How High Are Concrete Blocks?

Average Block

• Although blocks come in numerous sizes, the average block height is 8 inches. They are either hollow or solid depending on the structure you are building, and are commonly known as cinder blocks. Their total measurements are 8 inches high by 8 inches deep and 16 inches long. They can be used in house foundations, commercial foundations, retaining walls and as the base layer for interior walls that will be covered with tile later on.

Cosmetic vs. Structural

• You'll need to employ different construction methods depending on whether the blocks are used for cosmetic purposes or for structural needs. For example, retaining walls used in the garden simply to create a planter perimeter do not require any structural support. But any walls over 4 feet in height or walls that have weight to bear will have to be reinforced with rebar or other steel frames to ensure the strength of the block as it goes up past the 4-foot mark.

Footers

• While cosmetic walls under 4 feet in height do not necessarily need a footer, anything above that height needs a footer under the wall. Footers act by spreading out the weight of the wall and they are usually created out of poured concrete that is as wide as half the height of the wall (as a general rule) and can range in thickness from a few inches up to several feet thick for commercial applications. The exact specifications depend on the height of the wall, which is figured by a structural engineer.

Potential

• Cinder blocks may have an average size that is used in most structures, but the reality is that there are nearly limitless variations in both block size and height. While a structural engineer is required for anything other than cosmetic walls, blocks can be as high as the engineer needs them to be. This is evident in skyscrapers around the world, rising up hundreds of feet into the air with reinforced steal, beams and other structural elements.