Understanding Actual vs. Nominal Lumber Sizes By CHRIS BAYLOR The Spruce / Alex Diaz Dos Ifyou are new to buying softwood and hardwood lumber for craft projects or home improvement work, one of the first things you notice is that the dimensions by which the woods sold (called the nominal measurements) are not the same as the actual measurements. Apiece of 1x 4 pine, forexample, actually measures 3/4inch thick and 3 1/2 inch wide, while a 2 x 4 framing stud is actually about 1 1/2 inch thick and 3 1/2 inches wide. To further confuse things, hardwood sizing standards are different than softwood standards, and hardwoods typically sold by a unit of volume knownas the board foot, not by board dimension. Allof this can make things rather confusing when youare buying lumber to make a projectto precise dimensions. Nominal vs. Actual Measurements of Dimension Lumber The term dimension lumberis used with softwood species (such as pine or fir) that are used in the building trades or framing and other carpentry uses. The reasons why the nominaldimension of this lumber (what the lumber is called) is larger than the actual dimensions involve historical practices in the lumberindustry. Originally, a2 x4 was cut as a rough green board that was exactly 2x 4 inchesin size, but by the time the boards were dried and planed, the boards became smaller, approaching the now-standard 2x 4 dimensions of 1 1/2 x3 1/2 inchesin size. In modern lumber practices, the boards are no longer exactly 2x4 inches when first cut, but today's drying and planing methods still leave the board 1 1/2 inches thick and 3 1/2 inches wide. The old standard of calling this boarda 2x 4 still remains, even though in today's lumber practices, the board has neverbeen 2x 4 inchesin size. The actual vs. nominal sizes for common sizes of dimension lumber: Temnry CoE 1x2 3/4 x 11/2 inches (19 x 38 mm) 1x3 3/4x21/2 inches (19 x 64mm) 1x4 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches (19 x 89 mm) 1x5 3/4 x 41/2 inches (19 x 114 mm) 1x6 3/4 x5 1/2 inches (19 x 140 mm) 1x8 3/4x7 1/4 inches (19 x 184 mm) 1x10 3/4 x9 1/4 inches (19 x 235 mm) 1x12 3/4 x11 1/4 inches (19 x 286 mm) 2x2 1.1/2 x1 1/2 inches (38 x 38 mm) 2x3 11/2.x2 1/2 inches (38 x 64 mm) 2x4 1.1/2x3 1/2 inches (38 x 89 mm) 2x6 11/2x5 1/2 inches (38 x 140 mm) 2x8 1.1/2x7 1/4 inches (38 x 184 mm) 2x10 11/2 x9 1/4 inches (38 x 235 mm) 2x12 1.1/2 x11 1/4 inches (38x 286 mm) axa 3/23 1/2 inches (89 x89 mm)4x6 3 1/2 x5 1/2 inches (89 x 140 mm) 6x6 5 1/2 x5 12 inches (140 x140 mm) Shrinkage is more pronounced laterally (across the grain) than it is longitudinally (with the grain), soa board sold as an 8-foot2 x4 is generally very close to the full 8 feetin length. Hardwood Sizing The sizing standards used for hardwood lumber (such as oak, maple, birch, and mahogany) of the type Used in fine cabinetry and furniture is a bit more confusing. Not only are different measurement standards used, but the sizing also depends on whetherthe stockis surfaced on one side (S15) or on two sides (S28). (eminent sis By 1/2 inch, 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) 5/16 inch (7.9 mm) 5/8 inch 41/2 inch (13 mm) 7/46 inch (11 mm) 3/4 inch 5/8 inch (16 mm) 9/16 inch (14 mm) (4/4) inch 7/8 inch (22 mm) 13/16 inch (21. mm) 1.1/4 (5/4) inches 1.1/8 inches (29 mm) 11/6 inches (27 mm) 11/2 (6/4)inches: 13/8 inches (35 mm) 15/16 inches (33 mm) 2 (8/4) inches 1.13/16 inches (46 mm) 13/4 inches (44 mm) 3 (12/4) inches 2.13/16 inches (71 mm) 23/4inches(70 mm) 4 (16/4) inches 3 13/16 inches (97 mm) 3 3/4 inches (95mm) Hardwoodsare rarely sold in standard dimensions the way softwoodsare. Instead, suppliers generally sell hardwoods in a unit of volume knownas the board foot. One board foot is equalto 144 cubicinches of wood. In other words, a board that is 1 inch thick, and 12 inches wide and long contains one board foot of hardwood lumber. Additionally, hardwood may be sold in quarters. Each quarterrefersto 1/4 inch of thickness, meaning that a 5/4 board is roughly 1 1/4 inches thick. f your project calls for a piece thatis exactly 1 inch thick, you'll want to purchase a 5/4 board and mill it downto the propersize usinga jointer/planer. Plywood Plywood is usually sold in 4 x 8-foot sheets. The most common nominal thicknesses of plywood are 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch, but once again the actual sizes are slightly different. A sheet of 1/2-inch plywoodis really 15/32 inch thick, while a 3/4-inch sheet is 23/32 inch thick. Plywood is graded so that each face receivesagrade of A, B, C, or D, with A representing the smoothest sanded finish. For example, AA plywood hasa furniture -grade finish on both sides, while BC plywood will be graded 8 onone side and C on the other.