Brick Column Calculator — Bricks Per Pier
Estimate bricks and mortar for a free-standing brick column or pier. Supports 8, 12, and 16-inch square columns in standard running or stack bond patterns.
Enter Dimensions
Standard is 3/8 in (0.375)
Results
Bricks Needed
1,207bricks
Mortar Bags (60 lb)
35bags
Type S mortar, ~35 bricks/bag
Wall Area
160sq ft
Bricks per Sq Ft
6.86bricks/sq ft
Editorial Standards
Each calculator is reviewed for formula accuracy, unit consistency, and alignment with current U.S. building practices before publication. We verify outputs against published engineering references and real-world project data. Learn more about our methodology.
Free-standing brick columns appear at driveway gates, garden entrances, mailbox piers, and as decorative anchors at the ends of low garden walls. Each column is a small but precise project: the brick count is fixed by perimeter × course count, but running-bond corners require cut half-bricks that drive the waste percentage higher than a flat wall.
This calculator estimates bricks for a square brick column based on perimeter and height, plus mortar and a cap allowance. Use the parent Brick Calculator for non-square cross-sections.
How to Estimate a Brick Column
Bricks = (Perimeter ÷ 8) × (Height ÷ 3) × (1 + waste %). Perimeter and height in inches. Round up to whole bricks; add a cap unit.
Brick Column Reference
- 8 inch column: 4 bricks per course × ~24 courses for 6 ft tall = ~96 bricks + cap.
- 12 inch column: 6 bricks per course × ~24 = ~144 bricks + cap.
- 16 inch column: 8 bricks per course × ~24 = ~192 bricks + cap.
- 20 inch column (gate pier): 10 bricks per course × ~24 = ~240 bricks + cap + grouted center core.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks in a 12 inch × 12 inch brick column?
A 12×12 inch column has 4 sides × 12 inch = 48 inch perimeter = 4 ft per course. Each course uses ~6 modular bricks. A 6 ft tall column has ~24 courses (at 3 in per course including joint) × 6 bricks = 144 bricks.
What size brick column for a driveway gate?
16 inch × 16 inch (4 brick × 4 brick footprint) is the typical residential driveway gate column. Larger 20 inch × 20 inch piers are used where heavy ornamental gates or long-span overhead arches attach.
Do brick columns need a concrete core?
Decorative columns under 4 ft tall can be solid masonry. Taller columns (5+ ft), gate support columns, and any column with attached hardware should have a grouted concrete core with vertical rebar — typically a 4×4 inch core with 1 #4 vertical bar.
How is a brick column capped?
Common caps: precast concrete cap (sized to column footprint), rowlock brick course (bricks set on edge), or natural stone slab. The cap should overhang the column by 1/2 to 1 inch to shed water away from the brick faces.
How much mortar for a brick column?
Apply the standard 1 bag of mortar per 30 modular bricks. A 144-brick column needs ~5 bags of 60 lb Type N mortar. Add 10% for waste during the small batch mixes typical of column work.
Looking for the general calculator?
Calculate bricks and mortar bags for walls, patios, and masonry projects. Supports standard modular, queen, and Norman bricks with adjustable mortar joint size.
Open the Brick Calculator: Bricks & Mortar Bags →