The structures of seven benzene derivatives [1,2,3-tri(bromomethyl)benzene, (1); 3,5-di(bromomethyl)bromobenzene, (2); 2,5-di(bromomethyl)bromobenzene, (3); 4-(bromomethyl)-2,5-dibromotoluene, (4); 4-(bromomethyl)bromobenzene, (5); 2,3-di(bromomethyl)bromobenzene, (6) and (bromomethyl)-p-dibromobenzene, (7)] with bromo and bromomethyl (and in one case methyl) substituents are presented and analysed in terms of Br···Br interactions up to 4.0Å, supported by hydrogen bonds H···Br. Some interactions of the type Br···π and π···π are encountered and play a subordinate role in the packing. Despite the close chemical similarity of the compounds, some of which are isomers with permuted substituent positions, the packing motifs are highly variable. Compounds 2-5 are based on layer structures with Br n (n = 3, 4) and/or mixed Br/C rings. Compounds 1, 6 and 7 display three-dimensional packings of differing complexity, but with interpretable substructures; 1 can be analysed in terms of ribbons of linked Br 3 and Br 4 rings; 6 displays chains of linked Br 3 triangles; 7 consists of ribbons of linked Br 4 quadrilaterals.