Actual width of a 2x10

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.

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.

Actual width of a 2x10

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. If you are new to buying softwood and hardwood lumber for craft projects or home improvement work, one of the first things you notice is that the dimensions by which the wood is sold called the nominal measurements are not the same as the actual measurements. To further confuse things, hardwood sizing standards are different than softwood standards, and hardwood is typically sold by a unit of volume known as the board foot , not by board dimension. All of this can make things rather confusing when you are buying lumber to make a project to precise dimensions. The term dimension lumber is used with softwood species such as pine or fir that are used in the building trades for framing and other carpentry uses. The reasons why the nominal dimension of this lumber what the lumber is called is larger than the actual dimensions involves historical practices in the lumber industry. The old standard of calling this board a 2 x 4 still remains, even though in today's lumber practices, the board has never been 2 x 4 inches in size. The actual vs. Shrinkage is more pronounced laterally across the grain than it is longitudinally with the grain , so a board sold as an 8-foot 2 x 4 is generally very close to the full 8 feet in length. The sizing standards used for hardwood lumber such as oak, maple, birch, and mahogany of the type used in fine cabinetry and furniture is a bit more confusing. Not only are different measurement standards used, but the sizing also depends on whether the stock is surfaced on one side S1S or on two sides S2S.

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This calculator uses data presented in the table below. Pressure-treating the wood with preservative will also result in a small amount of additional weight after the board has had time to dry out after the treatment process. This is self-explanatory. Moisture Content : The moisture content of the wood is a big factor as well, but since all lumber tends to eventually arrive at the air-dried moisture content, variations in moisture content can be considered a temporary consideration. Green lumber has a higher moisture content than air-dried lumber, and air-dried lumber has a higher moisture content than oven-dried lumber. Oven-dried wood also called kiln-dried wood normally starts off with a somewhat lower moisture content than air-dried wood, but tends to slowly absorb enough moisture from its environment to eventually reach the same moisture content as air-dried wood in the same environment. This is because when you find them in the store, they are usually freshly-treated, or have only been drying for a couple of weeks. This weight is temporary.

Actual width of a 2x10

If you buy something through our posts, we may get a small commission. Read more here. Due to processing, the actual size becomes smaller. For example, softwood loses around half an inch after processing. Dimensions displayed commercially are called nominal size. The actual size is slightly smaller than its nominal size, and it is to be expected. The size of lumber sellers displayed in stores and commercials is based on measurements after lumber is cut into shapes.

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In most cases, hardwood boards come in random widths to be ripped to size by the woodworker. Anyone tearing down an especially old home may have encountered this. In other words, a board that is 1 inch thick, and 12 inches wide and long contains one board foot of hardwood lumber. The length is treated separately. Our list of the top reference books for architects. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data. Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board. Dimensional lumber is cut to a specific length, width, and depth. The wood feels somewhat thicker, but it's not until a tape measure is applied that this two-by-four proves to actually be 2 inches by 4 inches. Dimensional Lumber: Nominal Size vs. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. A wide range of depths are available, far too many to list here, so please contact your local manufacturer for more information on their offerings - in general depths start at 6" and go up to 30" and beyond. In relation to the term dimensional lumber, dimensions only refer to the width and depth. Yet lengths of dimensional stock are always expressed as actual sizes. Measure advertising performance.

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.

During this period, the building industry sought to control costs and minimize waste by developing standard sizes and grades for building timber. For the average do-it-yourselfer, most long, thin lumber that will be used for building is considered to be dimensional lumber. In relation to the term dimensional lumber, dimensions only refer to the width and depth. All of this can make things rather confusing when you are buying lumber to make a project to precise dimensions. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data. A board measured after it's been dried and surfaced has an actual, or final size. These dimensions do not apply to laminated veneer lumber boards, hardwoods, or floorboards. Receive a curated email with industry news focusing on practice, leadership, technology, and career growth. When you take that "2 in. Measure content performance. Measure content performance. 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. Use limited data to select content. Jillian is a freelance journalist with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. Use limited data to select advertising.