Building a Foundation

Whether you're building a garden wall, a fire pit, or a decorative mailbox, knowing exactly how many bricks to buy is the first step toward a successful build. Bricks are heavy and expensive to transport, so getting the estimate right the first time is key.

Standard Brick Sizes

While sizes vary globally, the Standard Modular Brick in the US is typically 3⅝" x 2¼" x 7⅝". However, you must also account for the Mortar Joint. A standard mortar joint is usually ⅜" thick.

How to Estimate Bricks Per Square Foot

For a standard brick with a ⅜" mortar joint, a general rule of thumb is:

• 7 Bricks per square foot for a single-layer (single-wythe) wall.

If you are building a "double" wall for structural strength, you would double that number to 14 bricks per square foot.

Don't Forget the Mortar

For every 1,000 bricks, you'll roughly need 1,000 lbs of mortar (about 20 bags of 50lb pre-mix).

Accounting for Waste

Like tiling, masonry involves cutting bricks for edges and corners. Add a 5% waste factor to your total to ensure you aren't left short on material.

Our Brick Calculator handles different brick sizes and wall types to give you a precise material list in seconds.