Brick Calculator
How many bricks a wall needs.
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Work out how many bricks a wall will take before you order. Enter the wall's dimensions or a known area, choose the brick type, and this calculator returns a brick count with a waste allowance included.
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How Many Bricks? — The Quick Answer
Multiply the wall area by the number of bricks per square foot for your brick type, then add about 5% for waste. Modular bricks need roughly 6.86 per square foot of single-leaf wall, including mortar joints.
Shortcut
Bricks = wall area (sq ft) × bricks per sq ft × (1 + waste %)
Bricks per square foot by type (single leaf)
| Brick type | Bricks per sq ft | Bricks per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Modular (standard) | 6.86 | 686 |
| Queen | 5.76 | 576 |
| Jumbo | 3.60 | 360 |
| Roman / long format | ~6.0 | 600 |
These figures include the standard 10 mm mortar joint. Bricks sized differently or laid in a non-standard bond will change the count — you can enter your own bricks-per-square-foot figure if you have one.
How It Works
The Formulas
Area-based brick counting
Formula
Bricks = wall area × bricks per sq ft × (1 + waste) Wall area = length × height
Variables
Wall area
Length × height of the wall in square feet, minus any large openings.
Bricks per square foot
How many bricks cover a square foot including mortar joints — about 6.86 for modular bricks.
Waste allowance
Extra percentage for cutting at corners, breakages, and future repairs. 5% is a reasonable default.
Note: Brick sizes vary by region and manufacturer. The modular figures here are common in the US; always confirm against the brick you're actually using and the chosen bond pattern.
Worked Example: A 20 × 8 ft Single-Leaf Wall
Modular bricks with 10 mm joints
Find the wall area
20 × 8 = 160 sq ft
Deduct large openings first
Subtract doors and windows before anything else
Multiply by bricks per sq ft
160 × 6.86 (modular) ≈ 1,098 bricks
Add waste
+5% ≈ 1,153 bricks for a straightforward wall
Reference Guide
| Brick type | Bricks per sq ft | Per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Modular (standard) | 6.86 | 686 |
| Queen | 5.76 | 576 |
| Jumbo | 3.60 | 360 |
Bonds, Cavities & Waste
What drives the real brick count
Each brick occupies its own size plus the 10 mm joint around it, which is why standard modular bricks work out to about 6.86 per square foot (roughly 60 per square metre) of single-leaf wall — slightly fewer than the bare brick size suggests.
Best for: Understanding where the per-square-foot figure comes from
A single-leaf wall is one brick thick. A cavity (double-leaf) wall — standard for house exteriors — needs roughly 1.5 to 2 times as many bricks, though the inner leaf is often blockwork rather than brick. Be clear which you're building before counting.
Best for: Not under-ordering for a cavity wall
Subtract doors and windows from the area first, then add about 5% waste (7–10% for walls with lots of corners or detail). Brick colour varies between batches, so buy enough in one go and keep a few spares.
Best for: Getting an accurate, repair-proof order
How Many Bricks Does a Wall Need?
A brick wall is bricks plus mortar, so the count depends on brick size and joint thickness as well as the wall area. With a standard 10 mm joint, modular bricks work out to about 6.86 per square foot of single-leaf wall — roughly 60 per square metre. Multiply the wall area (minus large openings) by that figure and add about 5% for waste. The biggest thing to get right is whether you're building a single-leaf wall (one brick thick) or a cavity wall, which needs roughly 1.5–2 times as many. This calculator estimates face bricks from the wall dimensions or a known area, with an adjustable waste allowance.
Key Features
💡 Pro Tips
- →Subtract doors and windows from the wall area before applying the brick count.
- →For a cavity wall, remember you need roughly 1.5–2× a single leaf — and the inner leaf may be blockwork.
- →Add 5% waste for a simple wall, 7–10% for lots of corners, piers, or decorative bonds.
- →Buy all your bricks from one batch and keep spares — colour drifts between production runs.
Common Mistakes
Estimating a cavity wall as a single leaf
A cavity wall has two leaves and needs far more brick (or brick plus block). Counting it as one leaf leaves you badly short.
Forgetting the mortar joint
Dividing area by the bare brick face overcounts, because each brick plus its 10 mm joint covers more area. The per-square-foot figures already include the joint.
Not deducting openings
Leaving doors and windows in the wall area overcounts, especially on a small wall with large openings. Subtract them before applying the brick rate.
Research & Citations
Sources and standards referenced for the factual claims on this page
- [1]
Brick Industry Association (BIA) (2023). Technical Notes on Brick Construction. gobrick.com.
Standard figures for brick coverage and construction.
View source - [2]
Brick Development Association (2023). Technical guidance on brickwork and bonds. brick.org.uk.
Guidance on bonds, joints, and bricks per square metre.
View source
This calculator is a reference tool, not a substitute for professional advice. Verify important health, financial, legal, or safety decisions with a suitably qualified professional.
Last updated: October 7, 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks are in a square metre or square foot?
For standard modular bricks with a 10 mm mortar joint, about 6.86 bricks per square foot, or roughly 74 per square metre. Larger 'jumbo' bricks need far fewer (about 3.6 per sq ft), and queen-size bricks sit in between at about 5.76.
How do I calculate bricks for a wall?
Multiply the wall area by the bricks per square foot for your brick type. A 20 ft × 8 ft wall is 160 sq ft; at 6.86 bricks per sq ft that's about 1,098 bricks, or roughly 1,153 with 5% waste.
How much waste should I allow for bricks?
Add around 5% for a straightforward rectangular wall. Increase it to 7–10% for walls with many corners, openings, or decorative bonds, since more bricks get cut and wasted.
Does a cavity wall need twice as many bricks?
Not twice, but more. A single-leaf wall is one brick thick; a cavity or double-leaf wall has two leaves, so you need roughly 1.5–1.75 times the single-leaf count depending on the construction, plus the inner leaf may use blockwork.