Brick Calculator
Estimate required face bricks from wall size or total area, subtracting openings and adding mortar joints & waste.
Calculation Steps
Practical Guide
Brick Count: Clear, Accurate, and Fast
A reader-first walkthrough that mirrors how you actually estimate on a project: pick your input method, account for joints and openings, add the right waste, and sanity-check the result with patterns and examples.
Quick Start
- 1 Pick your brick face size and joint thickness.
- 2 Choose a method: Wall Dimensions (L × H × number of walls) or Total Area.
- 3 Subtract openings to get net area.
- 4 Add waste (see ranges below), then round up.
Tip: If details are fuzzy, start at 10% waste; move up for complex patterns.
Check units: Keep inputs consistent (in/mm, ft/m, ft²/m²).
Choosing Your Method
Method A — By Wall Dimensions
Best when you can measure walls quickly or they repeat.
- Fast for repeated sizes (use the number of walls field).
- Great early in design when drawings aren’t final.
- Easy to sanity-check on site.
- Requires measuring L and H for each wall set.
- More manual if every wall is unique.
Method B — By Total Area
Best when the plan set already lists brickable area.
- Fastest when area is known.
- Great for budgeting and early pricing.
- Easy to forget to subtract windows/doors.
- Less granular for layout planning.
What Moves the Number the Most
Adds to both brick face dimensions. Thicker joints → fewer bricks per m²/ft².
Bigger faces mean fewer bricks for the same area; smaller faces mean more.
Subtract doors and windows to avoid over-ordering; include recesses if bare.
Cutting, chips, and attic stock. Start at 8–10%; increase for complex bonds.
Some bonds drive more cutting; tall bricks reduce course count.
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Dimension-Based
- Walls: 3 identical; each L = 20 ft, H = 10 ft
- Openings: 30 ft² total
- Brick: US Modular
- Joint: 3/8 in
- Waste: 10%
Use your calculator to see the full math and layout aids (courses & bricks per course).
Example 2 — Total Area
- Agross: 200 m²
- Aopenings: 12 m²
- Brick: Queen
- Joint: 10 mm
- Waste: 8%
Patterns & Layout Effects
Bonds influence cutting and waste. Use your design choice to set the right allowance.
| Bond / Layout | Typical Waste | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Running Bond (Stretcher) | 5–8% | Minimal cuts; predictable coursing. |
| Stack Bond | 8–12% | Alignment at joints may require more control cuts. |
| Herringbone / Basket-Weave | 12–15%+ | Angle & weave create non-standard offcuts. |
| Soldier / Sailor Courses | 8–12% | Orientation changes coursing; often more trimming. |
- Confirm course heights match your joint thickness.
- Keep expansion/movement joints in the takeoff plan.
- Order a small attic stock from the same dye lot.
- Group similar walls to reduce counting errors.
Buying, Logistics & Waste
Waste Ranges
Simple, straight runs: 5–8% | Openings & accents: 8–12% | Complex bonds: 12–15%+
If labor is inexperienced or tolerance is tight, choose the higher end.
Delivery & Storage
- Stage pallets near work zones to reduce breakage.
- Protect from mud and freeze–thaw cycles.
- Keep labels for dye-lot tracking.
Sanity Checks
- Do totals feel consistent with similar jobs?
- Cross-check with different joint thicknesses.
- Review bricks per course vs. wall length.
Use “what-if” tests (e.g., joints, patterns, openings) to see sensitivity before ordering.