Wood Sizes Explained: Everything You Need To Know
Confused about all the wood sizing available in stores? This is your detailed guide to understanding everything you need to know about wood sizes.
As a beginner woodworker, one of the most confusing things can be the size of the wood.
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Purchasing lumber at a home improvement store or lumber yard can be intimidating enough. Then you add in the wood sizes and everything is as confusing as ever!
Wood sizing can be extremely confusing because what you see is not the exact size you buy.
The woodworking plans called for 2×4 boards which means that the boards should be 2″ x 4″ right? Wrong! They are actually 1.5″ x 3.5″. But why?! Don’t worry, we’ll get into all the details about it!
And if you end up trying to buy hardwood from a lumber yard, there are 4/4 and S2S, etc!
What are wood sizes?
When you start working on projects and reading plans, you will see boards with numbers like 1×4 (spoken as one by four), 1×6 (spoken as one by six), 2×4 (spoken as two by four), etc.
Here is what each of these means:
- First number = thickness of the board in inches
- Second number = width of the board in inches
This means that a 1×4 is 1″ in thickness and 4″ in width – at least it’s supposed to be.
However, unfortunately, it is a little more complicated than that.
1×4 is the nominal size of the board. The actual sizing can be different (because wouldn’t that just be too easy?). More on that is below.
You might also encounter the naming of the board as 1 x 4 x 8.
- The third number is the length of the board in feet.
A board can be available in different lengths. The most common being 8 feet but 6 feet, 10 feet, and 12 feet are also available.
What is dimensional lumber?
Dimensional lumber is lumber that has been cut to a specific size (and shape) for use in a construction project. Dimensional lumber is the most common form of lumber used in building structures, furniture, and other woodworking projects.
Unlike rough-sawn lumber cut directly from trees, dimensional lumber pieces are cut to standard sizes and grades. Dimensional lumber is typically identified by its nominal size, which is slightly larger than the actual profile size of the lumber.
Let’s talk about nominal and actual sizes.
Difference between Nominal and Actual lumber dimension
Nominal dimensions are the size of the board when it is first cut from a tree and the actual dimension is the size of the wood once it is dried (either air-dried or kiln-dried) and planed.
When lumber is first cut from a log it is cut to 2″ by 4″ (or whichever regular dimension it is supposed to be). But after it is cut, it dries and shrinks. Once it is dry, it goes through a planer tool which trims it to an actual dimension of 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ dimension.
You can still find nominal dimension lumber at a sawmill and dry and mill it down yourself using a planer and jointer.
For everyday woodworkers and DIYers, it is easier to pick up a board off the shelf in a big box home improvement store or lumber yard.
Also note – this sizing nomenclature is used for softwoods like fir, pine, redwood, cedar, etc. Softwoods come from coniferous trees and are sold by the piece or by linear foot (price per foot of the board).
Hardwoods like oak, cherry, maple, and walnut that come from deciduous trees are sold using a different nomenclature we will discuss below.
Nominal vs Actual Wood Size Chart
Here are the common nominal and actual sizes of dimensional boards you will see in woodworking plans:
Nominal Size | Actual Size |
---|---|
1 x 2 | 3/4″ x 1-1/2″ |
1 x 3 | 3/4″ × 2-1/2″ |
1 x 4 | 3/4″ × 3-1/2″ |
1 x 5 | 3/4″ × 4-1/2″ |
1 x 6 | 3/4″ × 5-1/2″ |
1 x 8 | 3/4″ × 7-1/4″ |
1 x 10 | 3/4″ × 9-1/4″ |
1 x 12 | 3/4″ × 11-1/4″ |
2 x 2 | 1-1/2″ × 1-1/2″ |
2 x 3 | 1-1/2″ × 2-1/2″ |
2 x 4 | 1-1/2″ × 3-1/2″ |
2 x 6 | 1-1/2″ × 5-1/2″ |
4 x 4 | 3-1/2″ × 3-1/2″ |
Get a downloadable version of the size chart here.
Hardwood Sizes
While you can find some hardwood in home improvement stores that are sold using the nominal sizing discussed above, a lumber store typically sells them using different identifiers.
There are two types of identifiers you will see with hardwood lumber:
- The thickness is denoted by 4/4, 6/4, 8/4, etc.
- The number of planed sides – denoted by S1S, S2S, etc.
The thickness of hardwood lumber
Hardwood thickness is typically denoted by quarter. Each quarter is 1/4″ thick. So essentially, when we talk about the thickness of the board, we are talking about the number of quarters of an inch thick the board is.
For example:
- 4/4 (spoken as four quarter) is 4 x 1/4″ = 1″ thick.
- 6/4 (spoken as six-quarter) is 6 x 1/4″ = 1 1/2″ thick.
- 8/4 (spoken as eight-quarter) is 8 x 1/4″ = 2″ thick.
However, just like nominal and actual sizing for softwoods above, there is one more identifier that decides the actual thickness – the smoothness of the board.
Number of sides planed for hardwood lumber
The sawmill that cuts lumber from a log is very aggressive and results in “rough-sawn” lumber with very rough surfaces. The lumber needs to be planed to be smooth and flat before it can be used in a project.
Lumber yards may plane a few surfaces before selling the boards to give you a head start.
The number of surfaces that have been planed for you is denoted by S1S, S2S, S3S, and S4S.
- S1S stands for “surfaced one side” and means that one side of the board has been surfaced or planed.
- S2S stands for “surfaced 2 sides” denoting that two parallel faces of the board have been surfaced and planed.
- S3S stands for “surfaced 3 sides” and indicates that the board has been surfaced on two parallel faces and one edge leaving the second edge rough.
- S4S stands for “surfaced on 4 sides” and indicates that all four sides of the board have been surfaces and are parallel to the opposite face.
- S1S2E stands for “Surface 1 side and 2 edges,” which indicates that the board has been surfaced on one face and 2 edges, leaving the second face rough.
As a result of the surfacing, the board loses thickness which results in the actual size being slightly smaller than the nominal size.
For example, an S1S 4/4 board is 7/8″ in actual thickness. See the hardwood lumber thickness chart below for more details.
Hardwood widths
Hardwood is usually available in random widths, but you can potentially find widths that are close to the standard widths of dimensional lumber.
What is a board foot?
Hardwoods are typically sold as $/board feet. A board foot is a unit of measurement based on the volume of the wood. The base unit for calculation is a board that is 1″ x 12″ x 12″.
- 1 x 12 x12 = 144 cubic inches or 1 board foot.
To calculate how many board feet are in your lumber and hence the price, the formula is –
- Thickness (inches) x Width (inches) x Length (inches) / 144 = Board Feet
Example:
- A 60″ long, 5.25″ wide 4/4 board = (1 x 5.25 x 60)/144 = 2.29 board feet.
Hardwood Lumber Sizing Chart
Quarter Size | Nominal Size | Actual Size (S1S) | Actual Size (S2S) |
---|---|---|---|
– | 1/2″ | 3/8″ | 5/16″ |
– | 5/8″ | 1/2″ | 7/16″ |
– | 3/4″ | 5/8″ | 9/16″ |
4/4 | 1″ | 7/8″ | 13/16″ |
5/4 | 1-1/4″ | 1-1/8″ | 1-1/16″ |
6/4 | 1-1/2″ | 1-3/8″ | 1-5/16″ |
8/4 | 2″ | 1-13/16″ | 1-3/4″ |
12/4 | 3″ | 2-13/16″ | 2-3/4″ |
16/4 | 4″ | 3-13/16″ | 3-3/4″ |
Get a downloadable version of the size chart here.
Plywood Dimensions
Plywood sheets are available in thicknesses ranging from 1/8″ all the way to 1″.
1/8″, 1/2″, and 3/4″ are the most commonly available. Similar to dimensional lumber, sanding and smoothing plywood in the manufacturing process removes material reducing the actual thickness of the sheet of plywood.
Plywood comes in large sheets with the full sheet of plywood being 4 feet x 8 feet but you can also buy smaller sizes at home improvement stores.
Woodworking plans will typically denote the size of plywood required with the thickness and the size of the sheet.
- full sheet = 4′ x 8′ plywood
- half sheet = 4′ 4′ plywood
- quarter sheet = 2′ x 4′ plywood
Now you know exactly what lumber sizes mean – whether it is softwood or hardwood, home improvement store, or lumberyard. You also know that nominal sizes and actual sizes are different which means you always want the actual measurements of your boards before starting on a project so you can adjust for the differences accordingly and have the correct size and amount of lumber for your next project.
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Anika's goal is to inspire and empower beginners with woodworking, DIY, home improvement, and home decor ideas.
She wants everyone to unlock their creative potential and experience the feeling that comes with making something. Nothing feels better better than seeing something and saying "I can make that!"
How about posting this as a download? Maybe put the tables on a single page in the download so it can posted on a wall for quick reference.
Hi Roger, It is available as a download. There is a pop up page that shows up letting you download it. However, I can see it can be a problem if yu have a pop up blocker. I will add a link to getting the download in the post. Thanks!
As a handyman DYI, these dimensional charts will definitely be helpful…
Thanks for sharing the article
Hello dear friend. I just made my first planter box and working on my second one. The plans and pictures you provide are very helpful and valuable to me. Also simple to use and follow. THANK YOU.