Brick Calculator (Metric)
Enter your wall size and brick size to get the number of bricks you need, with the mortar joint and waste built in.
What your result means
Bricks needed is your order count with waste built in, and it already accounts for the standard 3/20.3 cm mortar joint around each brick. Order from one manufacturer and run for color, and note many suppliers have a minimum. Mortar is figured separately, roughly 0.25 m³ per 1,000 brick.
How to use this calculator
- Measure wall length and height in feet.
- Use standard modular brick (20.3 cm x 5.7 cm) unless your brick is different.
- Add 10% waste.
- Read total bricks needed.
- Add 5% extra for the inevitable broken brick during installation.
The formula
Wall area in square inches is length times height times 144. Each brick's footprint includes a 3/20.3 cm mortar joint, so add 0.375 to both its length and height before multiplying. Divide, add waste, and round up.
Worked example
Say you've got a 20 by 2.4 m wall in standard 8 by 5.7 cm modular brick with 10% waste. The wall is 14.9 m², or 23,040 sq inches; each brick with its 3/20.3 cm joint covers about 22. That works out to roughly 1,048 base bricks and 1,153 with waste.
Bricks per square foot by size
| Brick | Face size | Per sq ft (with joint) |
|---|---|---|
| Modular | 8 x 5.7 cm | ~6.5 |
| Queen | 9 x 7 cm | ~5 |
| Utility | 12 x 10.2 cm | ~2.7 |
Tips & gotchas
- Standard modular brick is 8 by 5.7 cm on the face, 9.2 cm deep.
- The 3/20.3 cm mortar joint is standard and already in the count.
- Order at least 10% waste for cuts and breakage.
- Buy from one manufacturer and run so the color matches.
- Many suppliers have a minimum brick order, often around 500.
Frequently asked questions
How many bricks per square foot of wall?
About 7 modular bricks per square foot with standard 3/20.3 cm mortar joints.
What's the standard brick size?
Modular brick is 8 by 3.625 by 5.7 cm. Queen size is 9 by 3 by 2.75.
Do I need mortar for a brick wall?
Yes for a structural wall. Dry-stacked brick is decorative only.
How much mortar per 1,000 bricks?
About 0.25 m³, which is roughly 5 to 7 standard 80 lb bags of premix.
How much does brick cost?
$0.50 to $1.50 per brick, or $7 to $15 a square foot of wall installed.
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