CALC-001 · DRAWING NO. B-001 · REV A
Brick calculator.
Drafted to scale · cited sources · honest numbers
Enter wall dimensions and openings. The calculator returns brick count by size, mortar bags, and expansion joint spacing. Deducts doors, windows, and garage doors from gross wall area. Seven brick sizes, four bond patterns.
◈ DRAFTING PANEL · BRICK TAKEOFF · N.T.S.
SHEET B-001 · REV A
Redline · scope notice Veneer takeoff only. Does not calculate structural brick walls, lintels, reinforcement, shelf angles, or wall ties. Does not evaluate seismic design categories. Assumes flat rectangular walls with 3/8 in. mortar joints.
Note 01 · Field Procedure
How to measure the wall
- Measure total wall length in feet. For a full-perimeter veneer job, walk all four sides and sum. Round up to the nearest foot.
- Measure wall height from the top of the foundation ledge to the soffit or bond beam. Brick veneer starts at the foundation shelf angle, not grade.
- Count doors (standard 3x7 ft = 21 sqft each), windows (standard 3x4 ft = 12 sqft each), and garage doors (standard 16x7 ft = 112 sqft each). The calculator deducts these from gross wall area.
- Note the bond pattern. Running bond is standard residential. Flemish and English bonds waste 15-20% more brick from header cuts. Stack bond is structurally weak and often code-restricted.
Note 02 · Equation
The formula
bricks = net sf × bricks/sf × (1 + waste)
net sfgross wall area minus door, window, and garage openings
bricks/sfbrick count per square foot at 3/8 in. mortar joint (varies by brick size)
wastecutting waste by bond pattern (running 7.5%, flemish/english 17.5%, stack 5%)
Mortar: one 80 lb pre-mixed bag covers 36 bricks at 3/8 in. joints (BIA tables).
Note 03 · Sanity Ranges
Brick by project size
| T | Use case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ~50 sf | Accent wall / mailbox surround | ~370 modular bricks. Single weekend project. |
| ~800 sf | Single-story exterior | ~5,900 modular bricks. Scaffold not required for most of the wall. |
| ~1,600 sf | Two-story exterior | ~11,800 modular bricks. Budget for scaffold rental and mortar mixer. |
| ~2,500 sf | Large home | ~18,400+ modular bricks. Multiple expansion joints. Consider bulk pallet pricing. |
Note 04 · References
Sources
Authorities cited on this sheet
- BIA Technical Note 10: Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry · Bricks-per-square-foot tables by unit size at standard 3/8 in. mortar joints. Basis for the Queen, King, Norman, Roman, and Utility coursing constants.
- BIA Technical Note 8B: Mortars for Brickwork · Selection and quality assurance for Type N, S, M masonry mortars. Basis for the 80 lb pre-mixed bag covering ~33 bricks at a 3/8 in. joint.
- BIA Technical Note 18A: Accommodating Expansion of Brickwork · Vertical expansion joints at 20-25 ft intervals. The 20 ft default is the conservative end and is what the calculator uses.
- BIA Technical Note 30: Bonds and Patterns in Brickwork · Running, stack, Flemish, and English bonds. Basis for the waste percentages by bond pattern in the calculator.
- ASTM C216: Standard Specification for Facing Brick · Defines Grade SW (severe weathering) and Grade MW (moderate weathering) classifications for facing brick. Grade SW required in weathering index 50 or greater. Current edition: C216-26.
- The Masonry Society (TMS 402/602) · Building code requirements and specification for masonry structures. Referenced by IBC for structural masonry design. This calculator covers veneer only.
PROJ MATERIALFOREMAN
SHT B-001 / 014
REV A · 2026-04-19
DRAWN MF