Brick bats and closures
Where necessary, bricks can be cut to special sizes or shapes, for example to finish off a wall at the corners.
Bricks that are cut along their length are sometimes referred to as closers, while those cut across their width are referred to as brick bats. Some common types of closers and brick bats include:
- Queen closer (half) - a half a brick cut lengthways, used at a course end next to the quoin header.
- Queen closer (quarter) - a quarter brick cut lengthways.
- King closer - regular length and thickness a long bevel from one side to about halfway across the adjacent end, leaving a three-quarter brick length for finishing a course on the inside of a corner.
- Bevelled closer - a chamfered half brick cut width ways.
- Mitred closer - a chamfered half brick cut width ways to 45 to 60 degrees.
- Standard bat - a square cut brick across the short length. (not to be confused with a bat brick)
- Half bat - a square cut brick across the short length leaving half. (not to be confused with a bat brick)
- Three-quarter bat - a square cut brick across the short length leaving three quarters. (not to be confused with a bat brick)
- Bevelled bat - an angle cut brick across the short length, at varying distances.
- (Bat brick - a different type of brick entirely and merely describes a brick that is designed with a thin slot on the face and a hollow into the brick, specifically to create a habitat for wild bats in urban areas.)
NB Short Guide: Traditional Scottish Brickwork, published, on 1 March 2014 by Historic Environment Scotland, defines a closer brick as: ‘A brick cut or specifically moulded to expose a half header on the face of a wall and used to complete bonding patterns.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.