The geometry, geostatistics, and scaling properties of faults are much more complex than those of other major structure classes. This is partly because the size of faults and fault zones are much larger than those of the other three major structure classes, and partly because fault zones generally include one or more types of other major structure types. Nevertheless, the methodology of the study of these properties is the same as that used for studying the properties of the other three major structure types.

The dimensions of faults are discussed under length, height and width. However, the most important dimensional characteristics of a fault is its displacement discontinuity or slip which is a measure of a fault's magnitude. This parameter is essential for fault scaling relationships, the most important of which are defined in terms of the maximum fault slip and fault dimensions (either fault surface area in three dimension or fault length and width in two dimension).

Patterns of faults include some common fault patterns in various scales presented under fault sets, multiple fault sets, and fault domains and assemblages.