TradesHow this works
Brick veneer is a coverage takeoff. Take the openings off the wall area, multiply by the bricks per square foot for the size you are laying, and add a waste allowance. Each brick size has its own coverage, so the same wall takes a very different count in modular versus king.
From the brick count, the mortar follows at about one 80 pound bag per 33 bricks, and the wall ties at roughly one per two and a half square feet. The size is the decision on the table: a larger unit lays faster with fewer pieces and less mortar, a smaller one gives a finer look for more labor. Whatever you pick, buy a little extra of the exact brick, because matching it later for a repair is the hard part.
Common questions
How many bricks do I need per square foot?
With a standard 3/8 inch mortar joint, a modular brick covers about 6.86 per square foot, a standard brick 6.55, a queen 5.76, a king 4.61, and a utility 3. So a bigger unit like king covers the same wall with far fewer bricks. Multiply the per-square-foot figure by your net wall area and add a little waste.
How much mortar for a brick wall?
A pre-mixed 80 pound bag of mortar lays roughly 30 to 36 bricks, so figure about one bag for every 33 bricks. That is what a bag buyer needs, and it is different from the Portland-cement-plus-sand math you see in some references. Wide joints, cold weather, and waste all use more, so round up and keep a bag or two spare.
Should I subtract windows and doors?
Yes. Brick veneer only covers the solid wall, so subtract the window and door openings from the gross wall area before you figure the brick. On a wall with big openings that is a real difference in the count. The tool takes the openings off first, then applies the coverage and waste.
Sources: Bricks per sq ft (3/8 in joint): BIA / Inch Calculator coverage table · Mortar ~33 bricks per 80 lb bag; wall ties ~1 per 2.67 sq ft (typical). Engine version 1.0.0. Risk tier 1.