Brick course height calculator.

Worked example

Modular brick are laid so 3 courses equal 8 in., so one course is 8 / 3 = 2.667 in. including its bed joint. Twenty-four courses stand 24 x 2.667 = 64 in., which is 5 ft 4 in. As a masonry opening, TN 10 Figure 4 adds one joint, about 5 ft 4-3/8 in. To reach 100 in., 37 courses give 8 ft 2-11/16 in. and 38 give 8 ft 5-5/16 in., so 38 is the closer fit. Four brick lengths are 4 x 8 = 32 in. nominal, or 31-5/8 in. as a short run with free ends.

Method and sources

Formulas: course height = vertical module / courses per module; height of N courses = N × course height, shown to the nearest 1/16 in. like TN 10 Table 3; implied bed joint = course height − specified brick height; length module = specified brick length + head joint; N lengths = N × module − one joint (short run) or about N × module (four or more lengths). A masonry opening is its nominal size plus one joint (TN 10 Figure 4). Coursing per brick (for example modular “3C = 8 in.”, engineer modular “5C = 16 in.”) and specified sizes come from Brick Industry Association Technical Note 10, Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry (February 2009; retrieved 2026-10), Tables 1 to 3. Limits: TN 10 says the mason adjusts bed joints and head joints so the work meets fixed dimensions, and that runs of about four or more lengths are usually built to the nominal length. Check your brick’s actual size and your mason’s layout.

FAQ

How many courses of brick in 8 feet?

With modular brick, 3 courses equal 8 in., so 96 in. is 12 modules and exactly 36 courses (BIA TN 10, Table 3 pattern).

How many courses of brick per foot?

Modular brick run 4.5 courses per foot (12 / 2.667). Engineer modular, laid 5 courses to 16 in., run 3.75 per foot. Utility brick, 1 course to 4 in., run 3.

Why is the course 2.667 in. when the brick is 2-1/4 in. tall?

The 3C = 8 in. module leaves 8 / 3 − 2.25 = 0.417 in. for each bed joint, a little more than the 3/8 in. joint used for the length. TN 10 says masons adjust bed joint thickness to hit the vertical dimension.

Does the masonry opening include a joint?

Yes. TN 10 Figure 4 sizes a window opening as the nominal courses plus one joint, for example 24 modular courses = 5 ft 4 in. nominal, about 5 ft 4-3/8 in. actual.