How to Calculate Bricks
A standard US modular brick is 3⅝ × 2¼ × 7⅝ inches. With a standard 3/8-inch mortar joint, you need approximately 6.86 bricks per square foot of wall. Multiply your wall area (length × height in feet) by 6.86, then add 5–15% for waste, cuts, and breakage. Complex patterns like herringbone require 15% waste, while simple running bond only needs 5–10%.
Mortar Estimation
One 80-lb bag of mortar mix covers approximately 35 square feet of standard brick wall (3/8-inch joints). For a 160 sq ft wall, you'd need about 5 bags of mortar. Type S mortar is recommended for exterior walls and below-grade work, while Type N is fine for interior and above-grade applications.