How Many Bricks Do I Need?

Whether you are building a garden wall, a planter, or a full facade, the first question is always the same: how many bricks do I need? Order too few and you halt the job waiting on more; order too many and you waste money. The good news is that estimating bricks is simple once you know the per-square-foot method, and a small waste allowance keeps you covered.

This guide explains the method, walks through an example, and shows the quickest way to get an accurate count.

The Simple Method: Bricks Per Square Foot

The easiest way to estimate bricks is by wall area. You work out the area of your wall in square feet, then multiply by the number of bricks it takes to fill one square foot. For a standard modular brick, that number is about seven bricks per square foot once the mortar joints between them are included.

So the whole calculation comes down to two steps: find your wall area, then multiply by seven. Larger bricks and blocks cover more area each, so they need fewer per square foot.

Step One: Calculate Your Wall Area

To find the area, measure your wall’s length and height in feet and multiply them together. For a wall 20 feet long and 8 feet high, the area is 20 × 8 = 160 square feet.

If your wall has openings like a gate or window, you can measure those and subtract them, though many builders leave them in as a built-in safety margin. For most projects, the full rectangle area is a good, slightly conservative starting point.

Step Two: Multiply by Bricks Per Square Foot

Once you have the area, multiply by the bricks-per-square-foot figure for your brick size:

• Continuing the example: 160 square feet × 7 bricks = 1,120 bricks
• That is your base estimate before adding any waste allowance

This method works for any wall size. The only thing that changes is the bricks-per-square-foot figure, which depends on your brick or block dimensions.

Account for Different Brick Sizes

Not all bricks are the same size, and bigger units cover more wall with fewer pieces:

• Standard / modular brick: about 7 per square foot
• Queen size: about 6 per square foot
• Jumbo brick: about 5 per square foot
• Concrete block (8×16): about 1.1 per square foot

Choosing the right figure for your material gives a far more accurate count. A brick calculator lets you pick the size and does the math for you.

Always Add Waste

You should never order the exact calculated number. Bricks get cut to fit corners and edges, some arrive damaged, and you will want a few spares for future repairs. A waste allowance of 5 to 10 percent covers all of this. On our example wall, adding 10 percent takes 1,120 bricks up to about 1,232.

Single Versus Double Brick Walls

One factor that can double your brick count is the thickness of the wall. A single-skin wall is one brick thick, while a double-skin or cavity wall has two layers and therefore needs roughly twice as many bricks for the same area. Before you order, decide which type of wall you are building, because the per-square-foot method gives the count for a single skin. For a double wall, simply calculate the single-skin figure and multiply by two, then add your waste allowance on top. Getting this right early avoids the costly surprise of running out halfway through a structural wall.

The Fast Way

The per-square-foot method is easy, but a tool removes the guesswork and handles different brick sizes and waste automatically. Enter your wall length and height into a brick calculator, pick your brick type, and it gives the exact number of bricks you need in seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bricks do I need per square foot?

About seven standard modular bricks per square foot of wall, including the mortar joints. Larger bricks and blocks need fewer per square foot.

How do I calculate bricks for a wall?

Multiply the wall’s length by its height to get the area in square feet, then multiply by the bricks per square foot for your brick size.

How many extra bricks should I order?

Add 5 to 10 percent for waste to cover cuts, breakages, and future repairs. Running short mid-project is far worse than having a few spares.

Does the brick count include mortar?

Yes. The standard seven-bricks-per-square-foot figure already accounts for the mortar joints between bricks.

Estimate Your Bricks Now

The math is simple, but a tool guarantees accuracy across brick sizes and waste. Open the brick calculator to get your brick count instantly. Pouring a foundation or slab too? The concrete calculator estimates your concrete just as fast.