Standard Brick Dimensions aka Standard Brick sizes. Whenever you go to the hardware store to buy some bricks you are presented with a vast array of measurements that can actually be very daunting to tackle. The standard or nominal size of the brick differs from the actual size and dimension of the brick. This cause a lot of confusion. You see a the nominal size is what the size of the brick will become after plaster is applied to both sides of the brick. The actual size of the brick is the size that you can measure when you hold the brick in your hand. Further complication comes from the fact that most brick sizes are mentioned in inches with fractions such as 3-5/8″. This simply means that the size of the brick is 3.625 inches. I have made a two tables below. The first table represents the nominal sizes, while the second one represents the actual sizes. After the table there are some frequently asked questions that I have answered. If you are planning on building using cinder blocks, check this article.
Below is the table with the nominal sizes/dimensions of the brick.
| BRICK SIZE | APPROXIMATE WEIGHT | SIZE (INCHES) (Bed Depth aka Width X Height X Length) | |
 | MODULAR | 4.2 lbs. | 4″ x 2-1/2″ x 8″ |
 | STANDARD | 4.5 lbs. | 4″ x 2-1/2″ x 8″ |
 | JUMBO MODULAR | 5.1 lbs. | 4″ x 3-1/8″ x 8″ |
 | JUMBO STANDARD | 5.9 lbs. | 4″ x 2-3/4″ x 8″ |
| JUMBO STANDARD (PLT 3) | 5.6 lbs. | 4″ x 3″ x 8″ |
 | SLIM JUMBO MODULAR | 4.1 lbs. | 3-1/4″ x 3″ x 8″ |
 | QUEEN | 5.6 lbs. | 3-1/4″ x 3″ x 10″ |
 | ROMAN | 4.7 lbs. | 4″ x 2″ x 12″ |
 | NORMAN | 6.4 lbs. | 4″ x 2-1/2″ x 12″ |
 | JUMBO NORMAN | 7.8 lbs. | 4″ x 3″ x 12″ |
 | SLIM JUMBO NORMAN | 7.2 lbs. | 3-1/4″ x 3″ x 12″ |
 | MODULAR ECONOMO | 6.8 lbs. | 4″ x 4″ x 8″ |
 | UTILITY | 10.2 lbs. | 4″ x 4″ x 12″ |
 | MONARCH | 12.5 lbs. | 4″ x 4″ x 16″ |
 | QUAD | 14.1 lbs. | 4″ x 8″ x 8″ |
 | AMBASSADOR | 8.8 lbs. | 4″ x 2 1/2″ x 16″ |
 | DOUBLE UTILITY | 21.0 lbs. | 4″ x 8″ x 12″ |
 | DOUBLE MONARCH | 25.5 lbs. | 4″ x 8″ x 16″ |
 | 6″ x 4″ x 16″ THRU-WALL | 16.0 lbs. | 6″ x 4″ x 16″ |
 | 8″ x 4″ x 16″ THRU-WALL | 21.8 lbs. | 8″ x 4″ x 16″ |
 | 8″ x 8″ x 16″ THRU-WALL | 42.0 lbs. | 8″ x 8″ x 16″ |
Below is the table with the actual sizes/dimensions of the brick.
| BRICK SIZE | APPROXIMATE WEIGHT | SIZE (INCHES) (Bed Depth aka Width X Height X Length) | SIZE (MM) | |
| MODULAR | 4.2 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 2-1/4″ x 7-5/8″ | 92 x 57 x 194 |
| STANDARD | 4.5 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 2-1/4″ x 8″ | 92 x 57 x 203 |
| JUMBO MODULAR | 5.1 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 2-3/4″ x 7-5/8″ | 92 x 70 x 194 |
| JUMBO STANDARD | 5.9 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 2-3/4″ x 8″ | 92 x 70 x 203 |
| JUMBO STANDARD (PLT 3) | 5.6 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 2-5/8″ x 8″ | 92 x 67 x 203 |
| SLIM JUMBO MODULAR | 4.1 lbs. | 3-1/8″ x 2-3/4″ x 7-5/8″ | 76 x 70 x 194 |
| QUEEN | 5.6 lbs. | 3-1/8″ x 2-3/4″ x 9-5/8″ | 79 x 70 x 244 |
| ROMAN | 4.7 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 1-5/8″ x 11-5/8″ | 92 x 41 x 295 |
| NORMAN | 6.4 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 2-1/4″ x 11-5/8″ | 92 x 57 x 295 |
| JUMBO NORMAN | 7.8 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 2-3/4″ x 11-5/8″ | 92 x 70 x 295 |
| SLIM JUMBO NORMAN | 7.2 lbs. | 3-1/8″ x 2-3/4″ x 11-5/8″ | 79 x 70 x 295 |
| MODULAR ECONOMO | 6.8 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 3-5/8″ x 7-5/8″ | 92 x 92 x 194 |
| UTILITY | 10.2 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 3-5/8″ x 11-5/8″ | 92 x 92 x 295 |
| MONARCH | 12.5 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 3-5/8″ x 15-5/8″ | 92 x 92 x 397 |
| QUAD | 14.1 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 7-5/8″ x 7-5/8″ | 92 x 194 x 194 |
| AMBASSADOR | 8.8 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 2-1/4″ x 15-5/8″ | 92 x 57 x 397 |
| DOUBLE UTILITY | 21.0 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 7-5/8″ x 11-5/8″ | 92 x 194 x 295 |
| DOUBLE MONARCH | 25.5 lbs. | 3-5/8″ x 7-5/8″ x 15-5/8″ | 92 x194 x 397 |
| 6″ x 4″ x 16″ THRU-WALL | 16.0 lbs. | 5-5/8″ x 3-5/8″ x 15-5/8″ | 143 x 92 x 397 |
| 8″ x 4″ x 16″ THRU-WALL | 21.8 lbs. | 7-5/8″ x 3-5/8″ x 15-5/8″ | 194 x 92 x 397 |
| 8″ x 8″ x 16″ THRU-WALL | 42.0 lbs. | 7-5/8″ x 7-5/8″ x 15-5/8″ | 194 x 194 x 407 |
What is the most common brick size?
The most common brick size utilized through out the world is 3-5/8″ x 2-1/4″ x 8″. Here 3-5/8 is the depth or width of the brick, 2-1/4 is the height, and 8 is the length of the brick. The is the actual size. The nominal size, which is after plaster is applied to all sides of the brick is
- 4 x 2-1/2 x 8 if you don’t apply plaster to the either side of the bricks
- 4-1/2 x 2-1/2 x 8 if you only apply plaster to the inside/outside of the bricks (one side)
- 5 x 2-1/2 x 8 if you apply plaster to both sides of the brick inside and outside
What is the size of a standard brick in metric units?
The actual size of the standard brick in metric units is 92 x 57 x 203. This size will differ based depending on how many sides of the brick will be plastered as i explained above.
What is nominal size of a standard brick?
The nominal size of a standard brick is 4″ x 2-1/2″ x 8“.
What is actual size of a standard brick ?
The actual size of the standard brick is 3-5/8″ x 2-1/4″ x 8″
How do you measure a brick?
A brick is measured in three dimensions. Its length, height and depth/width. The area of a brick is the length times the height of the brick. These calculation will be necessary when you go on to order bricks for your project.
How to calculate the number of bricks for your project ?
First calculate the area of the brick. This is derived using the following formula
Area of brick = Length X Height
Next find out the area of the wall. This is also calculated as:
Area of wall = Length X Height
If you are building a room or many walls you would need to add the area of each wall to get the total area.
Total area = Sum of area’s of all walls
Finally divide the total area by the area of the brick to get the number of bricks required.
No. of bricks required = Total Area / Area of one brick
For. e.g. if total area is 44,000 sq. ft. and area of a standard brick is 20 sq. in. then the no. of bricks required would be 26507. You need to order a bit more bricks then this number to account for breakage and wastage.
What is the shape of brick called?
The standard shape of a brick is cuboid.
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