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What are the dimensions of a bond beam?

Published in Concrete Masonry 1 min read

Bond beam concrete masonry units (CMU) blocks come in various sizes, but they share some common characteristics. Here's a breakdown of their nominal and actual dimensions:

Nominal Dimensions of Bond Beam CMU Blocks

  • Depth: 6”, 8”, 10”, or 12”
  • Height: 8”
  • Width: 16”

These nominal sizes are often used for planning purposes.

Actual Dimensions of Bond Beam CMU Blocks

  • Depth: 5.625” - 11.625” (14.3 - 29.5 cm)
  • Height: 7.625” (19.4 cm)
  • Width: 15.625” (39.7 cm)

These actual dimensions, which are slightly smaller than the nominal dimensions, must be considered when laying blocks. According to the provided reference, the actual depths range from 5.625 inches to 11.625 inches, the height is consistently 7.625 inches, and the width is 15.625 inches.


Dimension Nominal Measurement Actual Measurement
Depth 6", 8", 10", 12" 5.625" - 11.625" (14.3-29.5 cm)
Height 8" 7.625" (19.4 cm)
Width 16" 15.625" (39.7 cm)


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