Brick & Block Calculator
Calculate bricks or CMU (concrete masonry unit) blocks for any wall, column, or raised planter by entering wall dimensions and unit type. The calculator applies industry-standard coverage rates per square foot: standard brick lays at 6.75 units per sq ft with a 3/8" mortar joint; 8×8×16 CMU block lays at 1.125 units per sq ft. A 5% waste factor is included for cuts, breakage, and corner fitting. Mortar is estimated at 1 bag (70lb pre-mix) per 25 standard bricks or 1 bag per 8 CMU blocks. For double-wythe construction (structural walls), select that option to double the unit count. Masonry walls require a concrete footing sized to the wall width — use the concrete footing calculator before ordering masonry materials.
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How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your measurements in the fields above. Use the units shown next to each field (ft, in, etc.).
- 2Click Calculate to get your material estimate instantly.
- 3Review the highlighted result — it shows the key quantity you need to order.
- 4Use Copy Results to save your estimate, or bookmark the URL — your inputs are encoded in the link.
Pro tip: Always add 10% to your material order to account for waste, cuts, and defects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks do I need for a 10×4 ft wall?
A 10×4 ft wall is 40 sq ft. Using standard bricks at 6.75 per sq ft gives 270 bricks, plus 5% waste = approximately 284 bricks. Add about 11 bags of mortar.
How many CMU blocks for a 12×8 ft wall?
A 12×8 ft wall is 96 sq ft. Using 8×8×16 CMU blocks at 1.125 per sq ft gives 108 blocks, plus 5% waste = 114 blocks. Add approximately 14 bags of 70lb mortar mix.
How many bricks per square foot?
Standard bricks (3.75×2.25×8" nominal) lay at approximately 6.75 per square foot with a standard 3/8" mortar joint. Modular bricks (4×2.67×8" nominal) lay at 6.17 per sq ft. Jumbo bricks (4×3×8") lay at 4.5 per sq ft. Always use the nominal dimensions (not actual) for this calculation.
What type of mortar should I use for brick or block work?
For most residential brick and block work, use Type S mortar (1 part Portland cement, 1/2 part masonry cement, 4.5 parts sand) — it's the most common for exterior walls and foundations. Type N (1:1:6 ratio) is softer and appropriate for interior walls and above-grade veneers. Never use pre-mixed concrete (like Quikrete) for masonry joints — it's too hard and will crack the brick faces.