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Dimensional Lumber Sizes: Nominal vs. Actual

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Dimensional lumber is cut to a specific length, width, and depth. However, there is a difference between the nominal
size (what the lumber is referred to) and the actual size. The tables below provide both the nominal and actual sizes so
many common North American lumber sizes.

Table of Contents

Archtoolbox Products
Softwood Lumber Dimensions
Softwood lumber is generally used for framing walls and floors. In the United States, softwood lumber is governed by
the National Institute of Standards American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS 20).

North American Standard 1-by Lumber

NOMINAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (MM)

1x2 3/4 x 1 1/2 19 x 38

1x3 3/4 x 2 1/2 19 x 64

1x4 3/4 x 3 1/2 19 x 89

1x6 3/4 x 5 1/2 19 x 140

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NOMINAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (MM)

2x2 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 38 x 38

2x3 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 38 x 64 Newest Articles

2x4 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 38 x 89 Free Online Building Codes

2x6 1 1/2 x 5 1/2 38 x 140 Structural Plan Symbols

2x8 1 1/2 x 7 1/4 38 x 184 FF and FL Numbers - Floor Flatness and Leve

2 x 10 1 1/2 x 9 1/4 38 x 235 Review: Architects' Data

2 x 12 1 1/2 x 11 1/4 38 x 286 Fire Department Key Box

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North American Standard 3-by Lumber

NOMINAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (MM)

3x3 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 64 x 64

3x4 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 64 x 89

3x6 2 1/2 x 5 1/2 64 x 140

3x8 2 1/2 x 7 1/4 64 x 184

3 x 10 2 1/2 x 9 1/4 64 x 235

3 x 12 2 1/2 x 11 1/4 64 x 286

North American Standard 4-by Lumber

NOMINAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (MM)

4x4 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 89 x 89

4x6 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 89 x 140

4x8 3 1/2 x 7 1/4 89 x 184

4 x 10 3 1/2 x 9 1/4 89 x 235

4 x 12 3 1/2 x 11 1/4 89 x 286

North American Standard 6-by Lumber

NOMINAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (MM)

6x6 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 140 x 140

North American Standard 8-by Lumber

NOMINAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (INCHES) ACTUAL SIZE (MM)

8x8 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 184 x 184

Softwood Lumber Lengths

Softwood lumber comes in a number of standard lengths as listed in the table below.

LENGTH IN FEET LENGTH IN INCHES LENGTH IN METERS

6 feet 72 inches 1.829 meters

8 feet 96 inches 2.438 meters

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LENGTH IN FEET LENGTH IN INCHES LENGTH IN METERS

10 feet 120 inches 3.048 meters

12 feet 144 inches 3.658 meters

14 feet 168 inches 4.267 meters

16 feet 192 inches 4.877 meters

18 feet 216 inches 5.486 meters

20 feet 240 inches 6.096 meters

22 feet 264 inches 6.706 meters

24 feet 288 inches 7.315 meters

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Hardwood Lumber Dimensions

Hardwood lumber is sized based on how many sides are surfaced. Surfaced refers to a finishing process that smooths
the lumber to remove all saw marks.

In North America, hardwood lumber is usually specified using the quarter system, where a board is identified by its
thickness in quarters of an inch. For instance, hardwood trim that ends up being just over 1" thick (surfaced on 2 sides)
is called a five-quarter (5/4) board.

Hardwood board widths vary. In most cases, hardwood boards come in random widths to be ripped to size by the
woodworker. However, in some cases, like the big-box hardware stores, the boards come in dimensional widths similar
to softwood widths. It is advisable to check with your contractor or lumber supplier before finalizing design details so you
aren't surprised by what you receive.

NOMINAL ROUGH ACTUAL SIZE: SURFACED 1 ACTUAL SIZE: SURFACED 2

SIZE SIZE SIDE SIDES

– 1/2 inch 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) 5/16 inch (7.9 mm)

– 5/8 inch 1/2 inch (13 mm) 7/16 inch (11 mm)

– 3/4 inch 5/8 inch (16 mm) 9/16 inch (14 mm)

4/4 inch 1 inch 7/8 inch (22 mm) 13/16 inch (21 mm)

5/4 inch 1 1/4 inch 1 1/8 inch (29 mm) 1 1/16 inch (27 mm)

6/4 inch 1 1/2 inch 1 3/8 inch (35 mm) 1 5/16 inch (33 mm)

8/4 inch 2 inches 1 13/16 inch (46 mm) 1 3/4 inch (44 mm)

12/4 inch 3 inches 2 13/16 inch (71 mm) 2 3/4 inch (70 mm)

16/4 inch 4 inches 3 13/16 inch (97 mm) 3 3/4 inch (95 mm)

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Glue Laminated Lumber Dimensions

The following table comes from the American Institute of Timber Construction's Standard Specification for
Structural Glued Laminated Timber of Hardwood Species publication.
ANSI/AITC A190.1-1992 allows for any width and depth of glue laminated timber. Standard widths are specified in the
above publication, but can be customized as needed. A wide range of depths are available, far to many to list here, so
please contact your local manufacturer for more information on their offerings - in general depths start at 6" and go up
to 30" and beyond. Of course, lengths are customized for each job.

NOMINAL WIDTH ACTUAL FINISHED WIDTH

3" 2 1/2"

4" 3 1/8" or 3 1/2"

6" 5 1/8" or 5 1/2"

8" 6 3/4"

10" 8 3/4"

12" 10 3/4"

14" 12 1/4"

16" 14 1/4"

Lumber Manufacturers
The links below will take you to Archimat, our building product directory, which hosts a list of manufacturers.

Wood / Plastics / Composites

Rough Carpentry
Finish Carpentry
Wood Decking

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