diff --git a/settings.hpp b/settings.hpp
index d646e57..a6575fb 100644
--- a/settings.hpp
+++ b/settings.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,20 @@ enum class Parity {
 	EVEN,
 };
 
+namespace detail {
+
+template <const DataBits dataBits>
+struct choose_data_size {
+	using type = uint8_t;
+};
+
+template <>
+struct choose_data_size<DataBits::NINE> {
+	using type = uint16_t;
+};
+
+} // namespace detail
+
 template <const uint32_t baudRate = 9600, const DataBits dataBits = DataBits::EIGHT, const Parity parity = Parity::NONE,
           const StopBits stopBits = StopBits::ONE>
 class settings {
@@ -37,7 +51,7 @@ class settings {
 	static constexpr auto DATA_BITS = dataBits;
 	static constexpr auto PARITY = parity;
 	static constexpr auto STOP_BITS = stopBits;
-	using data_t = uint8_t;
+	using data_t = typename detail::choose_data_size<DATA_BITS>::type;
 };
 
 } // namespace uart