Phone:
(701)814-6992
Physical address:
6296 Donnelly Plaza
Ratkeville, Bahamas.
Garden Wall Calculator
Estimate the materials needed for your boundary or retaining wall. Calculate accurate brick and block counts with built-in waste allowances.
Wall Dimensions
5 ft100 ft
1 ft10 ft
Material
Wall Thickness
Total Required
Includes 10% waste for cuts/breakage.
Bricks Needed
0
Wall Area
0 sq. ft.
Est. Mortar Sand
0 lbs
Est. Cement
0 lbs
Stability Tip:
For walls higher than 3ft, a "Double Skin" (9-inch) thickness or support piers are recommended for stability against wind.
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How It Works
1
Measure Up
Enter the total length and desired height of your wall in feet.
2
Choose Brick
Select standard red clay bricks for looks or concrete blocks for strength/rendering.
3
Get Counts
We calculate the units needed including waste, plus mortar components.
The Importance of Piers
A long, straight garden wall is vulnerable to toppling in high winds. **Piers** (pillars) are thickened sections of the wall built at regular intervals to provide lateral support.
For a standard single-skin brick wall, piers should generally be placed every 6 to 9 feet. If you are building a retaining wall holding back soil, the requirements for thickness and drainage are much higher.
Foundations First
Never build a brick wall directly on soil. You need a concrete "strip foundation" to spread the load and prevent cracking from ground movement.
A typical garden wall foundation should be at least 3 times the width of the wall and about 12 inches deep, though this varies by soil type and wall height.
User Reviews
4.7 (84 Reviews)
"Calculated my cinder blocks for a small retaining wall perfectly. The waste factor was spot on."
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Greg H."I like that it estimates the mortar ingredients. Saved me guessing at the hardware store."
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Sarah P."Very simple to use. The toggle for single vs double skin helped me price out both options."
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Mike D."Used this for a decorative garden border. Worked great on my phone."
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Lisa T."The stability tip about double skin walls was helpful advice I hadn't considered."
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Robert K."Accurate calculations. I ordered 10% extra as suggested and had just enough."
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Andy B.Frequently Asked Questions
How deep should the foundation be?
For a low garden wall (up to 3ft), a trench 12 inches deep filled with 6-8 inches of concrete is standard. Taller walls require deeper foundations depending on soil conditions.
What is the difference between single and double skin?
Single skin is the width of one brick (approx 4 inches). Double skin is the width of two bricks side-by-side (approx 9 inches). Double skin is much stronger and recommended for walls over 20 inches high.
What mix ratio should I use for mortar?
A common ratio for garden walls is 1 part cement to 5 parts soft building sand. Adding a plasticizer helps make the mix more workable.
Do I need planning permission?
In many areas, you can build a garden wall up to 3-4 feet high in the front yard or 6 feet high in the backyard without a permit. Always check local zoning codes first.
How many bricks are in a square foot?
For a standard modular brick with mortar joints, estimate about 7 bricks per square foot for a single layer wall.