Brick Wall Calculator — Bricks & Mortar Per Wall
Calculate bricks and mortar bags for any brick wall. Covers exterior veneer, interior accent walls, and short garden walls with adjustable joint size.
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.
A brick veneer wall is the most common residential brick application in the U.S. — a single wythe attached to a sheathed structural wall, providing the appearance and weather protection of solid brick without the structural mass. The math is straightforward but several pitfalls trip up first-time estimators: openings, dye-lot variation, and order-in-cube quantities.
This calculator handles a straight veneer wall and produces brick count, mortar bag count, and an order-in-cubes total. Use the parent brick calculator for non-modular brick sizes.
How to Estimate a Brick Wall
Bricks = Wall Area × 6.86 (modular) × (1 + waste %). Mortar = (Brick count ÷ 1000) × 7.5 cu ft. Bag count = mortar ÷ 0.6 (for 80 lb bags).
Brick Wall Layout Pitfalls
- Openings: subtract window and door areas, but keep 1 brick allowance per side of each opening for cutting and the rowlock or soldier course header.
- Dye-lot variation: bricks from different kiln runs vary in color; always order ≥ 1 extra cube for future repair and patch stock from the same lot.
- Cube delivery: bricks ship by the cube (≈ 500 units) on pallets. Round your order up to the next whole cube; partial-cube fees are punitive.
- Corners: running bond corners need cut half-bricks every other course — already covered by 10% waste on simple rectangles, but add 5% extra per corner beyond 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks are in a typical exterior wall?
A modular brick face (7-5/8″ × 2-1/4″) covers ~0.146 sq ft including mortar joints — about 6.86 bricks per sq ft. A 30 ft × 9 ft veneer wall needs 30 × 9 × 6.86 = 1853 bricks before waste.
Is brick veneer just one brick thick?
Yes — exterior residential brick veneer is one 4-inch brick wythe attached to the structural wall behind with corrugated metal ties. A solid brick wall (two wythes bonded together) is rare in modern residential construction.
What goes behind a brick veneer wall?
Brick veneer requires (1) a structural sheathed wall behind, (2) a weather-resistive barrier on the sheathing, (3) a 1-inch air gap, (4) corrugated metal ties anchoring brick to studs every 16″ vertically and 24″ horizontally, and (5) weep holes at the base.
How much waste should I add for a brick wall?
10% is the minimum for a straight wall with no openings. 15–20% for walls with windows, corners, or arches. Order one extra full cube (typically 500 bricks) beyond the calculated quantity for matching dye-lots later.
How tall can a brick veneer wall be?
Per IRC R703.7, brick veneer is limited to 30 ft above the foundation in single-story construction (or 38 ft at gable peaks) without engineered design. Higher walls need shelf angles, expansion joints, and structural review.
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 →