Standard Brick Size |Standard Brick Size In India – Importance, Types and Tolerance

Standard Brick Size and Its Importance

Bricks are artificial stones that are usually made up of clay. Bricks are one of the primary materials used for wall construction in building construction. These are readily available, cheap, and lightweight.

Many countries have different standard brick sizes and dimensions. Though, brick can be made in various sizes and shapes based on its application.

Since the beginning of the brick invention, brick size is essential because bricks are used in various construction work and require different dimensions and shapes bricks.

If the bricks are big, it will be tough to burn them perfectly and become challenging to be set with a single hand.

If the bricks are small, it will require a large quantity of mortar for the brickwork; therefore, the standard size of bricks has been specified. 

Brick Size Denotation

Brick sizes may be described in three different ways, and it is essential to know the different sizes to avoid any confusion. Let’s learn about these dimensions.

Specified Brick Dimension

An architect uses this dimension to design a wall. It is expected manufactured brick dimension excluding joint mortar thickness.

The architect will decide the thickness of the mortar joint and mention it in its drawing and specifications. This dimension is accepted only in a non-modular building.

Actual Brick Dimension

It is the final brick dimension after manufacturing in a plant within a defined tolerance of specified brick size. Tolerances are specified in ASTMC126.

Tolerance may vary according to the size and type of brick, but it is not very important and generally doesn’t affect the architectural design and drawing.

Nominal brick dimensions 

This dimension is used in modular construction that is specified size plus mortar joint thickness or width.

Maximum bricks are produced with the purpose that the nominal sizes match into a grid of 4″, which agrees with the segment of other building materials like wood components, doors, windows.

Orientation of Brick

Brick is a three-dimensional building material that has length, width, height, or thickness. The brick can be placed in six different ways.

Standard Brick Size

Types of Bricks Based on Dimension

Based on the dimensions, length, width, and height, multiple kinds of brick are given in the table below.

NameBrick Size In
mm
Brick Size In
Inches
Modular Brick194 x 92 x 57​7 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 2¼
Modular Economy 194 x 92 x 92 ​7 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 3 ⅝
Engineering Brick194 x 92 x 71 ​7 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 2¾
Jumbo Modular194 x 92 x 70 7 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 2¾
Jumbo Standard203 x 92 x 708 × 3 ⅝ × 2¾
Jumbo Standard (PLT 3)203 x 92 x 67 8 × 3 ⅝ × 2 ⅝
Slim Jumbo Modular194 x 76 x 70 7 ⅝ × 3 × 2¾
King244 x 76 x 679 ⅝ × 3 × 2 ⅝
Queen244 x 79 x 70 9 ⅝ × 3⅛ × 2¾
Closure194 x 92 x 92 ​7 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 3 ⅝
Norwegian295 x 92 x 7111 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 2¾
Roman295 x 92 x 41 11 ⅝ × 3⅝ × 1⅝
Norman295 x 92 x 57 11 ⅝ × 3⅝ × 2¼
Slim Jumbo Norman295 x 79 x 70 11 ⅝ × 3⅛ × 2¾
Utility295 x 92 x 92 11 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 3 ⅝
Double Utility295 x 92 x 194 11 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 7 ⅝
Monarch397 x 92 x 9215 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 3 ⅝
Double Monarch397 x 92 x 194 15 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 7 ⅝
Thru wall, three types397 x 143 x 92,
397 x 194 x 92,
407 x 194 x 194
15 ⅝ × 5 ⅝ × 3 ⅝
15 ⅝ × 7 ⅝ × 3 ⅝
16 × 7 ⅝ × 7 ⅝
Danish Hand Mould194 x 92 x 57 7 ⅝ × 3 ⅝ × 2¼

Standard Size of Brick In India

As per the BIS, the standard size of Brick in India is 19 × 9 × 9 cm that is also called a modular brick.

When this brick is used in masonry, its dimension becomes 20 × 10 × 10 cm, including mortar thickness. It is also designated as the nominal size of a brick.

Standard Brick Size

Nevertheless, in the most significant regions of the country, the bricks available in size of 9″×4″ × 3″ which is called field bricks. The weight of this brick is about 3.0 kg.

The size of the modular brick as recommended by IS is 190 × 90 × 90 mm and is considered a standard brick. Including the thickness of the mortar size of brick becomes 200 × 10 × 10 mm.

Generally, four standard brick sizes are used in India are as follows.

DescriptionSize in mmSize in InchesRemark
Modular Brick190 × 90 × 90 7.48 × 3.54 × 3.54 Machine-made brick
Non-modular Brick 230 × 110 × 70 9 × 4.33 × 3.54
Conventional Brick 230 × 110 × 110 9 × 4.33 × 4.33 Commonly used
English Brick 230 × 115 × 75 9 × 4.5 × 3.54

Tolerance for Brick Dimension

Since it is tough to produce every brick in the perfect size, hence there are tolerances for brick dimensions.

Brick Length – ± 3 mm

Brick Width – ± 2 mm

Brick Height – ± 2 mm

What is Frog? Why is it provided?

The frog is the depressed groove made on the flat surface of the brick. While using brick in construction frog must be kept facing upward. 

Standard Brick Size

When the mortar is laid, it gets filled with mortar; thus, it works as a bond and improves structure strength against horizontal load. 

It is also used to show the mark of identification of the manufacturer. The frog is made during the moulding of the brick using a frog plate.

Standard brick Size In England

In England, the size of a brick, notably its length and width, are considerably consistent, but depth has varied over time. Depth was compressed (around 2inches or 51mm approximately)in the olden days. 

The standard brick size in the UK (United Kingdom) is 215 x 102.5 x 65 mm. Considering the 10mm thickness of the mortar joints, it becomes 225 x 112.5 x75 millimetres. 

Standard Brick Size In the USA

The standard brick size in the USA is 203 x 92 x 57 mm managed by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). At the same time, the bricks that are most commonly used are of standard size 194 x 92 x 57 mm.

Standard brick Size In Australia

Standard Brick size in Australia is 76 x 230 110 mm managed with the help of Boral Company as per Australian standard AS4455. 

Standard Size of Brick In Cyclonic Area

Large hollow bricks are used in cyclonic areas, with a 290 x 140 x 90 mm standard dimension to allow reinforcement and grating inside the wall.

Standard Brick Size of Various Countries

CountryBrick Size In
MM
Brick Size In
Cm
Brick Size In
Inches
Australia230 × 110 × 76 23 × 11 × 7.6 9 × 4⅓ × 3
Bangladesh241 × 114 × 70 24 × 11.4 × 7 9½ × 4½ × 2¾
Canada 203 x 92 x 57 20.3 x 9.2 x 5.7 8 × 3⅝ × 2¼
Denmark228 × 108 × 5422.8 x 10.8 x 5.49 × 4¼ × 2¼
Germany240 × 115 × 7124 x 11.5 x 7.19 × 4¼ × 2¾
India 190 × 90 × 90 19 × 9 × 9 7½ × 3½ × 3½
Nepal240 × 115 × 5724 x 11.5 x 5.7 9 × 4¼ × 2¼
Romania250 × 120 × 6525 x 12 x 6.59 × 4¼ × 2½
Russia222 × 106 × 7322.2 x 10.6 x 7.310 × 4¾ × 2½
Sweden250 × 120 × 6225 x 12 x 6.210 × 4¾ × 2½
South Africa222 × 106 × 7322.2 x 10.6 x 7.38¾ × 4 × 3
UK 215 x 102.5 x 65 21.5 x 10.25 x 5.78½ × 4 × 2½
USA 203 x 92 x 57 20.3 x 9.2 x 5.7 8 × 3⅝ × 2¼

I hope now you have essential information about standard brick Size. If you find this learning valuable, don’t skip sharing it.

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