Brick Dimensions: Standard Brick Sizes in Inches, mm and cm
Actual and nominal dimensions for every common brick in the US, UK, Europe, Australia and India, plus the numbers you need to plan a wall: course heights, bricks per square foot and mortar.
The standard US brick is the modular brick: 3 5/8 × 2 1/4 × 7 5/8 in (92 × 57 × 194 mm, or 9.2 × 5.7 × 19.4 cm). With a 3/8 in mortar joint it takes up a nominal 4 × 2 2/3 × 8 in. The standard UK brick is 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm (8.5 × 4 × 2.6 in).
- US modular (actual)
- 3 5/8 × 2 1/4 × 7 5/8 in
- US modular (mm)
- 92 × 57 × 194 mm
- UK standard
- 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm
- Modular per sq ft
- 6.75 bricks
On this page
Standard brick dimensions chart (US)
US bricks are named by size. The table gives the specified size a manufacturer works to (width × height × length, the order used in the trade) and the nominal size, which adds one mortar joint to each dimension. Most brick is laid with a 3/8 in (9.5 mm) joint.
| Brick | Actual size, W × H × L (in) | Actual size (mm) | Nominal size (in) | Courses per height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modular | 3 5/8 × 2 1/4 × 7 5/8 | 92 × 57 × 194 | 4 × 2 2/3 × 8 | 3 courses = 8 in |
| Engineer modular | 3 5/8 × 2 13/16 × 7 5/8 | 92 × 71 × 194 | 4 × 3 1/5 × 8 | 5 courses = 16 in |
| Closure modular | 3 5/8 × 3 5/8 × 7 5/8 | 92 × 92 × 194 | 4 × 4 × 8 | 1 course = 4 in |
| Roman | 3 5/8 × 1 5/8 × 11 5/8 | 92 × 41 × 295 | 4 × 2 × 12 | 2 courses = 4 in |
| Norman | 3 5/8 × 2 1/4 × 11 5/8 | 92 × 57 × 295 | 4 × 2 2/3 × 12 | 3 courses = 8 in |
| Engineer Norman | 3 5/8 × 2 13/16 × 11 5/8 | 92 × 71 × 295 | 4 × 3 1/5 × 12 | 5 courses = 16 in |
| Utility | 3 5/8 × 3 5/8 × 11 5/8 | 92 × 92 × 295 | 4 × 4 × 12 | 1 course = 4 in |
| Standard (non-modular) | 3 5/8 × 2 1/4 × 8 | 92 × 57 × 203 | none | 3 courses = 8 in |
| Queen (non-modular) | 2 3/4 × 2 3/4 × 7 5/8 or 8 | 70 × 70 × 194 or 203 | none | 5 courses = 16 in |
| King (non-modular) | 2 3/4 × 2 5/8 × 9 5/8 | 70 × 67 × 244 | none | 5 courses = 16 in |
Figures follow the Brick Industry Association (BIA) tables. Manufacturers vary slightly: some make modular brick 3 1/2 in wide and 7 1/2 in long for a 1/2 in joint, and queen and king bricks are also made 3 in wide. Names are not regulated, so order by dimensions, not by name.
Nominal vs actual brick size
A modular brick is 7 5/8 in long so that brick plus a 3/8 in joint equals exactly 8 in. That 8 in figure is the nominal length. It lets brick walls line up with 8 × 8 × 16 in concrete blocks, which are also 3/8 in short of their nominal size, and with the 4 in grid used for door and window openings.
- Specified dimensions are the target sizes in the order and on the drawings.
- Actual dimensions are what the fired brick measures. ASTM C216 allows a small tolerance, so a delivered brick can be a little over or under. Measure a few before you set out a wall with tight tolerances.
- Nominal dimensions include one joint and exist only for modular brick. A standard, queen or king brick has no nominal size; its module is simply brick length plus joint (8 3/8 in for a standard brick).
A repair on an older house rarely matches a new modular brick. Before buying, measure the height of four courses including joints on the existing wall and compare it with three or five courses of the replacement. A 1/8 in error per course grows to 1 in over 8 courses.
Brick sizes in other countries
Outside North America, bricks are specified in millimeters and set out with a 10 mm joint. The coordinating size (brick plus joint) is what the wall dimensions are planned around.
| Country / format | Brick size (mm) | Brick size (in) | With joint (mm) | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 215 × 102.5 × 65 | 8.46 × 4.04 × 2.56 | 225 × 112.5 × 75 | BS EN 771-1 |
| Germany, NF (Normalformat) | 240 × 115 × 71 | 9.45 × 4.53 × 2.80 | 250 × 125 × 83.3 | DIN 105 / DIN 4172 |
| Germany, DF (Dünnformat) | 240 × 115 × 52 | 9.45 × 4.53 × 2.05 | 250 × 125 × 62.5 | DIN 105 / DIN 4172 |
| Australia | 230 × 110 × 76 | 9.06 × 4.33 × 2.99 | 240 × 120 × 86 | AS 4455 |
| India, modular | 190 × 90 × 90 | 7.48 × 3.54 × 3.54 | 200 × 100 × 100 | IS 1077 |
| India, traditional | about 230 × 110-115 × 70-75 | about 9 × 4.5 × 3 | varies | Local practice |
| US / Canada, metric modular | 194 × 92 × 57 | 7 5/8 × 3 5/8 × 2 1/4 | 203 × 102 × 68 | ASTM C216 |
German bed joints are about 12 mm, so three NF courses rise 250 mm and four DF courses rise 250 mm. Older British bricks were made to imperial sizes, typically 2 5/8 to 2 7/8 in (about 67 to 73 mm) tall, so reclaimed bricks will not course evenly with new 65 mm metric bricks.
How many bricks per square foot and per square meter
Brick count depends on the face size of the brick plus its joints. These figures are for a single-wythe wall in running bond with no waste; add 5% for cuts and breakage.
| Brick | Per sq ft | Per 100 sq ft | Per m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| US modular | 6.75 | 675 | 73 |
| US standard | 6.55 | 655 | 71 |
| Engineer modular | 5.63 | 563 | 61 |
| Queen | 5.50 | 550 | 59 |
| King | 4.55 | 455 | 49 |
| Norman | 4.50 | 450 | 48 |
| Utility | 3.00 | 300 | 32 |
| UK standard | 5.5 | 551 | 60 |
| Australian standard | 4.5 | 450 | 48 |
US figures are from BIA Technical Note 10. UK and Australian figures are calculated from the coordinating size: 1 ÷ (0.225 × 0.075 m) = 59.3 bricks per m², and 1 ÷ (0.240 × 0.086 m) = 48.4 per m².
- Find the net wall area. A garden wall 20 ft long and 4 ft high is 80 sq ft. Subtract any openings.
- Multiply by the rate. 80 × 6.75 = 540 modular bricks for one face. A double-wythe (8 in) wall needs twice that: 1,080.
- Add waste. 1,080 × 1.05 = 1,134 bricks, so order about 1,150.
- Estimate mortar. BIA puts mortar at 5.5 cu ft per 100 sq ft of modular brick with 3/8 in joints (8.1 cu ft per 1,000 bricks). The masons' rule of thumb is eight bags of masonry cement per 1,000 modular bricks, which includes some waste.
Brick wall height by number of courses
Vertical planning is easiest with modular brick: three courses make 8 in, so wall heights fall on whole inches every third course.
| Courses | Height (in) | Height (mm) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8 | 203 | Low edging, planter lip |
| 6 | 16 | 406 | Raised bed, fire pit ring |
| 9 | 24 | 610 | Seat wall (with cap) |
| 12 | 32 | 813 | Low boundary wall |
| 18 | 48 | 1,219 | 4 ft garden wall |
| 36 | 96 | 2,438 | 8 ft story of veneer |
In the UK, every course is 75 mm, so four courses make 300 mm and 13 courses make 975 mm, a standard height for a 1 m garden wall with a coping on top. For a round outdoor project, see the fire pit size guide.
Brick weight
| Brick | Weight (lb) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| US modular, cored or frogged | 4.0-4.2 | 1.8-1.9 |
| US modular, solid molded | 4.7-4.9 | 2.1-2.2 |
| UK 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm | about 5-6.6 | about 2.3-3.0 |
| Firebrick, 9 × 4 1/2 × 2 1/2 in | about 6.5-8 | about 3.0-3.6 |
US modular weights come from manufacturer catalogs. The UK and firebrick figures are calculated from volume and typical density (about 1,800-2,000 kg/m³ for building brick and up to about 2,200 kg/m³ for dense firebrick), less the volume of any frog or perforations, so check the supplier's data sheet when weight matters for a delivery or a shelf load. A wall of 1,000 modular bricks weighs 2 to 2.5 short tons (1.8 to 2.2 t) before mortar.
Specialty brick sizes
- Firebrick (straight): 9 × 4 1/2 × 2 1/2 in (229 × 114 × 64 mm). Used for fireboxes, pizza ovens and kilns. A thinner 1 1/4 in "split" lines the floor of a fireplace or pizza oven where full thickness is not needed.
- Paving brick: 4 × 8 in face. Pavers for sand-set paths are a full 4 × 8 in so they fit tight without joints, while mortar-set pavers are 3 5/8 × 7 5/8 in. Common thicknesses are 2 1/4 in for foot traffic and 2 5/8 in for driveways.
- Thin brick: the face of a modular brick, about 1/2 to 1 in thick, glued to a wall like tile. Covers the same 6.75 pieces per sq ft.
- Half brick: a modular brick cut in two gives two 3 5/8 × 2 1/4 × 3 13/16 in pieces, less the width of the saw cut.
Choosing a brick size
Good for
- Modular: veneer on houses, walls that meet concrete block, any job where you want standard coursing and easy replacements.
- Norman and Roman: long, low faces that emphasize horizontal lines; fewer bricks per sq ft for Norman.
- Utility and king: fast, economical walls. A utility brick covers more than twice the area of a modular one.
Watch out for
- Utility brick at a corner: its length is three times its width, so half-bond requires a cut in every course.
- Queen and king bricks are narrower (2 3/4 to 3 in), so wall ties and shelf angles must suit the thinner wythe.
- Large bricks weigh more per piece: a utility brick has about 2.5 times the volume of a modular one.
Moving bricks in bulk? A typical shipping pallet carries several hundred bricks; see pallet sizes for deck dimensions and load limits. For timber framing behind a brick veneer, see lumber sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What are the nominal dimensions of an 8-inch brick?
A brick described as 8 in long is a modular brick with nominal dimensions of 4 × 2 2/3 × 8 in. The brick itself is 3 5/8 × 2 1/4 × 7 5/8 in; the missing 3/8 in on each dimension is the mortar joint.
How tall is a standard brick?
A US modular or standard brick is 2 1/4 in (57 mm) tall, and three courses with mortar rise exactly 8 in. A UK brick is 65 mm (2.56 in) tall, and four courses with 10 mm joints rise 300 mm.
What is the standard brick size in the UK?
215 × 102.5 × 65 mm, set by BS EN 771-1 and the UK annex to it. With 10 mm joints the brick occupies 225 × 112.5 × 75 mm, which is why UK drawings work in multiples of 225 mm horizontally and 75 mm vertically.
What is the size of a brick in cm?
A US modular brick is 9.2 × 5.7 × 19.4 cm. A UK brick is 21.5 × 10.25 × 6.5 cm, a German NF brick is 24 × 11.5 × 7.1 cm and an Australian standard brick is 23 × 11 × 7.6 cm.
How much does a brick weigh?
A US modular clay brick weighs about 4.0 to 4.9 lb (1.8 to 2.2 kg). Cored and frogged bricks sit at the low end and solid molded bricks at the high end, according to manufacturer catalogs such as Glen-Gery and Watsontown.
Is a standard brick the same as a modular brick?
No. In the US, "standard" is a non-modular brick 8 in long (3 5/8 × 2 1/4 × 8 in), while the modular brick is 7 5/8 in long. The 3/8 in difference means standard bricks do not line up with 8 in concrete block coursing without cutting.