Standard Brick Size

Different countries have different standard brick size and dimensions, however, brick could be made in lots of sizes and shapes depending on its application.

Brick sizes and shapes for standard brick includes information of the specified size, actual size and nominal size.

If the bricks are massive, they’re tough to burn properly and becomes a lot heavy to be placed with one hand.

However, if bricks are small, a higher quantity of mortar is required; due to this fact, a normal dimension is set for various brickwork.

The actual size ( specified size) is the precise dimension of the brick & the nominal size is the precise size and width of the mortar joint.

Most types of bricks are constructed in such a way that nominal sizes fit into 4-inch grids, which fulfil with modules of different building materials corresponding to doorways, home windows and wooden parts.

Standard Brick Size, Weight & Dimensions (Inches):

In the table below, we have given the standard sizes of different brick as follows:

Brick Size	Size (inch)(D x H x L)	Units/ft²(3/8″ Joint)	Size (mm)(D x H x L)	Units/m²(10 mm Joint)	Weight (lbs)(Approximate)	Weight (kg)(Approximate)	Modular Brick Equivalent (MBE)
Modular	3-5/8 x 2-1/4 x 7-5/8	6.86	92 x 57 x 194	73.12	4.20	1.90	1.00
Standard	3-5/8 x 2-1/4 x 8	6.55	92 x 57 x 203	69.85	4.40	2.00	1.05
Jumbo Modular	3-5/8 x 2-3/4 x 7-5/8	5.76	92 x 70 x 194	61.49	5.40	2.40	1.22
Jumbo Standard Molded	3-5/8 x 2-5/8 x 8	5.73	92 x 67 x 203	61.17	5.70	2.60	1.22
Queen	3-1/8 x 2-3/4 x 9-5/8	4.61	79 x 70 x 244	49.21	5.70	2.60	1.54
Roman	3-5/8 x 1-5/8 x 11-5/8	6.00	92 x 41 x 295	63.89	5.20	2.40	1.10
Norman	3-5/8 x 2-1/4 x 11-5/8	4.57	92 x 57 x 295	48.78	6.40	2.90	1.52
Jumbo Norman	3-5/8 x 2-3/4 x 11-5/8	3.84	92 x 70 x 295	41.02	7.90	3.60	1.86
Ambassador	3-5/8 x 2-1/4 x 15-5/8	3.43	92 x 57 x 397	36.60	8.70	3.90	2.05
Modular Economo	3-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 7-5/8	4.50	92 x 92 x 194	48.10	6.70	3.00	1.61
Utility	3-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 11-5/8	3.00	92 x 92 x 295	32.09	10.20	4.60	2.46
Monarch	3-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 15-5/8	2.25	92 x 92 x 397	24.08	13.50	6.10	3.30
Quad	3-5/8 x 7-5/8 x 7-5/8	2.25	92 x 194 x 194	24.11	14.00	6.40	3.39
Double Utility	3-5/8 x 7-5/8 x 11-5/8	1.50	92 x 194 x 295	16.08	21.50	9.80	5.17
Double Monarch	3-5/8 x 7-5/8 x 15-5/8	1.13	92 x 194 x 397	12.07	27.00	12.20	6.94
6″ Thru-Wall Monarch	5-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 15-5/8	2.25	143 x 92 x 397	24.08	17.50	7.90	3.30
8″ Thru-Wall Monarch	7-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 15-5/8	2.25	194 x 92 x 397	24.08	21.00	9.50	3.30
8″ Thru-Wall Double Monarch	7-5/8 x 7-5/8 x 15-5/8	1.13	194 x 194 x 397	12.07	43.00	19.50	6.94

Standard Brick sizes in England:

In the UK, the size and width of common brick had remained constant over the centuries, however, the depth is greater than about two inches (about 51 mm) or smaller than two and a half inches (about 64 mm).

The standard dimension of a modern brick is 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm (approximately 8 5⁄8 × 4 1⁄8 × 2 5⁄8 inch), with a nominal 10 mm (3⁄8 inch).

The mortar joint makes a unit dimension of 225 × 112.5 × 75 mm (9 × 4 1/2 × 3 in) for a ratio of 6 × 3: 2.

Standard Brick sizes in the United States:

In the US, modern normal bricks (controlled by the American Society for Testing and Materials i.e. ASTM) are approximately 8 × 3 5⁄8 × 2 1⁄4 in. (203 × 92 × 57 mm).

A generally used modular brick is 7 5 /8 × 3 5 × 8 × 2 1/ inches (194 × 92 × 57 inches).

This modular brick of 7 5⁄8 with a 3/8 mortar joint makes it simple to calculate the number of bricks in a given run.

Standard Brick sizes in Australia:

According to the Boral Company in Australia, the standard brick size (or working size) is 76 mm x 230 mm x 110 mm based on the Australian standard AS4455.

Some bricks are made with different working sizes.

Bigger bricks are sometimes used for extra economical laying and as a design characteristic either by themselves or mixed with smaller bricks.

The Larger (140 mm large x 90 mm high x 290 mm long) hollow bricks are used in cyclonic areas to permit reinforcement and grating within the wall.

Wider (150 mm large) bricks will also be used in walls requiring low sound transmission, excessive fire resistance levels, and high load carrying capability relying on the particular sound properties.

Standard size of brick in India:

In India, the usual brick size is 190 mm x 90 mm x 90 mm as per the recommendation of BIS.

With the thickness of the mortar, the dimension of the brick turns into 200 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm which is often known as the nominal size of a minor brick.

Standard Brick sizes in Nepal:

According to the Nationwide Building Code of Nepal (NBC 205: 1994), the bricks shall be of a standard rectangular shape, burnt red, hand-made or machined and the crushing strength shall not be lower than 3.5 N / mm².

Standard brick size & dimensions are 240 x 115 x 57 mm with 10 mm horizontal and vertical mortar joints.

The thickness of -10 mm on length, -5 mm on width, and 3 mm on thickness would be acceptable for the purpose of thick walls on this mandatory rule (MRT).

Note: The primary goal of these mandatory rules of thumb (MRT) in Nepal’s Nationwide Construction Code is to offer ready to use dimensions.

The description of various structural and non-structural parts for three-story reinforced concrete (RC), simple residential building, built by proprietors in Nepal.

Also read: Sand Lime Bricks, Fly ash Bricks, Fire bricks & Clay Bricks

Conclusion:

The bricks are prepared in various sizes, the governing factor for deciding the dimensions or size of the bricks is the locality.

Bricks that are not standardized are known as traditional bricks and along with the thickness of the mortar, it is known as the nominal size of the brick.

Thus the nominal size of the brick includes the mortar thickness.