Calculate brick course height, mortar thickness, number of courses, or total height by entering any three values in inches, cm, mm, m, or ft.
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Brick Course Height Formula
The brick course height calculator uses brick height, mortar thickness, number of courses, and total wall height. Enter any three values to calculate the missing value. Length values are converted to inches for the calculation, then converted back to the unit you selected.
TH = (BH + MT) * C - MT
BH = (TH + MT) / C - MT
C = (TH + MT) / (BH + MT)
MT = (TH + BH * C) / (C + 1)
- TH = total height of the brickwork
- BH = height of one brick
- MT = mortar thickness, also called bed joint thickness
- C = number of brick courses
Total height: Use this when you know the brick size, mortar thickness, and number of courses. The calculator adds one brick height and one mortar joint per course, then subtracts one mortar joint at the top.
Brick height: Use this when you know the total height, mortar thickness, and course count, and you need the brick height that fits that layout.
Number of courses: Use this when you know the wall height and the height of one brick plus its mortar joint. The result may be a decimal if the height does not divide evenly into full courses.
Mortar thickness: Use this when brick height, total height, and course count are known and you want the joint thickness used by the calculator.
Common Brick and Mortar Dimensions
Actual brick dimensions vary by region, manufacturer, and brick type. The values below are common reference sizes for checking whether your inputs are reasonable.
| Brick type | Typical actual height | Typical height in mm |
|---|---|---|
| Modular brick | 2.25 in | 57.2 mm |
| Standard brick | 2.25 in to 2.625 in | 57 mm to 67 mm |
| Engineer brick | 2.75 in to 3 in | 70 mm to 76 mm |
| Mortar joint thickness | Decimal inches | Approximate mm |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 in | 0.25 | 6.35 mm |
| 3/8 in | 0.375 | 9.53 mm |
| 1/2 in | 0.5 | 12.7 mm |
Brick Course Height Examples
Example 1: Calculate total height
You have a brick height of 2.25 in, mortar thickness of 0.375 in, and 10 courses.
TH = (2.25 + 0.375) * 10 - 0.375
TH = 25.875 in
The total brickwork height is 25.875 inches.
Example 2: Calculate number of courses
You have a total height of 25.875 in, brick height of 2.25 in, and mortar thickness of 0.375 in.
C = (25.875 + 0.375) / (2.25 + 0.375)
C = 10
The wall height fits 10 courses.
FAQ
What is a brick course?
A brick course is one horizontal row of bricks. Course height usually means the height of one brick plus the mortar joint above or below it. For layout work, course height helps you estimate how many rows of brick will fit into a planned wall height.
Why can the number of courses be a decimal?
The calculator returns a decimal when the total height does not divide evenly by the combined brick and mortar height. In actual masonry, you usually need a whole number of courses, so a decimal result means you may need to adjust the mortar joint thickness, use a cut brick, or revise the target height.
Which units can I use?
You can enter brick height, mortar thickness, and total height in inches, centimeters, millimeters, meters, or feet. The calculator converts the values internally, so the units do not have to match. For best results, use the same unit system when checking your work by hand.
