Don’t hit a wall when calculating the number of bricks you need
The number of bricks per square foot depends on your brick type and mortar bed, with standard bricks requiring about seven per square foot.
Standard clay bricks cost $350 to $850 per thousand, averaging $550, and ordering 10% extra helps you avoid running short during your project.
Calculate your wall's square footage first, then factor in brick dimensions plus a 3/8-inch mortar bed to determine the total bricks you need.
Hiring a local masonry professional removes the guesswork from measurements and mortar calculations, keeping your wall stable and properly supported from the start.
Bricks offer a timeless and lasting look to any home. Whether you want to build an exterior brick wall or install brick veneer siding on your home, you’ll need to know how many bricks you need to complete your project. This guide explores the answer to the question, “How many bricks do I need?” so you can purchase the correct materials for your project.
The number of bricks you need depends on the type of brick and the size of the wall you’re building. Here are some common brick types, dimensions, and the number required for a 12-foot-by-8-foot wall.
| Type of Brick | Brick Dimensions in Inches | # of Bricks Needed for 12’x8’ Residential Wall |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 8 x 2 1/4 | 666 |
| Modular | 7 5/8 x 2 1/4 | 666 |
| Roman | 11 5/8 x 1 5/8 | 576 |
| Queen | 7 5/8 x 2 3/4 | 558 |
| Jumbo | 8 x 2 3/4 | 558 |
| Norman | 11 5/8 x 2 1/4 | 444 |
| Closure | 7 5/8 x 3 5/8 | 432 |
| Utility | 11 5/8 x 3 5/8 | 288 |
Before you can calculate the number of bricks required for your project, you need to know the size of the bricks you’ve chosen and the dimensions of your wall. Bear in mind that you’ll need to account for a 3/8-inch mortar bed between each brick. When you have those numbers, plug them into the following equation:
Number of Bricks Required = Wall Square Footage / Brick and Mortar Square Footage
Plan to order around 10% more bricks than you think you’ll need to account for breakage or mistakes.
There are two steps to measuring the number of bricks you need to build a wall: measuring the wall's square footage, followed by the brick’s square footage. Here’s how to do it:
Multiply the wall's length and width to get the total area's square footage.
Add 3/8-inch for the mortar bed to the length and width of the brick.
Multiply the length and width of the brick to get the total square inches.
Divide the brick’s square inches by 144 to get the total square footage.
Divide the wall square footage by the brick square footage to get the total number of bricks needed.
For example, say you want to build a 12-foot-by-10-foot wall (120 square feet) using modular bricks (7 5/8 x 2 1/4 inches).
First, add 3/8 inch to the brick dimensions to get 8 x 2 5/8.
Then, multiply those numbers to get 21.
After dividing 21 by 144, you have an area of 0.1458 square feet per brick and mortar bed.
Finally, divide 120 square feet by 0.1458 to get 823 bricks.
To be safe, order an extra 82 bricks (10%) for a total of 905 bricks.
Although it’s possible to DIY a basic brick wall, the best route is to hire a masonry contractor near you—especially if you’re building a large garden wall or residential wall that requires the proper support and installation to ensure its stability. Improperly building a wall can lead to damage over time, and if the bricks begin to wobble, the wall can even collapse, potentially causing property damage or personal injury. Then, you’ll have to consider the cost of rebricking a house.
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