Mortar calculator
Choose brick or block and enter the wall area or the number of units. You get the bags of mortar mix to buy in 80, 60 or 40 lb bags, at the yield the manufacturer publishes, with extra for waste.
Inputs
Result
Mortar bags by wall size
80 lb bags of mortar mix, before extra, for modular brick (6.75 per ft²) and 8 x 16 in block (1.125 per ft²).
| Wall area | Bricks | Bags for brick | Blocks | Bags for block |
|---|
How it is worked out
A 100 ft² brick wall is 675 modular bricks. At 37 bricks a bag that is 18.2 bags of 80 lb, 21 with 10% extra. The same wall in 8 x 16 in block is 113 blocks: 8.7 bags, 10 with extra.
Where the yield comes from
QUIKRETE's data sheets for both its Mortar Mix (Type N) and Mason Mix (Type S) say an 80 lb bag lays up to 37 standard bricks or 13 standard 8 x 8 x 16 in blocks. "Up to" assumes standard 3/8 in joints and little waste, which is why the calculator adds extra. 60 and 40 lb bags are worked out in proportion to their weight.
Type N or Type S?
Type N is the general-purpose mortar for above-grade walls that are not structural. Type S is stronger, for below-grade work, retaining walls, and walls that carry load or wind. Your plans or the block maker say which; the yield per bag is the same.
To count the bricks or blocks and the grout for block cores, use the concrete block calculator.
Questions
How many bags of mortar do I need for 100 bricks?
About 2.7 bags of 80 lb mortar mix at Quikrete's 37 bricks per bag, so 3 bags, with 10% extra included.
How many blocks does an 80 lb bag of mortar lay?
Up to 13 standard 8 x 8 x 16 in blocks, per Quikrete's data sheet.
How many bricks does an 80 lb bag of mortar lay?
Up to 37 standard bricks.
How many bags of mortar for 100 blocks?
100 / 13 = 7.7, so 8 bags of 80 lb, or 9 with 10% extra.
How much mortar for a 100 square foot brick wall?
675 modular bricks, about 18 bags of 80 lb mortar mix, 21 with 10% extra.
What is the difference between Type N and Type S mortar?
Type S is stronger and is used below grade and in structural or retaining walls; Type N is for general above-grade work. Quikrete's yields per bag are the same for both.
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