CALCULATION METHOD
How many bricks do I need?
Find the wall area, subtract doors and windows, and divide by the installed face module of one brick. The module includes the actual brick length and height plus one mortar joint in each direction. Finally, add waste and round up to whole bricks.
Net wall area = gross wall area − openings
Installed brick module = (brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)
Layout bricks = net area ÷ installed module, rounded up
Bricks to order = layout bricks × (1 + waste), rounded up
20 × 8 ft brick wall example
A 20 ft × 8 ft wall has 160 sq ft of face area. A 7 5/8 × 2 1/4 in modular brick with a 3/8 in joint has an installed module of 8 × 2 5/8 in, or about 6.86 bricks per sq ft. The layout needs 1,098 bricks; adding 10% gives an order of 1,208 bricks.
Common brick face sizes
Brick names and exact dimensions vary by manufacturer. These presets use actual face length and height; thickness does not change the visible single-wythe wall count.
| Preset | Actual face | Approx. bricks / sq ft with 3/8 in joint |
|---|---|---|
| Modular | 7 5/8 × 2 1/4 in | 6.86 |
| Standard | 8 × 2 1/4 in | 6.55 |
| Queen | 9 5/8 × 2 3/4 in | 4.61 |
| Engineer | 11 5/8 × 2 3/4 in | 3.84 |
| Utility | 11 5/8 × 3 5/8 in | 3.00 |
Actual size versus nominal size
The Brick Industry Association defines the modular dimension as the manufactured brick dimension plus the mortar joint. For example, a 7 5/8 in brick with a 3/8 in joint creates an 8 in horizontal module. Enter actual brick dimensions, because adding a joint to an already nominal dimension would undercount bricks.
How much waste should I add?
BIA recommends modifying estimates for bond pattern, breakage, and waste. The calculator starts at 10% as a planning value, but simple running-bond walls may differ from projects with many corners, cuts, color blending, or special shapes. Confirm the allowance with the mason and supplier.
Packages and pallets
Packaging is not standardized across products. Enter the supplier’s bricks-per-package and bricks-per-pallet figures. The calculator rounds each purchase option up independently, so the package total may include a few more bricks than the exact order estimate.
Brick Industry Association Technical Note 10: Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry, including wall-area estimating, modular dimensions, mortar joints, bond pattern, breakage, and waste. Accessed September 11, 2026.