Brick Calculator: Masonry Wall & Cost Estimator
Stop Guessing: Calculate Before You Mix
There is nothing worse than running five bricks short on a Sunday afternoon. Whether you are building a garden retaining wall, a garage, or a home extension, “guessing” is expensive. You either pay for a second delivery, or you end up with a pile of bricks killing your grass.
This Brick Calculator does the heavy lifting. It accounts for Single vs. Double Skin, adjusts for mortar joint thickness (which takes up about 15% of the wall area), and adds a safety margin for the bricks you will break.
How to Use This Calculator
Using this tool is faster than doing the math on a napkin. Follow this workflow to get an accurate material list:
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1
Select Wall Type
Choose Single Skin for garden walls or Double Skin for structural walls. The calculator automatically doubles the brick count for double skin.
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2
Enter Dimensions
Input your wall’s total Length and Height. The diagram will update to show you the scale.
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3
Choose Brick & Price
Select your brick standard (e.g., US Modular). We’ve loaded average prices, but you can edit the “Price per Brick” field to match your local supplier.
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4
Add Wastage
Don’t skip this. Set wastage to 5% for straight walls or 10% if you have lots of cuts. The result shows the total bricks to order.
Wall Configuration: Single vs. Double Skin
The first rule of masonry: know your structure. A garden wall is not built like a house wall.
| Wall Type | Thickness | The Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Single Skin (Half Brick) | ~4 inches (102mm) | Not for loads. Fine for low garden planters or decorative facing. If you build this too high (over 2ft) without piers, it will wobble. |
| Double Skin (One Brick) | ~9 inches (215mm) | The Structural Standard. Used for garages, home extensions, and serious retaining walls. It’s two rows of bricks tied together. |
🏗️ Pro Tip: The “Multiplier”
If you select “Double Skin”, the calculator automatically doubles the count. Do not double your wall length measurement, or you will end up with enough bricks to build two houses.
Brick Sizes: US vs. UK Standards
Bricks aren’t universal. A brick in New York is smaller than a brick in London. Make sure you select the right standard:
| Standard | Size (LxHxD) | Coverage (Single Skin) |
|---|---|---|
| US Modular | 7 5/8″ x 2 1/4″ | ~6.75 bricks per sq ft |
| US Standard | 8″ x 2 1/4″ | ~6.55 bricks per sq ft |
| UK / Metric | 215mm x 65mm | ~60 bricks per m² |
| CMU Block | 15 5/8″ x 7 5/8″ | ~1.13 blocks per sq ft |
Vertical Planning: Hitting the Height
Masons don’t measure in inches; they measure in “Courses” (one row of brick + mortar). If you want your wall to line up with a window sill, you need to hit the course height.
| Courses | Height (UK Metric) | Height (US Modular) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Course | 75 mm | 2.66 inches |
| 10 Courses | 750 mm (0.75m) | 26.6 inches (~2′ 2″) |
| 20 Courses | 1500 mm (1.5m) | 53.3 inches (~4′ 5″) |
| 30 Courses | 2250 mm (2.25m – Door Height) | 80.0 inches (~6′ 8″ – Door Height) |
The Math: Don’t Forget the Mortar
If you just divide wall area by brick size, you’ll buy too many bricks. The mortar joint (usually 3/8″ or 10mm) accounts for about 15-20% of the wall’s surface.
Step 1: Brick + Mortar Area
(Length + Joint) × (Height + Joint) = Unit Area
Step 2: Net Calculation
(Total Wall Area ÷ Unit Area) × Skin Factor = Net Bricks
Step 3: The “Oopsy” Factor
Net Bricks × 1.05 = Final Order (5% Waste)
Cost Breakdown: Budgeting the Build
The price tag isn’t just the clay. Here is where the money goes:
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1
Facing Bricks vs. Common Bricks
Common Bricks ($0.50 – $0.80): Ugly but strong. Use these if you plan to render/plaster over the wall. Facing Bricks ($0.90 – $3.00+): Pretty. Use these for visible exterior walls.
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2
Labor vs. Material
If you aren’t laying it yourself, expect to pay. A professional mason typically charges $1.50 to $2.00 per brick just for labor. Often, labor costs more than the materials.
The “Glue”: Calculating Sand & Cement
You can’t build a wall with dry bricks. Estimating mortar is tricky, but here is the supply yard “Rule of Thumb”:
- Mix Ratio: 4 parts Sand to 1 part Cement (plus plasticizer/lime).
- The “Ton Rule”: You need roughly 1 Ton of Sand and 8-10 bags of Cement for every 1,000 bricks laid.
Need Precise Mortar Ratios?
Don’t guess the mix. Use our dedicated Mortar Calculator to get exact sand, cement, and lime weights.
Common Questions (FAQ)
How many bricks do I need for a 10×10 wall?
For a 100 sq ft wall (10′ x 10′), you’ll need about 675-700 bricks for a Single Skin wall. If you’re building a Double Skin structural wall, double that to roughly 1,350-1,400 bricks.
What is a reasonable wastage percentage?
For a straight run, add 5%. If you have a lot of corners, pillars, or windows (which require cutting bricks), bump that up to 10%. It’s cheaper to buy extras now than pay for a second delivery later.
Do I need wall ties?
Yes. If you are building a Double Skin or Cavity wall, you absolutely need wall ties to connect the two skins. Without them, the wall is unstable. Standard practice is 2.5 ties per square meter.
Do I need “Weep Holes”?
If it’s a retaining wall or an exterior cavity wall, yes. You need to leave a vertical joint open without mortar every 3-4 bricks on the bottom course. This lets trapped water escape so it doesn’t crack your wall in winter.
Brick Calculator
Estimate bricks and cost for any wall size.
1. Wall Configuration
Single Skin (Half Brick)
2. Wall Dimensions
3. Brick Size & Type
US Modular (Standard)
Most common brick in the US. Standard for residential facing.
5% (Standard)
Bricks Needed
0
Includes wastage
Wall Area
0.00 m²
Surface Area
Estimated Cost
$0.00
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