Calculate how many bricks and mortar bags you need for a wall, based on wall size, brick size and mortar joint thickness.
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This calculator adds the mortar joint thickness to both the brick's length and height to get its effective 'footprint' on the wall face, then divides the total wall area (plus a waste allowance) by that footprint: Bricks Needed = (Wall Area × (1 + Waste%)) ÷ ((Brick Length + Joint) × (Brick Height + Joint)). The default 8 in × 2.25 in brick with a 3/8 in joint reflects a standard modular brick size.
Mortar bag needs are estimated using a commonly cited rule of thumb of roughly 3 standard 80 lb mortar mix bags per 100 bricks laid with standard joints. Actual mortar consumption varies with joint thickness and workmanship, so treat this as a planning estimate and buy a little extra.
A common US modular brick face measures about 8 in × 2.25 in (nominal, including a standard 3/8 in mortar joint), though brick sizes vary by region and manufacturer, always check your specific brick's dimensions.
Thicker mortar joints mean each brick effectively takes up more space on the wall face, so fewer bricks are needed to cover the same area, and thinner joints mean more bricks are needed.
10% is a reasonable default for most projects, accounting for cutting, breakage and mistakes. Complex patterns or a lot of cutting around openings may call for a higher allowance.
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