2x4 actual size

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.

The most well-known piece of lumber is the 2x4, pronounced two-by-four. Many of you know this, but why is this a thing? But there is a reason. Put simply, the discrepancy in sizing comes from the need for the lumber industry to stay competitive with other market alternatives during times of scarcity. Before mass production of lumber and wood started around , trees were cut and made to order for carpenters. Sizes always varied, which left final sizing measurements up to the builders on site.

2x4 actual size

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 lumber dimensions for many common North American lumber sizes. Softwood lumber is generally used for framing walls and floors. Softwood lumber comes in a number of standard lengths as listed in the table below. According to NIST Publication P20 , actual lengths must be at least equal to the nominal length, but can be up to 3" longer than the nominal length. 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. 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.

In relation to the term dimensional lumber, dimensions only refer to the width and depth.

Chris Baylor is a woodworking expert and writer with over a decade of hands-on commercial carpentry experience. He has studied under master carpenters and also designs wooden tools and furniture, sharing tutorials on websites including Woodworkers Workshop and Homemade Tools. Many beginning woodworkers and DIYers are understandably confused by the way lumber products are sized. It can lead to considerable confusion if you are expecting a 2 x 4 stud to actually measure 2 inches by 4 inches, or if you expect your 1 x 6 board to actually have those measurements. You've just run into the reality of actual lumber sizes as compared to the nominal sizes—the sizes by which they are identified in the store. The measurements by which lumber is sold is virtually never the same as the actual dimensions of the boards when you measure them.

When we first started with woodworking projects, we were confused on what the actual sizing of lumber was. Now that we have taken on several diy wood projects, we have accumulated a lot of scrap wood. It was intimidating being in the home improvement store with huge pieces of lumber and barely any woodworking experience. As I started to take on more home DIY projects and other woodworking projects, I learned the actual size of lumber. I made this easy scrap wood desk using 2x4s, plywood, and corner modeling. I had extra 4x4s on hand, so I went a little overboard with the legs on this table. We made this small coffee table to fit perfectly in between our sectional sofa. The great thing about these snowmen is that they stand on their own because the 2x4s are solid pieces of wood.

2x4 actual size

Or have they intentionally sold a smaller board? It is neither the lumber manufacturers nor the hardware store that came up with lumber that has an actual size smaller than its nominal size. Quite simply, the resulting true dimension is a result of milling and planing. In planing, we flatten, reduce the thickness of, and impart a smooth surface to a rough piece of lumber or timber. These give wood a smooth finish and have it conform to the standard size. Lumber mills also round rough edges to reduce injury. This is true for the dimensions of other boards, whether or not they come from pine or cedar. Moreover, planed surfaces make for stronger, neater joints.

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Many beginning woodworkers and DIYers are understandably confused by the way lumber products are sized. Yet lengths of dimensional stock are always expressed as actual sizes. Nominal and actual dimensions differ. Standard widths are specified in the above publication, but can be customized as needed. People in the forest industry were under immense pressure to figure out how to become more efficient and compete. Woodworking Woodworking Basics. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Reviewed by Deane Biermeier. This development went hand-in-hand with the evolution of framing building. Wood was no longer cut from trees and shipped directly to a job site. According to the U. Keep in mind that dimensional softwood lumber that is sold at your home center or hardware store is expected to be used primarily for construction projects rather than fine woodworking pieces. Use profiles to select personalised content.

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Subscribe to the Archtoolbox Newsletter Receive a curated email with industry news focusing on practice, leadership, technology, and career growth. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. People in the industry preferred thinner, lighter sizes for longer hauls. Nominal vs. Article Updated: March 18, So what actually is the size of a 2x4? Due to the thickness of the saw blade and additional milling processes, the resultant 2x4 product is not 2 inches by 4 inches. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Put simply, the discrepancy in sizing comes from the need for the lumber industry to stay competitive with other market alternatives during times of scarcity. Here is a convenient chart of nominal dimension lumber sizes and their actual dimensions:. Sizes always varied, which left final sizing measurements up to the builders on site.