Standard Brick Sizes
Brick comes in a set of standard sizes that vary by country. Here are the US brick sizes in inches - modular, standard, queen, king, utility and more - plus the UK, Australian and Indian metric sizes, and what nominal versus actual size means.
By the Calculate My Reno Team / Published
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Brick comes in a fixed set of standard sizes, and they differ by country. The thing to understand first is nominal versus actual size, because every count and layout works off the nominal one.
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Pick your brick in the brick calculator - the presets carry these sizes - and it works out the per-area count and the mortar. This guide is the reference for the sizes themselves.
Nominal vs actual size
The actual size is the brick as it comes off the kiln. The nominal (or coordinating) size is the actual size plus one mortar joint - the module the brickwork lines up to. A US modular brick is an actual 7-5/8 in long but a nominal 8 in once you add the 3/8 in joint, so four of them make a clean 16 in. Always estimate and lay out from the nominal size.
US brick sizes
Actual dimensions in inches (depth × height × length), with the common 3/8 in joint:
| Brick | Actual (D × H × L) | Nominal (H × L) |
|---|---|---|
| Modular | 3-5/8 × 2-1/4 × 7-5/8 | 2-2/3 × 8 |
| Standard | 3-5/8 × 2-1/4 × 8 | non-modular |
| Queen | 2-3/4 × 2-3/4 × 9-5/8 | 2-3/4 × 8 |
| King | 2-3/4 × 2-5/8 × 9-5/8 | 2-3/4 × 9-5/8 |
| Roman | 3-5/8 × 1-5/8 × 11-5/8 | 2 × 12 |
| Norman | 3-5/8 × 2-1/4 × 11-5/8 | 2-2/3 × 12 |
| Utility | 3-5/8 × 3-5/8 × 11-5/8 | 4 × 12 |
Modular and standard are the everyday face bricks; queen and king are a little larger and lay faster; utility and norman are big units for fewer joints. For how each of these turns into a count, see how many bricks per square foot.
Metric brick sizes
Length × width × height, laid with a 10 mm joint:
| Country | Standard brick (L × W × H) | Coordinating size |
|---|---|---|
| UK | 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm | 225 × 112.5 × 75 mm |
| Australia | 230 × 110 × 76 mm | 240 × 120 × 86 mm |
| India (modular) | 190 × 90 × 90 mm | 200 × 100 × 100 mm |
| South Africa | 222 × 106 × 73 mm | 232 × 116 × 83 mm |
The UK 215 × 65 mm face gives about 60 bricks per m²; the taller, longer Australian brick is nearer 48 per m².
Concrete block sizes
Block is named by its nominal size, with the actual unit 3/8 in (or 10 mm) smaller:
- 8 × 8 × 16 in is the standard US block (actual 7-5/8 × 7-5/8 × 15-5/8 in). The 6 in and 12 in versions share the same 8 × 16 in face, so they count the same per area.
- 390 × 190 × 190 mm is the standard metric / Australian block; the UK also uses 440 × 215 × 100 mm.
See how many concrete blocks do I need for the block counts.
Why the sizes matter
The size sets the count (bigger face, fewer bricks), the bond and layout (the nominal size has to divide into your wall length), and the look. If you are matching an extension to an old wall, measure the existing brick - older bricks, especially imperial UK ones at 65 mm or the old 3 in, do not match modern metric sizes, and the difference shows in every course.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard brick size?
It depends on the country. In the US the standard modular brick is an actual 7-5/8 × 2-1/4 × 3-5/8 in (a nominal 8 × 2-2/3 × 4 in with the joint). In the UK the standard metric brick is 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm, and in Australia it is 230 × 110 × 76 mm. All are sized so the unit plus a 10 mm (3/8 in) joint gives a tidy coordinating size.
What is the difference between nominal and actual brick size?
The actual size is the brick as made; the nominal (or coordinating) size is the actual size plus one mortar joint, which is what the brickwork modules to. A US modular brick is an actual 7-5/8 in long but a nominal 8 in with the 3/8 in joint, so four bricks make a tidy 16 in. Counts and layouts work off the nominal size.
What is a modular brick?
A modular brick is one sized so the unit plus the joint lands on a round number that the rest of the brickwork modules to. The US modular brick is a nominal 8 × 2-2/3 × 4 in, so three courses make 8 in of height and the lengths line up with 8 in modules. Non-modular bricks (like the old standard brick) do not divide as cleanly.
How big is a UK brick?
The standard UK metric brick is 215 mm long, 102.5 mm wide and 65 mm high. Laid with a 10 mm joint it coordinates to 225 × 112.5 × 75 mm, which is why a UK brick wall works out to about 60 bricks per square metre. This size has been the standard since metrication under BS 3921 and now BS EN 771.