How to Calculate the Bricks Needed for a Patio With Mortar

Determine how many bricks you need based on your patio's square footage.

Building a brick patio with mortar is not necessary, but it does make the patio more permanent. Before you begin your patio project, determine how many bricks you will need. This depends on your selected brick's size and shape. Since the mortar layer between each brick is only approximately 3/8-inch thick, do not figure it into your calculations. Always add a few extra bricks to your calculations in case some become damaged during installation.

Things You'll Need

• Spray paint
• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Mark the brick patio's outline on the ground with spray paint.

2. Measure the patio's length and width with a tape measure. Multiply these two numbers together to determine your patio's square footage. Take these measurements with you when you select the patio bricks.

3. Decide which style of brick to use in your patio. Position 10 bricks on the ground in a square, the same way you would lay them on your patio. Measure the length and width of the brick square on the ground. Multiply those two numbers together to determine how many square feet 10 bricks cover.

4. Divide the patio's square footage by the square's square footage to determine how many squares of 10 bricks your patio will need. Purchase 10 extra bricks to have on hand, just in case.

References

• This Old House; Lay an Appealing Brick Patio; Joseph Truini
• Ask the Builder; Creating Brick Patios; Tim Carter