Dimensions Guide

The standard brick sizes depend on the country where it is made. In the United Kingdom, the size used is 64 mm or 2.5 in. In some cases the brick is less than 2.5 inches deep. In the United States, the standard size is 8 × 4 × 2.25 inches (203 × 102 × 57 mm). In Australia the average size is 9 x 4.33 x 3 inches (230 x 110 x 76 mm). The size in South Africa is 8.75 x 4 x 3 inches (222 x 106 x 73 mm).

Nominal and Actual Sizes

Note that the standard dimensions given by manufacturers may sometimes be nominal, not actual. For example, the 4" x 2 2/3" x 8" brick size actually measures 3 5/8" x 2 ¼" x 8". The modular size 4" x 2 2/3" x 8" is in actuality 3 5/8" x 2 ¼" x 7 5/8".

Other sizes are the king (nominal: 3 3/8" x 3" x 10"; actual: 3" x 2 5/8" x 9 5/8"), queen (nominal: 2 ¾" x 3" x 10"; actual 3 1/8" x 2 ¾" x 9 5/8") and engineer (nominal: 4" x 3 1/5" x 8"; actual: 3 5/8" x 2 13/16" x 7 5/8").

The economy nominal size of 4" x 4" x 8" is actually 3 5/8" x 3 5/8" x 7 5/8". The utility nominal size of 4" x 4" x 12" may be 3 5/8" x 3 5/8" x 11 ½" and the jumbo 4" x 3" x 8" size is 3 5/8" x 2 ¾" x 8".

The Norman nominal brick size of 4" x 2 2/3" x 12" is actually 3 5/8" x 2 ¼" x 11 5/8". The Norwegian nominal size of 3 ½" x 3" x 12" is actually 3 ½" x 2 ¾" x 11 5/8".

Metric and Imperial Bricks

A metric brick measuring 225 mm (8.86 in) long (with the joint) is equal to 9 in (228.6 mm) in the imperial brick scale. A metric brick that is 112.5 mm (4.43 in) is equal to 4 1/2 in (114.3 mm). If its height is 75 mm (2.95 in), the imperial equivalent is 3 in (76.2 mm).

The Brick Quantities

For an area of 1 sq. m, the bricks needed are 60 and 0.02 cubic meters of mortar. If the area is 2 sq. meters, the needed quantity is 120 bricks and the mortar required is 0.05 cubic meters.

300 bricks are needed for an area of 5 sq. meters. 0.12 cubic meters of mortar is required. 600 bricks are needed for a 10 sq. meter area. The mortar required is 0.24 cubic meters.

Types

Bricks can be made from any of the following materials: concrete, sand lime, adobe and kiln burned. Kiln burned is the standard brick.

Not only do the standard brick sizes differ per country, but the names differ too. Also keep in mind that brick names and the sizes associated with them can vary too. For example, the queen size as shown here may vary with some manufacturers.