Calculators/ Masonry & Aggregate/Masonry Estimator
Masonry Estimator
Units, mortar and reinforcement for a masonry wall.
Masonry Estimator
ft
ft
ft²
%
A masonry estimate is never just the unit count. Mortar, ties and reinforcement together typically add 30 to 40% to the cost of the brick or block itself, and they are what gets forgotten when a job is priced from the unit count alone.
How this is calculated
- Net wall area = length × height, minus openings. Multiply by the units per square foot for your unit type.
- One 80 lb bag of pre-blended mortar lays about 13 blocks or 35 modular bricks.
- Wall ties go roughly every 16 inches horizontally by 24 inches vertically, which is one tie per 2.67 square feet.
- Unit prices track our material price data, updated monthly from the federal index.
Frequently asked questions
How many blocks per square foot?
Exactly 1.125 for standard 8 by 16 inch nominal face. Modular brick is about 6.75 per square foot.
What is not in this estimate?
Labour, scaffolding, the footing, lintels over openings, flashing and weep holes, and any grout fill. Labour alone usually exceeds the material cost on masonry.