How the brick count is worked out
Each brick plus its joint covers a rectangle of the wall face. One square foot is 144 square inches, so dividing 144 by the brick length plus joint times the brick height plus joint gives the bricks per square foot.
A modular brick is 7 5/8 inches by 2 1/4 inches, and a 3/8 inch joint makes the module 8 inches by 2 5/8 inches. That is 21 square inches, so 144 divided by 21 gives 6.86 bricks per square foot, or 686 per 100 square feet.
The wall area is length times height less the openings, and the waste allowance is added as a percentage.
Worked example
A wall 20 feet long and 8 feet high is 160 square feet. At 6.86 bricks per square foot that is 1,098 bricks, and adding 5 per cent gives 1,152 bricks.
A queen brick at 7 5/8 by 2 3/4 inches covers less face, so the same wall would need more of them. Enter the size you are buying.
Brick sizes and what changes the count
Modular is the most common size in US construction, but queen, king, Roman and oversize bricks are all sold. The face dimensions, not the name, decide the count.
A brick veneer over wood framing uses the same face count as a solid brick wall, because only one wythe is visible. A double-wythe solid wall needs two counts.
Soldier courses, arches, herringbone panels and corbelling all cut and waste more brick than a running bond, so raise the waste allowance for them.
Limits of this calculator
It counts face bricks. It does not count mortar, ties, flashing, lintels, sills or the blockwork behind a veneer.
It does not design the wall or check lateral support, which the building code covers and a masonry contractor should confirm.
It assumes a consistent joint thickness. A raked or struck joint that is deeper than 3/8 inch changes the module and the count.
For metric brick sizes and square metres, use the UK brick calculator.
Inputs for the US brick calculator
Wall length
The full run of the wall in feet, before subtracting openings.
Wall height
Height of the wall face in feet.
Doors and windows
Total area to leave out, in square feet. Enter zero for a solid wall.
Brick length
Face length in inches. A modular brick is 7 5/8 in.
Brick height
Face height in inches. A modular brick is 2 1/4 in.
Mortar joint
Joint thickness in inches, usually 3/8 in.
Waste allowance
Extra for cuts and breakage. Five per cent is normal.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
US brick calculator questions
How many bricks are in a square foot?
About 6.86 for a modular brick with a 3/8 inch joint, which is 686 per 100 square feet.
How many bricks are on a pallet?
It varies by manufacturer, commonly 500 to 560. Divide the total by the pallet count to see how many to order.
Does a veneer need fewer bricks?
No. Only the face is counted, so a veneer and a solid wall of the same area need the same face bricks.
What size is a modular brick?
7 5/8 by 3 5/8 by 2 1/4 inches. The 3 5/8 inch depth plus a 3/8 inch joint makes an 8 inch module.