What are Standard Brick Dimensions in the UK?
There are lots of choices that go into selecting the right bricks for a project. The colour is a big one and so is the style of the brick. But perhaps the most important is the size of the brick required. Standard brick dimensions help to make this job easier by having a simple and easy to follow system for bricks.
What are standard brick dimensions?
A standard brick dimension for the UK is 215 x 102.5 x 65mm. There is then a 10mm allowance for the mortar joints so the standard size for brickwork is 225 x 112.5 x 75mm.
The brick size in inches is approximately 9x4x21/2"
By having a standard size, it is easier to work out how many bricks are needed for a certain project. For example, 60 standard bricks laid in a stretcher bond (lengthwise) will cover one square metre of wall.
Should the brick be laid cross-wise, then two 102.5mm depth plus two mortar joints will give the same repeating length unit of one brick plus mortar (225mm). Or if you were to lay them height-wise, three 65mm plus three mortar joints would give the same length unit as one brick plus one mortar (225mm).
Why are standard brick sizes needed?
There are lots of different types of bricks out there from classic red bricks to ones made with different materials or even handmade bricks. While they don’t have to be to a standard size, there are benefits to having this set dimension.
For starters, the size used is one that is easy to work with for builders. If bricks are too big, they are hard to lift, especially as the building gets higher. Or it could mean lifting equipment is needed which slows down the project.
On the other side, if bricks are too small, they need too much mortar, and this increases cost. It also means there’s more work on laying the bricks in place.
By using a standard brick size, most projects can easily work out how many bricks are needed, how long it will take to lay them and ensure most of the work can be done by hand.
How do you work out how many bricks are needed?
While many builders and builder’s merchants will be able to quickly work out how many bricks are needed for a project, anyone can calculate this with the use of a brick calculator. The Armstrong Cheshire calculator is an online tool that lets you input a few basic details to find out how many bricks you will need.
For a standard size calculator, you will need to know the height and length of your wall in metres. This will give you a figure based on the standard metric brick dimensions and include the usual allowance for mortar. You can then use this to work out roughly the cost of the materials for a wall or other construction.
If you did want to use imperial brick sizes for a project, our calculator allows you to add the dimensions of the bricks, the size of the mortar joint along with the wall height and length to still provide a figure.
What about Brick Slip sizes?
Brick Slips are normally cut from a standard sized brick, normally 'stock' type bricks such as the Kassandra Multi. The two faces are cut to 15 - 20mm with each brick becoming two slips. The centre core of the brick is normally recycled for a Range of uses.
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About Armstrong Cheshire
We offer one of the largest range of bricks under one roof in the UK. We also offer a massive range of Lintels. We supply all leading brands including Catnic, Birtley and most recently IG Lintels
Helpful Links
https://www.ibstockbrick.co.uk/brick-selector/
https://www.wienerberger.co.uk/product-range/bricks.html
Or for a detailed sizing guide click here