Estimate bricks for a wall using the BIA coursing formula. Enter wall size, brick dimensions, mortar joint and waste allowance.
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| 20 × 8 ft wall, 7.625×2.25 in brick, 0.375 in joint, 10% waste | 1207 bricks · 6.86 per ft² |
| 30 × 10 ft wall, 7.625×2.25 in brick, 0.375 in joint, 10% waste | 2263 bricks · 6.86 per ft² |
| 12 × 6 ft wall, 7.625×2.25 in brick, 0.5 in joint, 5% waste | 488 bricks · 6.44 per ft² |
Masonry estimating uses the Brick Industry Association coursing formula: bricks per ft² = 144 ÷ ((brick length + joint) × (brick height + joint)), with all dimensions in inches. The 144 is the number of square inches in a square foot, and adding the joint to both dimensions is what turns a brick’s actual size into the space it occupies in the wall.
The distinction matters: a modular brick actually measures 7⅝ × 2¼ in, but with a standard ⅜ in mortar joint it occupies 8 × 2⅝ in, its nominal size. That is why a modular brick wall runs about 6.86 bricks per square foot, not the 7.4 you would get by dividing 144 by the bare brick face. Change the brick or the joint and the factor moves, which is why this page asks you for both rather than hard-coding one number.
The waste factor covers cuts at corners and openings, breakage, and the units you will want left over for repairs. Ten percent is a normal residential allowance; go higher on walls with many openings or a diagonal bond pattern.
For a standard modular brick (7⅝ × 2¼ in actual) with a ⅜ in mortar joint, about 6.86 per square foot, using the BIA coursing formula. Change the brick or the joint and that figure moves.
Actual size is the fired unit itself; nominal size is the actual size plus one mortar joint, rounded to fit the 4-inch building module. A modular brick is 7⅝ × 2¼ in actual but occupies 8 × 2⅝ in in the wall.
Ten percent is normal for a straightforward residential wall. Use more for walls with many openings, for diagonal bond patterns that generate more cuts, or for a first-time DIY job.
No. Mortar consumption depends on joint style, brick texture and whether joints are tooled, so it needs its own estimate. Consult your mortar manufacturer's coverage chart.