Brick is estimated from the wall’s area, not from its length, and each brick counts as more than its own face because mortar joins it to its neighbors.
Wall area = length × height − openings
Area per brick = (brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)
Bricks = wall area ÷ area per brick × (1 + waste)
A 10 × 8 ft wall in modular brick
Modular brick has a face of about 7⅝ × 2¼ in, and with a ⅜ in joint each brick uses a module of 8 × 2⅝ in. That is the basis of the planner’s default, and of the manufacturer’s figure of 6.86 bricks per square foot. The wall is 80 sq ft.
This example assumes
- Modular brick, face 7⅝ × 2¼ in
- 3/8 in mortar joints
- 5% allowance for breakage and cuts, a planning default
Worked example 10 × 8 ft wall, modular brick, 3/8 in joints
| Material | Calculated | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Bricks7.63 in × 2.25 in brick, 0.38 in joints, 5% waste | 548.6 bricks | 576 bricks |
The calculation is 548.6 bricks, and the list rounds up to 576 bricks. Mortar is a separate line. How much wall a bag covers depends on the mortar and the joint, so the planner counts bags only when you enter the coverage from your product.
Openings
If the wall has a door-sized opening of 21 sq ft, the brick area drops by that much: 425 bricks instead of 576 bricks. For bigger openings, measure and subtract their areas the same way.
What changes the estimate?
- Brick size and joint width, which set the area per brick
- The allowance for breakage and cuts
- Openings you subtract
- Bond pattern, which can change cuts and waste
- Mortar coverage, which comes from your mortar product
This guide is about quantity. It does not cover structural or design questions for the wall.