How Many Bricks per Square Foot of Wall or Patio?
How many bricks per square foot depends on brick size and whether you are building a wall or laying a patio. For a wall of standard modular bricks with 3/8-inch mortar joints, plan about 6.75 bricks per square foot of wall face. For a patio of 4x8-inch brick pavers laid flat, plan about 4.5 per square foot. Add 5 to 10 percent extra for cutting, breakage, and future repairs.
Concrete calculator →Bricks per square foot of wall
| Brick | Actual size (in) | Bricks per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Modular | 3 5/8 x 2 1/4 x 7 5/8 | 6.75 |
| Queen | 3 x 2 3/4 x 7 5/8 | about 5.8 |
| King | 3 x 2 5/8 x 9 5/8 | about 4.8 |
| Utility | 3 5/8 x 3 5/8 x 11 5/8 | 3.0 |
These assume a single wythe, meaning one brick thick, in running bond with about 3/8-inch joints. Sizes vary by manufacturer, so check the supplier’s figure for your brick.
Bricks per square foot of patio
| Paver | Laid | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 8 | Flat | 4.5 |
| 4 x 8 | On edge | about 8 |
| 3 5/8 x 7 5/8 with sand joints | Flat | about 5 |
See how many pavers per square foot for other paver sizes.
Example: garden wall
A wall 20 feet long and 3 feet high has 60 square feet of face. At 6.75 modular bricks per square foot, that is 405 bricks. Add 5 percent and buy about 425. A double-wythe wall needs twice as many.
Subtract openings
For house walls, subtract windows and doors before multiplying. A 3x5-foot window removes 15 square feet, or about 101 bricks.
Waste factor
| Pattern | Add |
|---|---|
| Running bond, few cuts | 5% |
| Many corners or openings | 10% |
| Herringbone or diagonal patio | 10 to 15% |
Keep a few spare bricks for repairs, since later batches may not match in color.
Mortar
A rough rule is that 1,000 modular bricks need about 7 to 8 bags of masonry cement mixed with sand, depending on joint size. See how many bags of mortar per 100 blocks and mortar mix ratio.
Weight
A standard brick weighs about 4 to 5 pounds, so 400 bricks weigh nearly a ton. See how much does a brick weigh.
Ordering and matching
Bricks are fired in batches, and color can shift slightly from one run to the next. Order the full quantity at once, and when the pallets arrive, mix bricks from several pallets as you lay them so any variation blends instead of showing up as bands. Ask the supplier how bricks are packaged, since many sell by the cube or pallet of roughly 500 bricks, and buying a full cube is often cheaper than buying loose.
Bottom line
Plan about 6.75 standard modular bricks per square foot of single-wythe wall, or 4.5 brick pavers per square foot of flat patio. Multiply by area, subtract openings, and add 5 to 15 percent for waste.
Questions people ask
How many bricks are in a square foot of wall?
About 6.75 standard modular bricks with 3/8-inch mortar joints.
How many brick pavers per square foot?
About 4.5 for 4x8 pavers laid flat.
How many bricks do I need for 100 square feet?
About 675 modular bricks for a single-wythe wall, plus 5 to 10 percent.
How much extra brick should I buy?
Add 5 to 10 percent, more for complex patterns.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Brick Weigh?
- How Many Bags of Mortar per 100 Blocks? Rule of Thumb
- Mortar Mix Ratio: Type N, S, and M Explained
- How Many Pavers per Square Foot? Size Chart
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