Masonry is estimated by wall area. Each brick or block, together with its share of mortar joint, covers a fixed patch of wall face.
Counts per area
| Unit | Face size with joint | Per area |
|---|---|---|
| Modular brick 7⅝ × 2¼ | 8 × 2⅝" | 6.86 per sq ft |
| Queen brick | 8 × 3⅛" | 5.76 per sq ft |
| CMU 8×8×16 | 16 × 8" | 1.125 per sq ft |
A double-thickness wall doubles the brick count. Add 5% waste for new brick and up to 10% for reclaimed.
Mortar
Pre-mixed mortar is quoted as units laid per bag: roughly 30–40 bricks or 12–14 blocks per 80 lb bag in practice. Mixing your own: about 7 bags of masonry cement and 1 ton of sand per 1,000 bricks.
Don't forget
- Wall ties and joint reinforcement
- Lintels over openings
- Flashing and weep holes
- Expansion joints and fillers
- Scaffolding and lifting above about 5 ft
- Footings, from the footing calculator
Productivity
A mason on standard brick lays roughly 300–500 bricks a day depending on the wall, and fewer with lots of openings or detailing. Price labour from your own track record where you can.
This guide is general information for estimating. It is not engineering, legal or tax advice. Check local codes and your inspector for your project.