Dimensions of Standard Bricks Based on Different Codes
Brick dimensions are one of the most important parameters to consider when selecting bricks to ensure they fit with the design layout. The brick is chosen based on the application in which it will be used. Because bricks are used in a variety of constructions, different brick sizes are required.
There are numerous standards, each established by a country, that provide standard sizes for bricks, such as ASTM (American Standard for Testing Materials), BS (British Standard), CSA (Canadian Standards Association), and IS (International Standard) (Indian Standard).
The size of good quality bricks should be consistent. The conventional bricks must be 225 x 110 x 75 mm in size. Unless specifically permitted by the Client / Consultant, only bricks of one standard size shall be used in a single work.
Tolerances are allowed within the standard conventional size used on the specific work, such as length plus or minus 3.0 mm, breadth plus or minus 1.5 mm, and depth plus or minus 1.5 mm.
Brick is a common building material that is made from burnt clay. It is mostly made of clay, sand, lime, and bearing soil, as well as other concrete materials.
1. ASTM International Brick Dimensions
The size of good quality bricks should be consistent. The traditional brick dimension used in the United States is 203 92 57 mm. The modular brick, with dimensions of 194 92 57 mm, is the most commonly used (length x depth x height).
The ASTM international Standards, however, such as ASTM C62 (Standard Specification for Building Brick (Solid Masonry Units Made From Clay or Shale), ASTM C216 (Standard Specification for Facing Brick (Solid Masonry Units Made From Clay or Shale), ASTM C652 (Standard Specification for Hollow Brick (Hollow Masonry Units Made From Clay or Shale), and ASTM C1088 (Standard Specification for Thi
The ASTM international Standards, however, such as ASTM C62 (Standard Specification for Building Brick (Solid Masonry Units Made From Clay or Shale), ASTM C216 (Standard Specification for Facing Brick (Solid Masonry Units Made From Clay or Shale), ASTM C652 (Standard Specification for Hollow Brick (Hollow Masonry Units Made From Clay or Shale), and ASTM C1088 (Standard Specification for Thi
- plus or minus 3.0 mm in length
- plus or minus 1.5 mm in width
- plus or minus 1.5 mm depth
The maximum allowable variation in individual unit dimensions shall not exceed those specified in Table 1. Table 2 shows the various size variations for hollow bricks.
Table 1: Dimensional variations of solid bricks
| Specified dimension, mm | Maximum Permissible Variations from Specified Dimension, plus or minus, mm |
| Up to 76, inclusive | 2.4 |
| Over 76 to 102, inclusive | 3.2 |
| Over 102 to 152, inclusive | 4.8 |
| Over 152 to 203, inclusive | 6.4 |
| Over 203 to 305, inclusive | 7.9 |
| Over 305 to 406, inclusive | 9.5 |
Table 2: Minimum Thickness of Face Shells and Webs in Hollow Brick
| Nominal Width of Units, mm | Face Shell Thicknesses, mm | Face Shell Thicknesses, mm | End Shells or End Webs |
| - | Solid | Cored or Double Shell | |
| 76 and 101 | 19.05 | — | 19.05 |
| 152 | 25.4 | 38 | 25.4 |
| 203 | 32 | 38 | 25.4 |
| 254 | 35 | 41 | 29.5 |
| 306 | 38 | 50 | 29.5 |
Figure 1: Dimensions of Bricks
2. Brick sizes in accordance with Canadian Standard Associations
The Canadian Standard Association CSA A82, like ASTM International, does not specify specific brick sizes. However, as shown in Table 3, it has established permissible variations in brick size that should not be violated.
The root cause of changes in standard brick size is usually the manufacturing process and variations in raw materials due to shrinkage of the clay during drying and firing, wear of the mold or extrusion die, or undue stress on the units during handling prior to firing.
The permitted size variation is determined by the brick classification and the measured relative dimensional range. The deviation is in either direction from the specified dimension.
When vertical alignment of brick (stack bond) is used, bands of brick from different production runs are combined, or a short horizontal extent of brickwork is constructed, such as between closely spaced window openings, size variation becomes important.
Table 3: Dimensional variations of solid bricks
| Specified dimension, mm | Maximum Permissible Variations from Specified Dimension, plus or minus, mm |
| Up to 76, inclusive | 2.4 |
| Over 76 to 102, inclusive | 3.2 |
| Over 102 to 152, inclusive | 4.8 |
| Over 152 to 203, inclusive | 6.4 |
| Over 203 to 305, inclusive | 7.9 |
| Over 305 to 406, inclusive | 9.5 |
3. Brick sizes in accordance with Indian standards (IS 1077)
The standard modular size of a common building brick is 190 x 90 x 90 mm or 190 x 90 x 40 mm, according to the IS 1077 specification (Common burnt clay building bricks) (length x depth x height).
The dimensions of a non-modular brick are 230 x 110 x 70 mm or 230 x 110 x 30 mm (length x depth x height). Furthermore, for proper bond arrangement and modular dimensions for the brick work, the brick sizes with non-modular sizes may be 70 x 110 x 70 mm (length x depth x height).
four. the British Standard
A modern brick has a standard dimension of 215 102.5 65 in mm (length x depth x height).
5. Australian Norm
According to Australian Standard AS 4455, the standard brick size is 230 x 110 x 76 mm (length x width x height). Some bricks, however, have work sizes of 290 x 90 x 90 mm and 290 x 90 x 50 mm.
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