Masonry

Standard Brick Sizes by Country

Brick dimensions vary significantly between countries. Using the wrong size in your calculations leads to incorrect material orders. This guide covers the standard work sizes, coordinating sizes (with mortar), and approximate brick counts per m² for the most common building regions worldwide.

Work Size vs Coordinating Size

Every brick standard distinguishes between two dimensions:

Work size — the actual manufactured brick dimension (length × width × height).
Coordinating size — work size plus one mortar joint on each relevant face. Most countries assume a 10 mm joint, making the coordinating size 10 mm larger in each direction.

Brick counts per m² are always calculated using the coordinating size, not the bare work size.

Bricks per m² = 1,000 mm ÷ (length + joint) × 1,000 mm ÷ (height + joint)

The formula above applies to a half-brick (single-leaf) wall. Double the count for a full-brick wall.

United Kingdom

The UK standard is defined by BS EN 771-1. The metric standard brick replaced the imperial brick in 1969.

Type	Work Size (L × W × H)	Coordinating Size	Bricks/m² (half-brick)
Standard (metric)	215 × 102.5 × 65 mm	225 × 112.5 × 75 mm	~60
Imperial (pre-1969)	229 × 114 × 76 mm	239 × 124 × 86 mm	~48

Imperial bricks are still found in renovation work on older properties. They are not interchangeable with metric bricks in coursing — mixing the two changes joint spacing.

United States

US brick sizes are governed by ASTM C652 and ASTM C216. The most common type is the modular brick.

Type	Work Size (L × W × H)	Nominal Size (with 3/8″ joint)	Bricks/m² (approx)
Modular	194 × 92 × 57 mm	203 × 102 × 67 mm	~73
Standard (non-modular)	203 × 95 × 57 mm	213 × 102 × 67 mm	~70
Queen	194 × 73 × 70 mm	203 × 83 × 79 mm	~62
King	194 × 70 × 70 mm	203 × 83 × 79 mm	~62
Jumbo Modular	194 × 92 × 70 mm	203 × 102 × 79 mm	~62

US bricks use a 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) mortar joint as standard, slightly less than the 10 mm used in most other countries.

Australia & New Zealand

Australian and New Zealand bricks conform to AS/NZS 4455. Australian construction uses a 10 mm mortar joint.

Type	Work Size (L × W × H)	Coordinating Size	Bricks/m² (half-brick)
Standard	230 × 110 × 76 mm	240 × 120 × 86 mm	~48
Modular	290 × 90 × 90 mm	300 × 100 × 100 mm	~33

The Australian standard brick is larger than UK and US equivalents, which is why fewer bricks per m² are needed. Always confirm with your supplier — some Australian manufacturers produce slightly non-standard sizes.

Europe (EN Standard)

Most European countries follow EN 771-1 but each country maintains its own preferred format within that standard. The most widely used across continental Europe is the DF (Dünnformat / thin format) brick.

Format	Country / Region	Work Size (L × W × H)	Bricks/m² (half-brick)
DF (Dünnformat)	Germany, Austria, CH	240 × 115 × 52 mm	~79
NF (Normalformat)	Germany (older)	240 × 115 × 71 mm	~52
WDF (Waalformat)	Netherlands, Belgium	210 × 100 × 50 mm	~88
Standard	France	220 × 105 × 57 mm	~74

South Africa

South African bricks are governed by SANS 227. Two sizes dominate the market.

Type	Work Size (L × W × H)	Coordinating Size	Bricks/m² (half-brick)
Standard	222 × 106 × 73 mm	232 × 116 × 83 mm	~52
Maxi	290 × 140 × 90 mm	300 × 150 × 100 mm	~33

India

Indian standard bricks are defined by IS 1077. The modular brick was introduced to replace older non-modular sizes.

Type	Work Size (L × W × H)	Coordinating Size	Bricks/m² (half-brick)
Modular	190 × 90 × 90 mm	200 × 100 × 100 mm	~50
Non-modular (traditional)	230 × 110 × 70 mm	240 × 120 × 80 mm	~52

Quick Reference: Bricks per m²

This table summarises the approximate number of bricks needed per m² of half-brick (single-leaf) wall using each country's most common standard brick and a 10 mm mortar joint.

Country	Standard	Work Size (mm)	Bricks/m²
UK	BS EN 771-1	215 × 102.5 × 65	~60
USA (modular)	ASTM C652	194 × 92 × 57	~73
Australia	AS/NZS 4455	230 × 110 × 76	~48
Germany (DF)	EN 771-1	240 × 115 × 52	~79
Netherlands	EN 771-1	210 × 100 × 50	~88
South Africa	SANS 227	222 × 106 × 73	~52
India (modular)	IS 1077	190 × 90 × 90	~50

All bricks/m² figures are for a half-brick (single-leaf) wall with a 10 mm mortar joint. Add 5–10% for waste and cuts.

How Mortar Joint Size Affects Your Count

A standard 10 mm mortar joint is assumed in most national standards. If your project uses a different joint size — for example, 8 mm for a tighter finish or 15 mm for rough blockwork — your brick count will change.

Using UK standard bricks as an example:

Joint Size	Coordinating Height	Bricks/m²
8 mm	73 mm	~63
10 mm (standard)	75 mm	~60
12 mm	77 mm	~58

For a precise material estimate, use our Brick Calculator — it lets you set your own joint size and wall dimensions.

Related Guides

How Many Bricks Per Square Metre? — detailed calculation walkthrough
Brick Mortar Mix Ratio Guide — getting the right mix for your application

FAQ

What is the standard brick size in the UK?

The standard UK brick (as per BS EN 771-1) is 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm. With a 10 mm mortar joint, the coordinating size becomes 225 × 112.5 × 75 mm. This is the most common brick used in residential and commercial construction across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Are US bricks the same size as UK bricks?

No. The standard US modular brick (ASTM C652) is 194 × 92 × 57 mm (nominal 203 × 102 × 67 mm with mortar). It is slightly smaller in length and height than the UK standard. This means brick counts per square metre differ between US and UK projects — always check which standard your supplier uses.

What is a metric brick vs an imperial brick?

Imperial bricks (pre-1969 UK) measured 9 × 4.5 × 3 inches (229 × 114 × 76 mm). When the UK switched to metric in 1969, the standard changed to 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm. The metric brick is slightly smaller, so the two are not directly interchangeable in coursing calculations without adjustment.

Why do brick sizes vary by country?

Sizes reflect each country's historical building standards, climate requirements, and masonry traditions. Larger bricks (like those used in Australia and South Africa) lay faster and suit thicker load-bearing walls. Smaller bricks offer finer coursing detail. Each national standard body (BSI, ASTM, Standards Australia, etc.) sets the accepted tolerances for their region.

What is the standard brick size in Australia?

The standard Australian brick (AS/NZS 4455) is 230 × 110 × 76 mm. With a 10 mm mortar joint, the coordinating size is 240 × 120 × 86 mm. Australia also commonly uses a 'standard' 230 × 110 × 76 mm and a 'modular' 290 × 90 × 90 mm brick depending on the application.

How does brick size affect how many bricks I need?

Directly — a larger brick covers more wall area per unit, so you need fewer bricks per square metre. For example, UK standard bricks require about 60 bricks/m² (half-brick wall), while Australian standard bricks require about 50 bricks/m². Always use the correct brick size for your region when calculating quantities.