Answers.Body: <p>LDU stands for <a href="http://www.lugnet.com/~330/FAQ/Build/dimensions" rel="noreferrer">LDraw Unit</a> - the basic unit of measurement in <a href="http://www.ldraw.org/" rel="noreferrer">LDraw</a>, the open standard for LEGO CAD programs, and map to the "Fine" grid setting in applications such as MLCad.</p>
  
  <p>Common measurements include:</p>
  
  <pre><code>1 brick width/depth = 20 LDU
  1 brick height      = 24 LDU
  1 plate height      =  8 LDU
  1 stud diameter     = 12 LDU
  1 stud height       =  4 LDU    
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/t74ys.png" alt="A 1x1 Brick as 3 Plates in LDUs"><br />
  A 1x1 Brick as 3 Plates in LDUs (via <a href="http://www.ldraw.org/Article218.html#ldu" rel="noreferrer">LDraw</a>)</p>
  
  <p>The typical LU (LEGO Unit) measurements are coarser at:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Brick height = 6
  Plate height = 2
  Stud pitch   = 5
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Based on the <a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/288/what-are-the-dimensions-of-a-lego-brick">physical dimensions of a LEGO brick</a>, this means that <code>1LDU == 0.4mm</code>, based on a stud height (1LU) of 1.6mm.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-21T16:42:21.843Z
Answers.Text: It might be worth mentioning that this all means (along with the answer to the other question) that 1 LDU = 0.4 mm.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Random832
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-21T16:59:14.620Z
Answers.Text: @Random832 consider it done.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-21T14:12:05.160Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-21T16:58:43.967Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-04-13T12:47:56.213Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Body: <p>What are LDUs? I see technical people talking about plans and designs in terms of LDUs. I understand it's a measurement unit.</p>
  
  <p>What does it mean and how do LEGO bricks relate to them? Why are they needed?</p>
  
Tags: <terminology><size><ldraw>
Title: What are LDUs and how do they relate to LEGO bricks?
UserDisplayName: jfyelle
ThreadText: # What are LDUs and how do they relate to LEGO bricks?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-11-21)
  
  What are LDUs? I see technical people talking about plans and designs in terms of LDUs. I understand it's a measurement unit.
  
  What does it mean and how do LEGO bricks relate to them? Why are they needed?
  
  **Tags:** terminology, size, ldraw
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2011-11-21. Score: 23 | Accepted answer
  
  LDU stands for LDraw Unit - the basic unit of measurement in LDraw, the open standard for LEGO CAD programs, and map to the "Fine" grid setting in applications such as MLCad.
  Common measurements include:
  1 brick width/depth = 20 LDU
  1 brick height      = 24 LDU
  1 plate height      =  8 LDU
  1 stud diameter     = 12 LDU
  1 stud height       =  4 LDU    
  
  
  A 1x1 Brick as 3 Plates in LDUs (via LDraw)
  The typical LU (LEGO Unit) measurements are coarser at:
  Brick height = 6
  Plate height = 2
  Stud pitch   = 5
  
  Based on the physical dimensions of a LEGO brick, this means that 1LDU == 0.4mm, based on a stud height (1LU) of 1.6mm.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: It might be worth mentioning that this all means (along with the answer to the other question) that 1 LDU = 0.4 mm.  
  > **username_1**: @Random832 consider it done.  
  
  ---
  
  