks per square foot? Where the ~7-per-square-foot figure comes from, plus mortar. Concrete block (CMU) For a block wall instead of brick, estimate blocks and mortar. Concrete wall For a poured wall, estimate cubic yards and bags. Retaining wall block For a stacked landscape wall, estimate blocks and caps.
FAQ
Brick calculator questions
Brick counts, bricks per square foot, mortar per 1,000, openings, and veneer vs structural.
How many bricks do I need? + -
Multiply wall length by height for the area, subtract any openings, then multiply by about 7 modular bricks per square foot and add waste. A 20 x 8 ft wall (160 sq ft) needs roughly 1,176 bricks.
How many bricks are in a square foot? + -
A standard modular brick with 3/8 in mortar joints covers about 6.86 sq in of face per brick, so you need about 7 bricks per square foot of single-wythe wall. Larger bricks need fewer; double-wythe walls double the count.
How much mortar do I need for brick? + -
A common estimate is about 7 bags of mortar mix per 1,000 bricks at standard joints. The 1,176-brick example works out to about 9 bags. Verify against the bag coverage and your joint size.
Do I subtract doors and windows? + -
Yes. Enter the total opening area in square feet and the calculator removes it before counting bricks. For brick veneer, also plan ties, flashing, and weep holes around openings and at the base.