BBuildculate
masonry

Brick Calculator

Estimate the total number of bricks, required mortar volume, and material cost for building brick masonry walls. Supports rectangular, triangular, and gable wall shapes.

CalculatorHow to CalculateFormulas & ExamplesFAQs

Select wall shape, enter dimensions, select brick size, then calculate.

Wall Dimensions

Brick Size & Mortar Joint

in
in
in
in
10%

Logistics & Cost Estimates (Optional)

lbs

Calculation Results

Awaiting Calculations

Fill in the wall layout shape, wall dimensions, brick size preset, and click Calculate to view estimates.

Formula Details

Wall Area Formulas
Rectangle: A = L × H | Triangle: A = 0.5 × B × H | Gable Wall: A = (L × H_wall) + (0.5 × L × H_gable)

Calculates the total physical surface area of the wall layout based on its geometry.

Variables Explained
  • L / B
    Length / Base:Total horizontal length of the wall.
  • H / H_wall
    Height / Wall Height:Vertical height of the wall (or the eave height for a gable wall).
  • H_gable
    Gable Height:Peak ridge height of the triangular gable segment above the main wall.
Wall Volume Formula
Wall Volume = Wall Area × Wall Thickness

Determines the total three-dimensional space occupied by the brick masonry wall.

Variables Explained
  • Wall Area
    Surface Area:The calculated face area of the wall.
  • Wall Thickness
    Thickness:Depth of the masonry wall (typically matches brick width or a multiple of it).
Brick Quantity Formula
Bricks Required = (Wall Volume / Nominal Brick Volume) × (1 + Waste / 100)

Estimates the total number of bricks required. Nominal Brick Volume includes the actual brick size plus the surrounding mortar joints.

Variables Explained
  • Nominal Volume
    Nominal Brick Volume:Formula: (Brick Length + Joint) × (Brick Height + Joint) × Brick Width
  • Waste
    Waste Allowance:Percentage added for chipped bricks, cuts, and site damage (typically 10%).
Mortar Volume Formula
Mortar Volume = (Wall Volume - Actual Brick Volume) × (1 + Waste / 100)

Calculates the net mortar joint volume by subtracting the physical brick volume from the total wall volume, then applies waste.

Variables Explained
  • Actual Brick Volume
    Actual Brick Volume:Formula: Raw Bricks Count × Brick Length × Brick Height × Brick Width
  • Waste
    Mortar Waste Factor:Percentage added for mortar spills and mixing cleanup.

Calculation Example

Worked Example
Scenario

Calculate modular bricks (7⅝" × 2¼" × 3⅝") and mortar required for a garden wall measuring 15 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 inches thick. Assume a 3/8" (0.375") mortar joint and a 10% waste percentage.

Calculation Steps
  1. 1.Calculate the total surface area of the rectangular wall.
    Area = 15 ft × 4 ft = 60 sq ft
  2. 2.Convert wall thickness to feet and compute wall volume.
    Thickness = 4 in = 4/12 ft = 0.333 ft | Volume = 60 sq ft × 0.333 ft = 20 cu ft
  3. 3.Determine nominal brick dimensions by adding the 3/8" (0.375") mortar joint.
    Nominal Length = 7.625" + 0.375" = 8.0" | Nominal Height = 2.25" + 0.375" = 2.625" | Width = 3.625"
  4. 4.Compute nominal volume of one brick unit and convert to cubic feet.
    Nominal Vol = 8.0" × 2.625" × 3.625" = 76.125 cu in | In cu ft = 76.125 / 1728 = 0.04405 cu ft
  5. 5.Calculate raw brick count, apply 10% waste allowance, and round up.
    Raw Count = 20 cu ft / 0.04405 cu ft = 454 Bricks | Bricks Required = 454 × 1.10 = 499.4 => 500 Bricks
  6. 6.Compute wet mortar volume by subtracting physical brick volume from total wall volume.
    Actual Brick Vol = 454 × (7.625" × 2.25" × 3.625") = 454 × 62.191 cu in = 28,235 cu in => 16.34 cu ft | Mortar Volume = (20 cu ft - 16.34 cu ft) × 1.10 = 4.03 cu ft
Final Quantity Needed500 Bricks & 4.03 Cubic Feet of Mortar
Worked Example
Scenario

Calculate metric quantities for a residential gable wall with a length of 8 meters, wall eave height of 3 meters, and a gable peak height of 1.5 meters. Wall thickness is 10 cm, using standard engineering bricks (215 × 65 × 102.5 mm) with a 10 mm mortar joint and 10% waste factor.

Calculation Steps
  1. 1.Compute the total surface area of the gable wall (rectangular base + triangular gable).
    Area = (8 m × 3 m) + (0.5 × 8 m × 1.5 m) = 24 sq m + 6 sq m = 30 sq m
  2. 2.Calculate the total wall volume.
    Thickness = 10 cm = 0.1 m | Volume = 30 sq m × 0.1 m = 3.0 cu m
  3. 3.Determine nominal brick dimensions by adding the 10 mm (0.01 m) mortar joint.
    Nominal Length = 215 + 10 = 225 mm (0.225 m) | Nominal Height = 65 + 10 = 75 mm (0.075 m) | Width = 102.5 mm (0.1025 m)
  4. 4.Compute nominal volume of one brick unit.
    Nominal Vol = 0.225 m × 0.075 m × 0.1025 m = 0.0017297 cu m
  5. 5.Calculate raw brick count, apply 10% waste, and round up.
    Raw Count = 3.0 cu m / 0.0017297 cu m = 1734.4 Bricks | Bricks Required = 1734.4 × 1.10 = 1907.8 => 1,908 Bricks
  6. 6.Subtract physical brick volume to estimate wet mortar requirements.
    Actual Brick Vol = 1734.4 × (0.215 m × 0.065 m × 0.1025 m) = 2.484 cu m | Mortar Volume = (3.0 cu m - 2.484 cu m) × 1.10 = 0.568 cu m
Final Quantity Needed1,908 Bricks & 0.568 Cubic Meters of Mortar

How to Use

Follow these simple steps to estimate the surface area, total brick quantities, mortar requirements, and estimated material cost for your wall masonry layout:

  1. Choose Wall Shape: Select the shape of your wall (Rectangle, Triangle, or Gable Wall).
  2. Set Unit System: Toggle between Imperial (ft/in/yd) and Metric (m/cm/mm) at the top right of the estimator.
  3. Enter Wall Dimensions: Input the length, height (and gable ridge height if applicable), and total wall thickness.
  4. Select or Define Brick Size: Choose a preset (Modular, Standard, Engineering, Queen, King) or select "Custom Size" to enter your specific brick depth, height, and length.
  5. Input Joint & Waste Factors: Enter the target mortar joint thickness (default is 3/8" or 10 mm) and adjust the waste slider (10% is recommended).
  6. Add Optional Values: Optionally enter the weight of a single brick and the cost per brick to receive shipping weight and overall materials cost estimates.
  7. Calculate: Click the Calculate button to compute results. Click Reset to clear the form at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bricks do I need for my wall?
The number of bricks is calculated by dividing your wall volume by the nominal volume of a single brick (which includes the brick's actual dimensions plus the mortar joint thickness). Toggling wall thickness and choosing different layouts (e.g. single-wythe or double-wythe walls) directly scales the brick count.
How much mortar is required?
Mortar volume is computed by taking the total volume of the wall structure and subtracting the actual physical volume occupied by all the bricks. Mortar generally accounts for 20% to 30% of a finished wall's volume. A 10% waste factor is added to cover site spills and mixing waste.
What brick size should I choose?
Standard and Modular bricks are standard choices for residential structures in the US. Engineering bricks are high-strength, low-porosity bricks commonly used for foundations, damp-proof courses, and civil walls in the UK. Choose a preset from our list or select 'Custom Size' to input your own specifications.
Why should I include a waste percentage?
Bricks are frequently cut on-site to fit edges, corners, and window or door openings, which creates unusable remnants. Additionally, bricks can break or chip during transport. Adding a 10% waste allowance (up to 15% for complex shapes) ensures you don't run out of bricks mid-build.
How accurate is the brick estimate?
This calculator provides a precise geometric estimation. Real-world requirements can vary slightly depending on the brick laying bond pattern (like Running, English, or Flemish bond) and whether you subtract openings for windows and doors. Always buy a small buffer.
Can I use custom brick dimensions?
Yes. By selecting 'Custom Size...' in the Brick Size Preset dropdown, the length, height, and width fields become fully editable. You can enter any custom dimensions in inches (for imperial) or millimeters (for metric) to estimate your project.

Explore more masonry tools

Estimate concrete blocks, structural retaining walls, sand volumes, and mortar mix ratio recipes to successfully execute your building layouts.

View CategoriesAbout Buildculate

Recommended Calculators

Similar Tools
masonryActive

Retaining Wall Calculator

Calculate retaining wall materials, gravel base, drainage backfill, and project costs.

Open Calculator
masonryActive

Concrete Block Calculator

Estimate the number of concrete blocks, required mortar volume, and material cost for building CMU walls.

Open Calculator
masonryActive

Wall Material Calculator

Calculate bricks, blocks, cement, sand, and mortar for building complete masonry walls.

Open Calculator
materialActive

Mortar Calculator

Calculate mortar, cement, sand, and masonry material requirements for brick and block walls.

Open Calculator
materialActive

Cement Calculator

Calculate cement bags, mix ratios, and material quantities for concrete and masonry projects.

Open Calculator
Disclaimer

Calculations are estimates based on the values you enter and standard engineering formulas. Results are intended for planning and estimation only. Always verify critical measurements, specifications, and local building requirements before purchasing materials or beginning construction.