How Brick Counts Are Calculated
Bricks are laid with mortar joints — typically 3/8 inch — so each brick effectively occupies more wall than its bare face. A modular brick's 7-5/8 × 2-1/4 inch face becomes exactly 8 × 2-5/8 inches with joints, which is why modular dimensions were designed that way: three courses stack to 8 inches. The calculator divides your wall area by this effective face area, then adds your waste factor.
| Brick type | Face size (in) | With 3/8 in joints | Bricks per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modular | 7-5/8 × 2-1/4 | 8 × 2-5/8 | 6.9 |
| Queen | 7-5/8 × 2-3/4 | 8 × 3-1/8 | 5.8 |
| King | 9-5/8 × 2-5/8 | 10 × 3 | 4.8 |
These figures are for a single-wythe wall (one brick thick), which covers veneers and most garden walls. A double-wythe structural wall needs twice the count. For openings such as doors and windows, calculate the gross wall area, subtract the opening areas, then run the net figure through the calculator.
Mortar Estimate
The calculator uses the masonry rule of thumb of roughly 7 bags of 80 lb mortar mix per 1,000 modular bricks at 3/8 inch joints. Larger bricks use slightly less mortar per square foot but more per brick; the estimate here is deliberately rounded up. Mortar is cheap relative to a second trip to the store — buy an extra bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are brick pavers and wall bricks the same?
No. Paver bricks are solid, rated for freeze-thaw ground contact, and usually 4 × 8 inches laid flat without mortar. Wall bricks are often cored (holes for mortar keying) and laid on edge in mortar. For patios and walkways, use the paver calculator instead.
How many bricks are on a pallet?
Typically around 500 modular bricks per pallet (called a "cube"), though this varies by manufacturer. Divide your total count by the supplier's cube quantity.
What if my wall has a door or window?
Subtract the opening's area from the wall area before calculating. Keep the waste factor at 10–15%, since openings create extra cut bricks around the frame.