Handy Wood Size Chart

Author: Cedar Creek Woodshop

Article: <b><u>Nominal Size</u></b> - Refers to the size of a piece of lumber before it is dressed and seasoned. It is used to designate a particular size piece of lumber, such as 2x4, 2x6, etc.

<b><u>Actual Size</u></b> - Refers to minimum acceptable size after it has been dressed and seasoned. A nominal 2x4 can have a minimum actual size of 1.5 in. x 3.5 in. When referring to a specific piece of lumber, the nominal size is used.

<b>Size Chart For Framing Lumber</b></font></center>

<TABLE WIDTH=""525"" BORDER=""1"" CELLSPACING=""0"" CELLPADDING=""0"" align=""center"">

<tr> <td> <center> <b>Nominal Size</b></center> <td> <center> <b>Actual Size</b></center>

<tr> <td> <center>2 x 2</center> <td> <center>1 1/2 x 1 1/2</center>

<TR> <TD> <CENTER>2 x 3 </center> <TD> <CENTER>1 1/2 x 2 1/2</center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>2 x 4</center> <TD><CENTER>1 1/2 x 3 1/2</center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>2 x 6</center> <TD><CENTER>1 1/2 x 5 1/2</center>

<Tr> <TD><CENTER>2 x 8</center> <TD><CENTER>1 1/2 x 7 1/4</center>

<tr> <TD><CENTER>2 x 10</center> <TD><CENTER>1 1/2 x 9 1/4</center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>2 x 12</center> <TD><CENTER>1 1/2 x 11 1/4</center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>4 x 4</center> <TD><CENTER>3 1/2 x 3 1/2</center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>4 x 6</center> <TD><CENTER>3 1/2 x 5 1/2</center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>4 x 10</center> <TD><CENTER>3 1/2 x 9 1/4</center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>6 x 6</center> <TD><CENTER>5 1/2 x 5 1/2</center>

</table>

<center><font size=""4"" color=""brown""><B>Boards</b></font></center>

<TABLE WIDTH=""525"" BORDER=""1"" CELLSPACING=""0"" CELLPADDING=""0"" align=""center"">

<TR> <TD><CENTER><B>Nominal Size</b></center> <TD><CENTER><B>Actual Size</b></center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>1 x 2</center> <TD><CENTER> 3/4 x 1 1/2</center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>1 x 3</center> <TD><CENTER>3/4 x 2 1/2</center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>1 x 4</center> <TD><CENTER>3/4 x 3 1/2</center>

<TR> <TD><CENTER>1 x 5</center> <TD><CENTER>3/4 x 4 1/2</center>

<tr> <TD><CENTER>1 x 6</center> <TD><CENTER>3/4 x 5 1/2</center>

<tr> <TD><CENTER>1 x 8</center> <TD><CENTER>3/4 x 7 1/4</center>

<tr> <TD><CENTER>1 x 10</center> <TD><CENTER>3/4 x 9 1/4</center>

<tr> <TD><CENTER>1 x 12</center> <TD><CENTER>3/4 x 11 1/4</center> </table>

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