How to Estimate Brick Walkways

Measure the area in which you plan to install the brick walkway with a tape measure. Place the end of the tape measure against the house's exterior or end of the porch. Walk the tape measure to the spot where the brick walkway will begin. If the walkway is to curve, have someone assist you with bending and holding the tape measure. Write down the length measurement; this is generally 15 to 20 feet.

Take the width measurement. Place a tape measure across the width of the area that will accommodate the brick walkway, usually about 3 to 4 feet wide. Write down the width.

Multiply the length by the width to yield the square footage. For example, if the walkway area is 20 feet long by 3 feet wide, the gross square footage would be 60 square feet.

Multiply the gross square footage by the length and width of the bricks you have chosen to make up your walkway. Using the above example of 60 square feet divided by the average size of a 8-inch by 4-inch brick, the number of bricks needed would be 270. (Figure the total square inches of the walkway, 8,640, and divide it by the square inches of one brick, 32.)

Estimate the cost of the brick walkway. Multiply the price of an individual brick by the number needed, then add the amount of sand you need as your base. For instance, in the above calculation, you would need 270 bricks, if each cost $5, the cost of the bricks would be $1,350, plus applicable state sales tax. Sand costs about $3 to $4 for a 50-pound bag, and to build a 60-square-foot walkway, you would need between five and seven bags of sand, making the total estimate between $1,365 to $1,378.