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The typical nominal dimensions for wood, such as 2 x 4, refer to the thickness and the width of the wood. If a third number is added onto the nominal dimensions, such as 2 x 4 x 96, it indicates the length of the wood.
Dimensional lumber is sold using what is referred to as the nominal dimensions of a board. These are the dimensions of the green board before it’s been dried and milled. The actual sizes of a board are smaller than that. The Actual Size of a 2×4. For example, a 2×4 board is actually 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″.
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.
Lumber is most often referred to by its nominal dimensions. Nominal dimensions may seem misleading but are common. Measure your area rug and it’s likely slightly smaller than its listed size. Home and apartment listings might advertise a 10’x12′ bedroom, but it may have been rounded up a few inches to create a clean number. Softwood Lumber
This chart shows the nominal (in name only) and corresponding actual (real) dimensions of common wood sizes like 2×4 dimensions and 1×4 lumber.
Commercial Lumber Sizes Chart Table. The following data is standard reference and size data for commercially available lumber within the USA. All data is in imperial units (Inches). Mechanical Tolerance Variations of Lumber: Per. Voluntary Product Standard PS 20-05, American Softwood Lumber Standard. Dimension lumber can be purchased as dry or ...
What are nominal lumber sizes? Nominal lumber sizes refer to the dimensions given to lumber before it undergoes drying and planing processes, which result in slightly smaller actual dimensions. These sizes are typically what you see labeled in stores. Why do nominal and actual lumber sizes differ?
Dimensional lumber has two size categories for width and thickness: nominal size and actual size. Dimensional lumber is wood lumber cut to pre-defined, standard sizes. A two-by-four (2x4) is an example of dimensional lumber.
Nominal vs. Actual Measurements of Dimension Lumber. The term dimension lumber is used for softwood species (such as pine or fir) utilized in the building trades for framing and other carpentry uses.
The table below provides some common North American Lumber nominal sizes and their equivalent actual size. For example, 1x8 actual size is 3/4" x 7-1/4", and 2 x 12 actual size is 1-1/2" x 11-1/4", and 2x 10 actual size is 1-1/2" x 9-1/4".