What is the standard brick size in Australia?
Australian brick sizes vary depending on type. The most widely used type of brick is a Common Burnt Clay Brick, making the Australian standard brick size 76mm high x 230mm long x 110mm wide. Face bricks also generally have the same dimensions as other common clay bricks. 2 Course Bricks are longer, taller and narrower than the standard.
There may be some variation in brick size due to individual manufacturing influences; this is common and generally unnoticeable. A brick’s deviation from the standard is measured by its Dimensional Quality Level – category DW1 means the height and width of a brick differ from the standard by less than 50mm, DW2 means the height and width differ by less than 40mm, and DWO refers to brick types with no standard sizing (e.g. Rammed Earth).
How much does a brick weigh?
A standard-sized clay brick should weigh just under 2 ½ kgs. This is of course subject to variation depending on type, manufacturing processes, and materials and most bricks will differ incrementally in weight.
Variation in size
The main reason for differences in sizing is the composition of the brick. For each type of brick, the standard size is one that will maximize efficiency while ensuring that it maintains its structural integrity. Part of the reason that face bricks are among the smaller sizes is because they are designed to fit comfortably in one hand, to make laying them easier. However, this differs significantly by country.
Standard Brick Width x Height x Length (by Country)
America – 92mm x 57mm x 193mm
UK - 101mm x 63mm x 215mm
Australia - 110mm x 76mm x 230mm
India - 114mm x 63mm x 228mm
Standard sizes are on average cheaper than custom sized brick. Usually, a standard brick is reasonably priced, selling for somewhere around $0.35-$0.90 per brick. On average, a common burnt clay brick sells for approx. $560 per 1000 in Melbourne, $650 in Sydney, $730 in Brisbane, $814 in Perth and $799 in Adelaide (standard clay common brick). For a face brick, the price increases by around $200 per thousand, though in Melbourne the average face brick cost is only $690, while Adelaide’s prices soar to $1,162.
Australian most common brick dimensions chart
|
Brick Type
|
Length (mm)
|
Width (mm)
|
Height (mm)
|
|
Common Burnt Clay
|
230
|
110
|
76
|
|
Face Brick
|
230
|
110
|
76
|
|
Double Course Bricks
|
290
|
90
|
162
|
|
Sand Lime Bricks
|
228
|
127
|
101
|
|
Brick Pavers
|
215
|
102
|
102
|
Standard brick Dims.
Brick measurements
1. Common burnt clay brick
These are the most widely used bricks in the industry. They are easily manufactured by pressing raw clay into a steel mould, dried and then fired in the kiln. Their most common uses are in the structural components of buildings – generally, residential houses – such as the foundations, columns and masonry walls. Ifused in external walls, they will need to be plastered and rendered. These bricks are employed for more general and hidden purposes because they have limited aesthetic appeal. Common Burnt Clay Bricks are among the cheapest type of brick and their dimensions are the industry standard brick size (76mm high x 230mm long x 110mm wide).
2. Face brick
Face bricks are bricks which are designed to be viewed and/or exposed to the elements. To fulfil this purpose, they are generally more attractive in terms of composition, colour and shape (usually with less deviation than Common Burnt Clay Bricks) and protected against weathering. Face bricks are usually used on the external walls of a project or, occasionally, internal feature walls of exposed brick. Almost all face bricks are only treated/textured on the side that will be visible. They are more expensive than Common Burnt Clay Bricks, though by how much depends on the specifics of local supply. Face Bricks share standard dimensions with Common Burnt Clay Bricks at 76mm high x 230mm long x 110mm wide.
3. Double course bricks
Two course bricks – also referred to as a “double brick” – are double the height of a standard brick and slightly longer. This makes them a cheaper option to standard sized bricks as they are quicker to lay, requiring less manufacturing time and less labour. Double Course Bricks are generally used for exterior walls as a feature, though they can be made from many types of brick (e.g. a double course face brick or a double course common clay brick) and therefore are capable of serving multiple purposes. Their standard dimensions are: 290mm Length x 90mm Width x 162mm height.
4. Sand lime bricks
Sand Lime Bricks are an alternative to concrete bricks. They are cured in an autoclave and categorised by their resistance to weather (MW – Moderate Weathering, SW – Severe Weathering). Sand lime bricks have a certain aesthetic quality as they are smoother and can easily be coloured. Sand Lime Bricks also do not require rendering and are fire resistant. The production of Sand Lime Bricks is cheaper than the high intensity firing of clay bricks, meaning that Sand Lime Bricks can be a less expensive alternative to traditional bricks. They are not well suited to foundational structures as they are susceptible to water damage. Sand Lime Bricks are best suited for external walls, like face bricks. Their dimensions are slightly larger than the standard, at 228mm (length) x 127mm (width) x 101mm (height).
5. Brick pavers
Unlike most bricks, Brick Pavers are solid and made to be laid flat (they cannot be used for vertical construction). They are ideally suited for the construction of garden paths, roads, courtyards etc. They are expensive compared to other forms of pavers (e.g. concrete) as their manufacturing process is the same as standard bricks. Brick pavers are durable, easy to repair and recycle, and have the external aesthetic appeal of face bricks. Their standard sizing is 215mm (length) x 102 (width) x 102 (height).
