Brick Types Explained: Choosing the Right Brick for Your Project

Why brick choice matters

Bricks look alike at a glance, but strength, water absorption, frost resistance and size vary a lot. Choosing the wrong type can leave you with spalling faces after the first hard winter, or a wall that costs more than it needs to. This guide covers the main categories used across North America, the UK and Australia.

Common (building) bricks

Common bricks are made for strength rather than looks. They're used for inner leaves of cavity walls, backing walls and anywhere the brick will be rendered, plastered or hidden. They are the cheapest option, but they aren't designed to be exposed to the weather long-term.

Facing bricks

Facing bricks are made for appearance and durability, in a wide range of colours and textures. They're the bricks you see on the outside of a house or a garden wall. In the US, ASTM C216 grades them SW (severe weathering) or MW (moderate weathering). Choose SW anywhere that freezes.

Engineering bricks

Engineering bricks are dense, strong and have very low water absorption. In the UK, Class A and Class B engineering bricks are used below the damp-proof course, in manholes, retaining walls and other places that are often wet. They're also a good choice for the first few courses of a garden wall.

Standard brick sizes by country

Brick sizes aren't universal, and that changes how many you need per square foot or square metre:

• US Modular: 7⅝″ × 2¼″ × 3⅝″, about 6.75 per sq ft with ⅜″ joints. The most common size in the US.
• US Queen and King: thinner and longer, popular for brick veneer. Queen needs about 5.5 per sq ft.
• UK Standard: 215 × 65 × 102.5 mm, about 60 per m² with 10 mm joints.
• Australian Standard: 230 × 76 × 110 mm, about 48 per m².
• European NF (Germany): 240 × 71 × 115 mm, about 50 per m².

Solid, cored and frogged bricks

Many modern bricks have holes (cores) or a recess (frog) to reduce weight and improve the bond with mortar. Lay frogged bricks frog-up and fill the frog for full strength. That uses more mortar, which our calculator allows for. Solid bricks are needed for exposed tops of walls, sills and some decorative work.

Estimating quantities

Once you've chosen a brick, measure your wall, subtract openings and allow 5–10% for waste and breakages. Our brick calculator does the arithmetic for every common size and also estimates mortar bags and total cost.