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Brick Veneer Calculator

Square feet and brick type to brick count and mortar bags.

Also known as veneer brick count · brick cladding · brick skin

Quick answer

With the default inputs: Wall area 100 ft² · Brick type Modular 3⅝×2¼×7⅝ · Waste 7%Bricks to order 735 blocks

Use your own dimensions ↓

Inputs

ft²
%

Result

Bricks to order
735blocks
Bricks per ft²6.86blocks/ft²
Net bricks686blocks
Waste7%
With waste735blocks
Mortar (80 lb bags)6bags
Mortar volume0.5ft³
How this is worked out

Bricks per square foot already include a 3/8 in mortar joint and are the standard take-off for a half-brick veneer wall (modular 6.86, queen 5.76, king 4.61, US standard 6.55). Mortar bags use the trade rule of about 7 bags of 80 lb mix per 1000 bricks; actual use varies widely with joint thickness, brick suction and technique, so confirm against the mortar manufacturer coverage chart before ordering. The 7% waste suits rectangular walls with normal openings - go to 10-12% where there are many corners, arches, raked work or narrow cut strips.

Next up: Brick Wall Calculator · Mortar Calculator

Formula

net bricks = area(ft²) × bricks per ft²includes 3/8 in joints
order = net × (1 + waste%)
mortar bags ≈ bricks ÷ 1000 × 780 lb premixed, trade rule
A 100 ft² veneer wall in modular brick with 7% waste: 686 net bricks, 734 to order, and about 6 bags of 80 lb mortar. In king size the same wall needs 461 net, 494 to order - which is why the brick type has to be settled before anything is purchased.

How to work it out

  1. Settle the brick type first: modular 6.86 per ft², queen 5.76, king 4.61, US standard 6.55, all with 3/8 in joints.
  2. Measure net wall area with openings deducted and multiply by bricks per ft² for the net count.
  3. Add waste: 7% rectangular, 10% with many corners, arches or coping, 12% for lots of raked and narrow work.
  4. Estimate mortar at about 7 bags of 80 lb per 1000 bricks, then check the manufacturer coverage chart.
  5. Order 100-200 extra from the same batch for later repairs - that is the only way the colour will match.

Where it goes wrong

Material and cost

Brick sells by the thousand: common face brick runs about USD 350-700 per 1000, with handmades and special colours above 1500. At 6.86 per ft² a 100 ft² wall is roughly 240-480 in material. Premixed mortar is 8-12 per 80 lb bag. Labour dominates - veneer laying commonly runs 8-15 per ft², more for busy elevations, arches and work at height.

On site

Basis

FAQ

How many bricks per square foot?
It depends on type at a 3/8 in joint: modular 6.86, queen 5.76, king 4.61, US standard 6.55. The trade shortcut of 7 per ft² only holds for modular and standard - on king it overstates by 50%. Widening joints from 3/8 to 1/2 in cuts roughly 10% off the count.
How much waste is enough?
7% for rectangular walls with standard openings, 10% where there are external corners, arches or coping that need cutting, and 12% for busy elevations or lots of raked and narrow work. Brick is fired in batches with colour variation, so order an extra 100-200 from the same batch for later repairs rather than topping up - mismatched replacements stand out badly.
Premixed mortar or mix my own?
For small areas 80 lb premixed is easiest - just add water. On large jobs mixing your own is cheaper: masonry mortar runs about 1 part cement to 3-4 parts sand by volume, with lime for workability. Keep the mortar no stronger than the brick; over-rich mortar cracks the units, and that matters most in freeze-thaw climates.

Cite this page

Use this format in reports, method statements or coursework. The link is permanent.

Building Calculator. Brick Veneer Calculator. 2026-10-25. https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/brick-veneer

Results are estimating aids only and are not a design basis. Construction and final accounts must follow the drawings, the applicable standards and an approved method statement. Anything affecting structural safety, shoring or falsework must be checked by a suitably qualified engineer.