what size is 2 by 4 timber

Full Answer

What is 2x4 lumber made of?

2x4 lumber is made from a variety of softwood species. Back in the day, each mill cut down their logs into boards that were roughly 2" x 4" (the nominal size) but the surfacing and drying process was different at each location, resulting in an assortment of actual finished sizes.

What is the actual size of 3/4 wood?

The actual vs. nominal sizes for common sizes of dimension lumber: Nominal Size. Actual Size. 1 x 2. 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches (19 x 38 mm) 1 x 3. 3/4 x 2 1/2 inches (19 x 64 mm) 1 x 4. 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches (19 x 89 mm)

What is the actual size of a 2x4?

Believe it or not, a 2x4 board does NOT measure 2" x 4"! The actual dimensions of a 2x4 are 1 ½" thick and 3 ½" wide. What?!? Why is a 2x4 not 2" x 4"? 2x4 lumber is made from a variety of softwood species.

What is dimension lumber?

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.

What size is a 2 by 4?

Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Size Chart for Softwoods*Nominal Depth x LengthActual Depth x Length2×41½" × 3½"2×61½" × 5½"2×81½" × 7¼"2×101½" × 9¼"13 more rows•Nov 8, 2018

What size wood is 2 4?

Because of this extra milling, a 2x4 no longer measures a full 2 inches by four inches. Instead, a 2x4 is really only 1 1/2" by 3 1/2".

What size is 2x4 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 is 2x4 wood in MM?

A 2x4 that you get for building is 3.5"x1. 5" so that would equate to 89x38mm.

What is a 2x4 in the 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. 2x4) is nominal, meaning that it's only the approximate size. For example, a 2x4 is actually 1.5" x 3.5" (38mm x 89mm) in cross-section.

What does 4x2 timber mean?

This means that metric measurements, typically millimetres, will be used on all timber sold. The closest equivalent to a 4x2 timber beam will be 100mm x 50mm (this is actually about 3.94 inches by 1.97 inches), so while the term 4x2 may still be used informally, it will be marked in metric sizes when sold.

What is a 2x4 called in metric?

Metric/Imperial TableMetricImperialLm/M3100 x 504 x 2200.0125 x 505 x 2160.0150 x 506 x 2133.0200 x 508 x 2100.051 more rows

Is 2x4 timber or 4x2?

2x4 and 4x2 are the same thing, with both terms in widespread use. Metric sizes are also sold that don't correspond to the popular imperial sizes. For rough sawn wood the nominal size is normally very close to the real size supplied.

What is a 2x4 called in Europe?

If you go to a lumberyard, you buy 48x98 as everything is measured in metric, but in the daily speach most people still use the term 2x4, 2x8 aso. The Inch measurement is in use as long as we speak about size on TV(40") and cartyres (15").

What are standard timber sizes UK?

What Are the Common Lengths For Timber? The lengths that timber beams come in can vary dramatically, but standard lengths tend to escalate in 60cm increments, with our range including 2.4m, 3m, 3.6m, 4.2m, and 4.8m lengths.

What is a 2 by 4 in metric?

Metric/Imperial TableMetricImperialD4s50 x 502 x 245 x 4575 x 503 x 265 x 45100 x 504 x 290 x45125 x 505 x 2115 x 4551 more rows

Why a 2x4 is not 2x4?

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.

What are the different sizes of wood?

Common Dimensional Lumber SizesDimensional Lumber: Nominal Size vs. Actual SizeTwo-by-six or 2 x 61 1/2 inches x 5 1/2 inchesTwo-by-eight or 2 x 81 1/2 inches x 7 1/4 inchesTwo-by-ten or 2 x 101 1/2 inches x 9 1/4 inchesOne-by-two or 1 x 23/4-inch x 1 1/2 inches4 more rows•Apr 5, 2022

How thick is a 2x10?

2x Board Sizes lose 3/4 inch in width. That means a 2x10 is actually 1 1/2 inch in thickness by 9 1/4 inches.

What Is A 2x4's Real Size?

Lumber depth and width are typically given in “nominal” dimensions, but those aren’t the true sizes. Which means, for example, three 2x4 boards lai...

The Difference Between Nominal and Actual Dimensions

The nominal dimension is a board’s size when first cut, before it’s been planed (aka “surfaced”) and dried. Technically, after planing and drying,...

Softwoods vs. Hardwoods: There’S A Difference

Actual sizes for softwoods and hardwoods are NOT the same – and standards differ. Softwood nominal dimensions include length and thickness, while h...

Don’T Leave The House Without Your Tape Measure.

Don’t stress out about nominal and actual numbers. If preciseness matters, I recommend that you stay chill and take a tape measure when you head to...

What Is a 2x4's Real Size?

Which means, for example, three 2x4 boards laid side by side will not measure a foot across. Because a nominal 2x4 board is really 1-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches.

How big is a kiln dried board?

x 3.68 in. Next, they're dried in a kiln, then surfaced to an actual 1-1/2 in. x 3-1/2 in.

What does the label on lumber mean?

According to the American Wood Council, the National Institute of Standards and Technology permits stores to label lumber with nominal dimensions as long as the label or other sign clearly states that the size given is a nominal size and also states “the actual or minimum measurements.”.

Is it legal to label lumber with nominal dimensions?

Yep, it is. According to the American Wood Council, the National Institute of Standards and Technology permits stores to label lumber with nominal dimensions as long as the label or other sign clearly states that the size given is a nominal size and also states “the actual or minimum measurements.”

Is hardwood the same as softwood?

Actual sizes for softwoods and hardwoods are NOT the same—and standards differ. Softwood nominal dimensions include length and thickness, while hardwood nominal dimensions are for thickness only. Actual thickness size depends on whether the board has been planed on one (S1S) or both (S2S) sides.

What size is a 2 by 4?

Two-by-fours are actually 1.5-by-3.5s. The same is true for most other wood cuts, which are all systematically smaller than their names would suggest. Here’s why.

How big is a 2 by 4 bundle?

So don’t fret. The next bundle of 2-by-4s you pick up in the hardware store are certain to be the exact same size: 1.5-by-3.5 inches.

What temperature does pine wood dry at?

Softwoods like pine, which is common for beams and planks, are baked below 240 degrees. This drying effect isn’t permanent. Wood is hygroscopic, so it adjusts its internal moisture to match the external moisture of its environment. But, Stephens says, “drying gets a lot of those problems out of the way.”.

How to make a beam of wood?

To create a beam or plank of wood, one must start by chopping down a tree. “And then you cut that tree up into chunks” called cants, according to Stephens. “ [A tree] is round, but saws cut straight,” Stephens continues. “A cant is the biggest piece you can get out of a log.”

Do wood beams shrink when dry?

Through the drying process, the boards naturally shrink, as moisture leaves the beams. The real shrinkage, however, comes when the “rough-sawn material” is sent to a planer, which rubs the surface of the wood down into the smooth shapes you can purchase at a hardware store.

Who was the first to make wood sizing regulations?

Back in the 1920s, then-Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover began pushing for the first American wood sizing regulations. Previously, wood sizes were determined locally, so the mishmash of rules meant a builder might not be purchasing the same length plank if one batch came from Maine, another from Minnesota.

Is 2 by 4 wood cut a colloquialism?

The same is true for most other wood cuts, which are all systematically smaller than their names would suggest. Here’s why. “Two by four is a colloquialism,” says Mark Stephens, the vice president of Woodworkers Source, an Arizona-based company.

What are the actual dimensions of a 2x4?

Believe it or not, a 2x4 board does NOT measure 2" x 4"! The actual dimensions of a 2x4 are 1 ½" thick and 3 ½" wide. What?!? Why is a 2x4 not 2" x 4"?

How long are 2x4 studs?

2x4 studs are typically 8 feet long, to match the standard length of a sheet of plywood or drywall. You can also find 2x4 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. Pay attention to the lengths listed on the lumber bin when buying 2x4s ...

What does cupping mean on a 2x4 board?

If it's shaped like a potato chip, it's cupping! This is more common in wider boards, but it doesn't hurt to check. Once you have the best 2x4 lumber picked out, you can get it cut down into shorter lengths at the store to make it easier to get it home.

What is a 2x4 stud?

2x4 studs are one of the cheapest and easiest sources of lumber for beginning woodworkers. But if you've never built anything before, there's a lot to learn! In this guide, I'll answer all your questions about the humble 2x4 and help you get started on your next project!

How to cut 2x4 without power tools?

If you want to cut a 2x4 without power tools, try a miter box with a hand saw. The slots in the box will help guide the saw to create a straight cut while you pull the teeth back and forth across the board. You can learn more about how to use a miter box here!

What is a cross cut on a 2x4?

A cross cut severs the fibers across the grain, making the 2x4 board shorter. This is the most common type of cut, and can be made with most saws. A rip cut slices down the length of the board with the grain. This makes a thinner board, and is commonly used to take off the rounded corners of standard 2x4 lumber.

How to cut 2x4 with circular saw?

It's pretty easy to make a straight cut across a 2x4 with a circular saw just by lining up the blade with the cut line. Holding a speed square next to the base plate will help guide the saw straight. You can also use a jigsaw to cut a 2x4 the same way!

How big is a 2x4?

The answer depends on where you are. A milled 2x4 is 48 x 98 mm in Europe and 38 x 89 mm in the United States. The unmilled dimensions are almost the same: 50 x 100 mm in Europe and 50.8 mm x 101.6 mm in the United States. Details.

What is a 2x4 board?

The reason being, 2x4 describes the rough dimensions before the boards are milled down to their "dimensional" (flat/even) size. So you start with a rough 2"x4" board that might be somewhat warped, crooked, rough, etc.. then it is passed through the mill, where it is planed/cut down to the final smooth/flat/hopefully not warped 1.5"x3.5"

How big is 2x4 lumber?

At this point, the 2 x 4 is actually 2 inches x 4 inches, ...

How big is a 2x4 wood board?

Once the drying is complete, the boards are then planed to a standard size. Hence, what started out as a 2 x 4 now measures 1 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches.

How big is a 2x4 stud?

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. What you will find is that your 2 x 4 is actually 1 1/2 inches x 3-1/2 inches and that your 1 x 6 board is actually 3/4 inch x 5 1/2 inches.

How thick is a 2x6 wall?

Keep in mind that dimensional softwood lumber that is sold at your home center or hardware store is expected to be used primarily for construction projects rather than fine woodworking pieces. So, a framed wall built using 2 x 6 lumber measures 5 1/2 inches thick, but with a 1/2-inch piece of drywall attached to the wall, it then becomes a 6-inch thick wall.

What are the characteristics of individual pieces of lumber?

Individual pieces of lumber exhibit a wide range in quality and appearance with respect to knots, slope of grain, shakes and other natural characteristics. Therefore, they vary considerably in strength, utility and value.

When was the first lumber standard set?

The move to set national standards for lumber in the United States began with publication of the American Lumber Standard in 1924 , which set specifications for lumber dimensions, grade, and moisture content; it also developed inspection and accreditation programs. These standards have changed over the years to meet the changing needs of manufacturers and distributors, with the goal of keeping lumber competitive with other construction products. Current standards are set by the American Lumber Standard Committee, appointed by the Secretary of Commerce.

What is stress rated lumber?

Machine stress-rated and machine-evaluated lumber is readily available for end-uses where high strength is critical, such as truss rafters, laminating stock, I-beams and web joints. Machine grading measures a characteristic such as stiffness or density that correlates with the structural properties of interest, such as bending strength. The result is a more precise understanding of the strength of each piece of lumber than is possible with visually graded lumber, which allows designers to use full-design strength and avoid overbuilding.

What are the classes of sawn softwood?

In Europe, strength grading of sawn softwood is done according to EN-14081-1/2/3/4 and sorted into 9 classes; In increasing strength these are: C14, C16, C18, C22, C24, C27, C30, C35 and ??40

What is the difference between dry lumber and green lumber?

Dry lumber that has been seasoned or dried to a moisture content 19% or less and green lumber has a moisture content of greater than 19%. Rough lumber cannot be less than than 1/8" (3.2mm) thicker or wider than the nominal finished thickness or width, except that 20% of a shipment cannot be less than 2/32" (2.4mm) thicker or wider.

What is the Canadian lumber grading board?

The National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) is responsible for writing, interpreting and maintaining Canadian lumber grading rules and standards. The Canadian Lumber Standards Accreditation Board (CLSAB) monitors the quality of Canada's lumber grading and identification system.

How thick is 1x4 pine?

A piece of 1 x 4 pine, for example, actually measures 3/4 inch thi ck and 3 1/2 inch wide, while a 2 x 4 framing stud is actually about 1 1/2 inch thick and 3 1/2 inches wide.

What is dimension lumber?

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.

How many cubic inches is a board foot?

Instead, suppliers generally sell hardwoods in a unit of volume known as the board foot. One board foot is equal to 144 cubic inches of wood. In other words, a board that is 1 inch thick, and 12 inches wide and long contains one board foot of hardwood lumber.

How big is a 2x4?

Originally, a 2 x 4 was cut as a rough green board that was exactly 2 x 4 inches in size, but by the time the boards were dried and planed, the boards became smaller, approaching the now-standard 2 x 4 dimensions of 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches in size. In modern lumber practices, the boards are no longer exactly 2 x 4 inches when first cut, but today's drying and ​​planing methods still leave the board 1 1/2 inches thick and 3 1/2 inches wide. 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.

How thick is 5/4 board?

Each quarter refers to 1/4 inch of thickness, meaning that a 5/4 board is roughly 1 1/4 inches thick. If your project calls for a piece that is exactly 1 inch thick, you'll want to purchase a 5/4 board and mill it down to the proper size using a jointer/planer.

What is the grade of plywood?

Plywood is graded so that each face receives a grade of A, B, C, or D , with A representing the smoothest sanded finish. For example, AA plywood has a furniture-grade finish on both sides, while BC plywood will be graded B on one side and C on the other. Read More.

How big is a 5 1/2 x 5 12 inch board?

5 1/2 x 5 12 inches (140 x 140 mm) 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.

Softwood Lumber Dimensions

Softwood lumber is generally used for framing walls and floors. In the United States, softwood lumber is governed by the National Institute of Standards American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS 20).

Softwood Lumber Lengths

Softwood lumber comes in a number of standard lengths as listed in the table below.

Hardwood Lumber Dimensions

Hardwood lumber is sized based on how many sides are surfaced. Surfaced refers to a finishing process that smooths the lumber to remove all saw marks.

Glue Laminated Lumber Dimensions

The following table comes from the American Institute of Timber Construction's Standard Specification for Structural Glued Laminated Timber of Hardwood Species publication.