Construction

Brick Calculator

Enter your wall's total area and bricks-per-square-foot coverage to calculate how many bricks to order, including a waste allowance for cuts and breakage.

Wall area and coverage

ft²
%
Bricks needed
Enter your wall area to calculate.

How the Brick formula works

A coverage-based calculation:

Bricks needed = ceil( Wall area × Bricks per ft² × (1 + Waste%) )

Standard modular brick with typical mortar joints commonly works out to around 7 bricks per square foot, though this varies by brick size and joint thickness.

Step-by-step calculation

  1. Calculate the total wall area to be covered in square feet.
  2. Multiply by your brick's coverage rate (commonly around 7 bricks per ft² for standard modular brick).
  3. Increase by a waste percentage to account for cuts and breakage, then round up to a whole brick.

Worked example

A 300 ft² wall at 7 bricks/ft², with 10% waste: Bricks = ceil(300 × 7 × 1.10) = ceil(2,310) = 2,310 bricks.

Frequently asked questions

Why does brick coverage vary by project?

Coverage depends on the specific brick's dimensions and the mortar joint thickness used — a thicker mortar joint means fewer bricks per square foot. Check your specific brick's spec sheet for an exact coverage rate if precision matters.

How much waste allowance should I use for brick?

10% is a common general allowance for a straightforward wall; more complex layouts with lots of corners, cuts, or patterns may need 15% or more.