Nominal vs. Actual Measurements of Dimension Lumber
| Nominal Size | Actual Size |
|---|---|
| 2 x 4 | 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches (38 x 89 mm) |
| 2 x 6 | 1 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches (38 x 140 mm) |
| 2 x 8 | 1 1/2 x 7 1/4 inches (38 x 184 mm) |
| 2 x 10 | 1 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches (38 x 235 mm) |
Contents
What is the actual size of a 2 by 4?
Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Size Chart for Softwoods*
| Nominal Depth x Length | Actual Depth x Length |
|---|---|
| 2×4 | 1½” × 3½” |
| 2×6 | 1½” × 5½” |
| 2×8 | 1½” × 7¼” |
| 2×10 | 1½” × 9¼” |
What size is 2 by 4 in inches?
A 2×4 is actually 3-½ inches by 1-½ inches.
How long is a 2 by 4 piece of wood?
Standard 2×4 length
2×4 studs are typically 8 feet long, to match the standard length of a sheet of plywood or drywall. You can also find 2×4 studs that are 92 ⅝” long, which allows builders to account for the thickness of the boards that run along the top and bottom of the wall.
Are 2x4x8 actually 8 feet long?
2×4 – 8′ Lengths
Although not quite as common as the pre-cut studs I described above, my local Home Depot has a fairly good selection of 2x4s that measure 8 feet (96”).
What is 2×4 UK?
I know from reading around that size wise this would roughly equate to the UK’s 44 x 96 and 25 x 44. One weird thing about dimensional lumber is that the size (ex. 2×4) is nominal, meaning that it’s only the approximate size. For example, a 2×4 is actually 1.5″ x 3.5″ (38mm x 89mm) in cross-section.
Why is a 2×4 not really 2×4?
DIMENSIONAL LUMBER:
In the past, when a timber was called a 2×4 [or “two-by-four”], it actually measured 2 inches by 4 inches.Because of this extra milling, a 2×4 no longer measures a full 2 inches by four inches. Instead, a 2×4 is really only 1 1/2″ by 3 1/2″. The same is true of pine.
What does a 2 by 4 mean?
A length of lumber that is 2 inches thick and 4 inches wide, or that is trimmed to slightly smaller dimensions.Measuring two inches by four inches.
When did 2 by 4s get smaller?
This pressured further compromise because thinner 2x4s were a way to compete in price with wood alternatives. Size standards, maximum moisture content, and nomenclature were agreed upon only as recently as 1964. The nominal 2×4 thus became the actual 1½ x 3½, imperceptibly, a fraction of an inch at a time.
What are the dimensions of a 2 by 4 in CM?
Lumber Dimensions
| Nominal | Actual | Actual – Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 2″ x 2″ | 1-1/2″ x 1-1/2″ | 38 x 38 mm |
| 2″ x 4″ | 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ | 38 x 89 mm |
| 2″ x 6″ | 1-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ | 38 x 140 mm |
| 2″ x 8″ | 1-1/2″ x 7-1/4″ | 38 x 184 mm |
What is the actual size of a 4×4?
Nominal vs. Actual Measurements of Dimension Lumber
| Nominal Size | Actual Size |
|---|---|
| 2 x 10 | 1 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches (38 x 235 mm) |
| 2 x 12 | 1 1/2 x 11 1/4 inches (38 x 286 mm) |
| 4 x 4 | 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches (89 x 89 mm) |
| 4 x 6 | 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches (89 x 140 mm) |
What is the actual size of 2x4x8?
Actual Dimensions and Nominal Dimensions
| Nominal Measurement | Actual (inches) | Actual (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 x 2 | 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 | 38 x 38 |
| 2 x 4 | 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 | 38 x 89 |
| 2 x 6 | 1-1/2 x 5-1/2 | 38 x 140 |
| 2 x 8 | 1-1/2 x 7-1/4 | 38 x 184 |
How long is a 2x4x8 stud?
Two-by-six and two-by-four are the most common dimensions of wall studs. Standard walls of 8 feet have wall studs that are 92 inches. The studs are 104 1/2 inches in homes with 9-foot walls. Pre-cut studs are used in homes with a 10 foot wall.
How long is 8ft board?
Softwood Lumber Lengths
| Length in Feet | Length in Inches | Length in Meters |
|---|---|---|
| 6 feet | 72 inches | 1.829 meters |
| 8 feet | 96 inches | 2.438 meters |
| 10 feet | 120 inches | 3.048 meters |
| 12 feet | 144 inches | 3.658 meters |
What size is 2×4 timber UK?
2″x4″ timber is nominally 47mm x 100mm but is “regularised” with 3mm off the thickness and 5mm off the width, so it ends up being around 44mm x 95mm (may be nearer 45mm on the width).
What size is 4 by 2 timber?
x 100mm x 47mm
4×2 Timber lengths
4.8 metres x 100mm x 47mm.
What is 2×4 timber UK?
£14.76 Inc VAT. 47mm x 100mm Structural Graded C24 Treated Carcassing Timber 6000mm (4” x 2”) (7) £22.80 Inc VAT. 47mm x 100mm Structural Graded C24 Treated Carcassing Timber 4200mm (4” x 2”)
Are 2x4s smaller now?
The simple reason why 2×4 is not 2 inches by 4 inches is that lumber mills trim off rough or warped surfaces of a 2×4 to give it a more polished and finished look. By planning the lumber on all four sides, the original 2×4 is now reduced to 1 ½ inches by 3 1/2 inches.
Why is lumber smaller than the size it says?
Typically, that rough cut is smaller than the nominal dimensions because modern technology makes it possible to use the logs more efficiently. For example, a “2×4” board historically started out as a green, rough board actually 2 by 4 inches (51 mm × 102 mm).
Why is lumber a half inch short?
Wood is hygroscopic, so it adjusts its internal moisture to match the external moisture of its environment.Without the rough edges, what went in as a 2-by-4 planks of rough-sawn wood is now a tongue-tripping 1.5-by-3.5, having lost approximately ¼-inch on all sides to the planer and drying processes.
What are standard lumber sizes?
Dimensional Lumber
| Nominal Size | Actual Size |
|---|---|
| 2×12 | 1-1/2″ × 11-1/4″ |
| 4×4 | 3-1/2″ × 3-1/2″ |
| 4×6 | 3-1/2″ × 5-1/2″ |
| 6×6 | 5-1/2″ × 5-1/2″ |