Handy Lumber Size Chart



Posted: Wednesday, July 27, 2005

by
Cedar Creek Woodshop

Nominal Size - Refers to the size of a piece of lumber before it is dressed
and seasoned.  It is used to designate a particular size piece of lumber,
such as 2x4, 2x6, etc.




Actual Size - Refers to minimum acceptable size after it has been
dressed and seasoned.  A nominal 2x4 can have a minimum actual size of
1.5 in. x 3.5 in.  When referring to a specific piece of lumber, the nominal
size is used.






Size Chart For Framing Lumber





















Nominal Size



Actual Size






2 x 2


1 1/2 x 1 1/2






2 x 3


1 1/2 x 2 1/2





2 x 4
1 1/2 x 3 1/2





2 x 6
1 1/2 x 5 1/2





2 x 8
1 1/2 x 7 1/4





2 x 10
1 1/2 x 9 1/4





2 x 12
1 1/2 x 11 1/4





4 x 4
3 1/2 x 3 1/2





4 x 6
3 1/2 x 5 1/2





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





6 x 6
5 1/2 x 5 1/2









Boards















Nominal Size
Actual Size





1 x 2
3/4 x 1 1/2





1 x 3
3/4 x 2 1/2





1 x 4
3/4 x 3 1/2





1 x 5
3/4 x 4 1/2




1 x 6
3/4 x 5 1/2





1 x 8
3/4 x 7 1/4





1 x 10
3/4 x 9 1/4





1 x 12
3/4 x 11 1/4



This Article has been viewed 18,922 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)
» left by Anonymous
 4 years 276 days ago.
Exactly what I was looking for.
» left by Roman
 4 years 173 days ago.
yes, very helpful , consider doing the same thing in metric
» left by Anonymous
 1 year 162 days ago.
Chart needs to be formatted for printing on a single side of standard 8.5x11 paper. A "formatted for printing" option would be ideal with a "PRINT" button.
» left by Anonymous 1 year 162 days ago.
It's free, so "YOU" format it. I bet you voted for Obama too!!!
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