To get the volume of mortar, subtract the volume of the blocks from the volume of the total wall. Multiply the number of blocks by the volume of one block without mortar to get the volume of the blocks. To get the most accurate number of blocks, divide the volume of the wall by the volume of one block with mortar. Now we need the volume of one block with mortar, assuming that 1″ of mortar will be applied to the block’s measurements.Ġ.75′ (8″ + 1″) × 1.42′ (16″ + 1″) × 0.666′ (8″) = 0.71 cu ft Multiply the length, depth, and width of the wall to get the total cubic footage of the wall.įor example, if the wall will be 14′ by 10′ with an 8″ thickness, we would multiply these together to get: This will take into account the exact size of each block, and will give you a more accurate number of blocks for the project with mortar spacing as well.īegin by getting the length, width, and depth of the wall and the length, width, and depth of the blocks. Brick QuantityĪ more accurate way to determine the amount of mortar needed is by volume. Larger bricks will require less mortar than smaller bricks.Ĭoverage for mortar mixes and various quantities of bricks. On average, a mortar mix will yield 36 bricks per 80-pound bag, so divide the total number of bricks by 36 to calculate the bags needed.Īs with the blocks, keep in mind that the number of bags will change by manufacturer, and can also change depending on the exact size of the bricks used. You’ll need roughly 6.55 modular bricks per square foot, assuming an average brick size of 2 ¼” x 8″ with a depth of 3 5/ 8“, including the mortar between the bricks, so multiply 6.55 times the square footage to find the number of bricks needed.įinally, estimate the mortar needed by dividing the total number of bricks by the yield of the mix used. Then, calculate the number of bricks by multiplying the square footage by the number of bricks per square foot. Start by estimating the square footage of the brick wall by multiplying the width by the height together. The same three steps above can be used to estimate mortar for brick projects. How to Estimate Mortar for Brick Projects Remember to always get the exact yield from the brand you choose to get the most accurate number.Ĭoverage for mortar mixes and various quantities of blocks. Once you have the yield, divide the square footage of the area by the number of blocks the mortar will cover to get the number of bags of mortar necessary.īelow is the average number of bags needed, assuming a yield of 12 blocks per 80-pound bag, assuming an average block size of 8″ x 16″ x 8″. Keep in mind that this will vary, though, so always check the yield from the brand you want to use. This can vary, but a general rule of thumb is 12 blocks for an 80-pound bag of mortar. Each brand of pre-mixed mortar can cover a different number of blocks, depending on the formula used by the manufacturer.
The final step will be to find the yield of the mortar you’re using and divide the total number of blocks by the yield. You can also use our block calculator to calculate other block sizes. 89 of a square foot, so you’ll need roughly 1 1/ 8 standard blocks per square foot, so multiply the square footage by 1.125 to estimate the total needed. Most mortar estimates are based on an 8″ measurement.Īn 8″ x 16″ block is roughly. The typical block is 8″ but 6″ is also very common. A concrete block has a nominal size of 8″ x 16″ on the face, and may have widths or depths of 4″, 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″, 14″, or 16″. Next, calculate the number of blocks needed for the project by the number of blocks per square foot.
Try calculating square footage using a calculator if you’re not comfortable doing it by hand. Then, multiply the width and height to find the square footage. Estimate the square footage of the wall by measuring the width and height in feet.