What Is the Brick and Mortar Quantity Calculator?
Brick masonry is one of the most durable building envelope facades, combining fired clay bricks with lime and cement mortar joints.
Modular bricks are engineered so that three courses of brick plus three 3/8-inch mortar joints equal exactly 8 inches in vertical height, perfectly matching standard CMU block backing.
How Does the Brick and Mortar Quantity Calculator Work?
The calculator computes net wall face area after subtracting door and window openings.
Net area is multiplied by standard bricks-per-square-foot coverage ratios.
A 10% breakage and cutting buffer is added to account for corner closers and transit cull bricks.
Mortar quantities are determined based on ~7.5 bags of 80 lb pre-mixed masonry mortar per 1,000 bricks laid.
Brick and Mortar Quantity Calculator Formula & Variables
The core mathematical equation utilized by this calculator is expressed as:
Standard modular brick with a 3/8" mortar joint requires 6.75 bricks per square foot of wall face. Mortar estimation assumes approximately 7.5 bags of 80 lb mortar mix per 1,000 modular bricks.
How to Use the Brick and Mortar Quantity Calculator
- Enter wall length and height in feet.
- Enter total opening areas in square feet.
- Select brick format (modular is the most common residential face brick in the US).
- Examine brick delivery counts and mortar bags required.
Step-by-Step Example Calculation
20×10 ft Brick Facade (200 sq ft)
Input Values:
Understanding Your Result
Bricks are typically delivered on wooden pallets (or cubes) containing ~500 bricks per pallet.
Mortar estimates assume standard 3/8" concave or raked mortar joints.
Factors That Affect the Result
- Bond Pattern: Flemish or English bonds require more half-brick cuts than standard running bond.
- Mortar Waste: Deeply raked joints or unexperienced troweling can increase mortar waste up to 15%–20%.
When Should You Use This Calculator?
- Estimating materials for home brick veneer cladding, garden retaining walls, fireplaces, and mailboxes.
- Ordering palletized brick deliveries and bagged masonry cement.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Assumes single-wythe brick veneer with standard 3/8" mortar joints in running bond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Calculation Accuracy & Reference Note
Implements Brick Industry Association (BIA) Technical Notes on Brick Construction.