Nominal vs actual brick size
In the US, bricks are described by a nominal size — the actual brick plus one mortar joint. A modular brick is nominally 8 × 4 × 2⅔ in, but the brick itself is 7⅝ × 3⅝ × 2¼ in, so that with ⅜ in joints three courses rise exactly 8 in. In the UK, South Africa, Australia and most other countries, the size quoted is the actual (work) size in millimeters, and the joint is usually 10 mm.
Always use the actual size and your joint thickness in the calculator — that's what the presets do.
US brick sizes
| Brick | Actual size (L × W × H) | Nominal | Per ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modular | 7⅝ × 3⅝ × 2¼ in | 8 × 4 × 2⅔ in | 6.86 |
| Standard | 8 × 3⅝ × 2¼ in | — | 6.55 |
| Engineer modular | 7⅝ × 3⅝ × 2¾ in | 8 × 4 × 3⅕ in | 5.76 |
| Queen | 7⅝ × 2¾ × 2¾ in | 8 × 3 × 3⅕ in | 5.76 |
| King | 9⅝ × 2¾ × 2⅝ in | 10 × 3 × 3 in | 4.80 |
| Closure | 7⅝ × 3⅝ × 3⅝ in | 8 × 4 × 4 in | 4.50 |
| Utility | 11⅝ × 3⅝ × 3⅝ in | 12 × 4 × 4 in | 3.00 |
Per-ft² figures assume a single-skin wall with ⅜ in joints. Sizes vary slightly between manufacturers.
Metric brick sizes
| Country / brick | Size (L × W × H) | Per m² | Per ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK & Ireland standard | 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm | 59.3 | 5.51 |
| South Africa — NFP / FBS standard | 222 × 106 × 73 mm | 51.9 | 4.82 |
| South Africa — maxi | 290 × 140 × 90 mm | 33.3 | 3.10 |
| Australia & NZ standard | 230 × 110 × 76 mm | 48.4 | 4.50 |
| Germany NF (Normalformat) | 240 × 115 × 71 mm | 49.4 | 4.59 |
| Germany DF (Dünnformat) | 240 × 115 × 52 mm | 64.5 | 5.99 |
| India modular (IS 1077) | 190 × 90 × 90 mm | 50.0 | 4.65 |
Per-m² figures assume a single-skin wall with 10 mm joints. Double them for a one-brick (double-skin) or cavity wall.
How brick size affects your order
- Face size sets the count. Only the length and height of the brick's face (plus joints) decide how many bricks cover a square foot.
- Width sets the wall thickness and mortar. A wider brick makes a thicker single-skin wall and uses more mortar per joint.
- Larger formats lay faster. King, utility and maxi bricks cover more wall per brick, which saves labor — though they're heavier to handle.
Not sure which brick you have? Measure one from the pallet — length, width (depth) and height — and choose Custom size in any calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard brick size in the US?
The most common is the modular brick: 7⅝ × 3⅝ × 2¼ in actual size, 8 × 4 × 2⅔ in nominal. The "standard" brick is 8 × 3⅝ × 2¼ in.
What is the standard brick size in the UK?
215 × 102.5 × 65 mm, laid with 10 mm joints to give a coordinating size of 225 × 112.5 × 75 mm.
What is the standard brick size in South Africa?
The standard NFP / FBS brick is 222 × 106 × 73 mm. Maxi bricks are 290 × 140 × 90 mm.
How many bricks are in a square meter?
About 60 UK bricks, 52 South African standard bricks, 48 Australian bricks or 74 US modular bricks per square meter of single-skin wall.