LEGO DUPLO bricks are twice the length, width and height of corresponding standard LEGO bricks, a two-to-one scale relationship.
The DUPLO system was introduced in 1969 for younger children. Its larger elements are easier for small hands to grasp and are less likely to be swallowed than standard LEGO bricks. Despite the larger size, DUPLO bricks were designed to connect with standard LEGO bricks, allowing older and younger children to combine the two systems in some models.
The relationship is sometimes misunderstood as meaning that every DUPLO piece simply replaces one standard brick. In fact, the dimensions are doubled in each direction. A larger DUPLO brick therefore occupies eight times the volume of a similarly shaped standard brick, while its studs and tubes use compatible connection principles.
DUPLO sets commonly include animals, vehicles, buildings and familiar everyday scenes. The line’s name is derived from the Latin word “duplus,” meaning double, which matches its enlarged brick dimensions.