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CostToUpgrade
Masonry

Brick Calculator

Estimate the bricks for a wall or veneer. Enter the wall length and height, add a waste allowance, and get the number of standard modular bricks needed (mortar joints included) and an estimated cost.

Reviewed by The CostToUpgrade Estimating Desk Last reviewed How we estimate

Your project

Wall
Material

Covers breakage and cuts; 10% is typical, more for detailed work.

Pricing

Common face brick runs about $0.50–$1.00 each.

Estimate

1,232bricks

Bricks needed · Includes mortar joints + waste

Wall area
160ft²
Estimated material cost
$924.00

Estimates are guidance only and exclude tax, labor, and site conditions unless stated. Confirm with a local pro.

How it's calculated

No black boxes — here is the exact math behind your estimate, so you can check it or adapt it for your own quote.

  1. 1Wall area (ft²) = length × height
  2. 2Bricks = wall area × 7 (standard modular bricks per ft², including mortar)
  3. 3Bricks with waste = ⌈ bricks × (1 + waste% ÷ 100) ⌉
  4. 4Cost = bricks × price per brick

Worked example

A 20 ft × 8 ft brick wall with a 10% waste allowance.

Inputs

Wall length
20 ft
Wall height
8 ft
Waste allowance
10 %
Price per brick
0.75 $/brick

Result

Bricks needed
1,232 bricks
Wall area
160 ft²
Estimated material cost
$924.00

Tools & materials for this project

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  • Masonry trowel Spread and shape mortar as you lay brick.
  • Mortar mix Bagged mortar for bedding and jointing brick.
  • Brick jointer Finish mortar joints with a clean concave profile.
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Brick cost by state

The calculator does the quantity math exactly. What it can't know is what a fair unit price looks like where you live — a brick wall runs 61% more in the priciest US market than the cheapest.

Brick cost in all 50 states + DC US average $12.00 per square foot installed · regional averages, full ranked table, and typical project totals.

Frequently asked questions

How many bricks do I need per square foot?
For standard modular brick with 3/8-inch mortar joints, plan on about 7 bricks per square foot of wall face. Multiply your wall area by 7, then add roughly 10% for breakage and cuts.
How many bricks are in a 20×8 wall?
A 20 ft × 8 ft wall is 160 square feet, which needs about 1,120 bricks before waste, or roughly 1,232 once you add 10% for breakage. Double these figures for a wall that is two wythes (bricks) thick.
Does this include mortar?
The 7-bricks-per-square-foot figure already accounts for standard mortar joint thickness, so the brick count is realistic. The mortar itself is a separate material — budget roughly one 80 lb bag of mortar mix per 30–35 bricks.