Brick Mortar Calculator — Bags Per Wall
Estimate mortar bags for any brick wall. Uses standard BIA yield of one 70 lb bag per 30–35 modular bricks, with adjustments for joint size and brick type.
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.
Mortar is the consumable that masons run out of first on a brick job — and once you're on the wall, a mid-day mortar shortage halts the entire crew. Calculate it accurately the first time using published BIA / NCMA factors instead of guessing.
This calculator uses 7.5 cubic feet of mortar per 1,000 modular bricks at 3/8-inch joints (BIA Tech Note 10), converted to 60-lb bag count of pre-mixed mortar (approximately 1.5 bags per cubic foot).
How to Estimate Brick Mortar
Mortar bags = (Brick count ÷ 1000) × 7.5 cu ft × 1.5 bags/cu ft × (1 + waste %). Round up to whole bags.
Mortar Type Reference (ASTM C270)
- Type N (1:1:6 mix): general above-grade work. Most common for residential brick. ≈ 750 psi.
- Type S (1:½:4½): high-strength. Required for foundation walls, retaining walls, exterior reinforced masonry. ≈ 1800 psi.
- Type M (1:¼:3): heavy-load, foundation and chimney below-grade. ≈ 2500 psi.
- Type O (1:2:9): low-strength, interior non-load-bearing only. ≈ 350 psi.
Bag-Yield Cheat Sheet
- One 60-lb bag of pre-mixed mortar ≈ 0.6 cu ft yield.
- One 80-lb bag ≈ 0.85 cu ft yield.
- For field-mixed Type N: 1 bag Portland + 1 bag lime + 6 cu ft sand ≈ 6.5 cu ft mortar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much mortar do I need per 1000 bricks?
For modular brick with a 3/8-inch joint: plan on 7–8 cubic feet of mortar per 1000 bricks, which is roughly 12–14 bags of 60-lb pre-mixed mortar or 7 bags of 70-lb Portland cement plus 21 cubic feet of sand mixed Type N.
What is the difference between Type N and Type S mortar?
Type N is medium-strength (≈ 750 psi), used for above-grade brick and chimneys. Type S is high-strength (≈ 1800 psi), required for below-grade work, retaining walls, and any structural load-bearing masonry.
How thick should mortar joints be?
Standard is 3/8 inch (0.375″) for both head and bed joints. Thinner joints (1/4″) appear in modern minimalist work; thicker joints (5/8″) in historic restoration. Calculator factors assume 3/8″ joints.
Can I buy mortar pre-mixed or do I have to mix it?
Both options work. Pre-mixed bags (60 lb or 80 lb) are convenient for small projects; field-mixed mortar (Portland cement + hydrated lime + sand) is more economical for larger projects. The bag rate this calculator returns is for pre-mixed Type N.
How long does mortar stay workable?
Once water is added, mortar must be placed within 2 hours. After 1 hour, you can re-temper (add a small amount of water) once. Discard any batch that begins to stiffen.
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 →