2x4 actual size

The most well-known piece of lumber is the 2x4, pronounced two-by-four. Many of you know this, 2x4 actual size, 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.

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.

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. Dimensional lumber is the structural element responsible for nearly every type of residential home being built today. There are two types of sizes for dimensional lumber: nominal and actual. A board measured before it has been dried and planed on all four sides has a nominal size. A board measured after it's been dried and surfaced has an actual, or final size. This is very important to know when working on projects that need precise measurements. Read on to learn more about how dimensional lumber sizes work. Dimensional lumber is wood lumber that is cut to pre-defined, standard sizes. Dimensional lumber sizes such as two-by-four or 2x4 refer to the depth and width of the material, not to its length. Dimensional lumber is sawn, planed, and sometimes further smoothed to make it immediately ready for many applications. It's the most common type of lumber used for building because its consistent sizing allows builders to use it interchangeably throughout the home. Standardization also means that builders or do-it-yourselfers throughout the entire country are using lumber that is sized the same way.

A board measured before it has been dried and planed on all four sides has a nominal size. Related Topics.

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. So what exactly is going on here?

Check out this guide to learn! In fact, 2x4s can vary in terms of length, and the same is true of 2x6s, 4x4s, etc. Back then, wood was cut to order, so sizes always varied. Still, the ultimate size of a board was determined by the builder on site, which is still how it is nowadays. During the early years of American wood mass production, people viewed timber as an unlimited resource, one that was readily available for construction and other purposes. But as U. At the time, most US-grown timber came from forests around, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, mainly because these cities were major transportation hubs. At a certain point, there was extreme demand for wood that grew in southern pine forests, like longleaf pine, loblolly pine, and slash pine. Such forests are known as pineries.

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.

Dial of the old ones

If you tried to repair or sister a newer wall system built with modern-day 2x4s with that older stud, portions of the older stud would protrude, making it impossible to hang the drywall. Softwood lumber is generally used for framing walls and floors. So, this example board's actual length is 8 feet. Use profiles to select personalised content. Sizes always varied, which left final sizing measurements up to the builders on site. Dimensional lumber is cut to a specific length, width, and depth. Hardwood lumber is sized based on how many sides are surfaced. Dimensional Lumber Dimensional lumber is wood lumber that is cut to pre-defined, standard sizes. She is a writer and fact checker for TripSavvy, as well as a fact-checker for The Spruce. Hardwood board widths vary. Trending Videos. Recent Posts See All. But a judge dismissed both claims.

In fact, most building materials are sold by nominal, rather than actual, sizes for a variety of reasons. Wood and lumber are no different, and for most dimensional lumber, you will find that the material is sold and listed by its nominal size, rather than its actual size.

More from The Spruce. But there is a reason. These dimensions do not apply to laminated veneer lumber boards, hardwoods, or floorboards. Standard widths are specified in the above publication, but can be customized as needed. In relation to the term dimensional lumber, dimensions only refer to the width and depth. The advent of the railroad made it possible for other cities to ship lumber to different parts of the country. A typical dimensional lumber designation might read as such: "2 in. This can be confusing because it is a mixture of nominal and actual sizes. Other types of lumber, such as plywood and other sheet goods, are offered in prescribed standard sizes but are not referred to as dimensional lumber. At this point, the 2 x 4 is actually 2 inches x 4 inches, a 2 x 10 is actually 2 inches x 10 inches, etc. Today, we still follow this standard and it is widely accepted in the building industry. Create profiles to personalise content. Surfaced refers to a finishing process that smooths the lumber to remove all saw marks.