![]() However, the actual size of lumber does not always correlate with the on the different sizes of the boards. The actual sizes of lumber are the standard sizes in all big box stores nowadays and the products shown on store shelves are going to have the actual size to avoid confusion. Lowes lumber sizes are depicted the same way. For instance, Home Depot lumber sizes are listed on the price tag as their common name, but underneath with show the actual dimensions. The actual size of lumber is what is stated on the price tag on the board. The actual difference is that lumber mills over the years decided that they could charge the same amount for a slightly smaller board and no one would complain, but they would make more money from each individual tree they milled. That’s 3/4″ thick by 3 1/2″ wide, which is 75% of the nominal thickness and about 87% of the nominal width. What that means is that a board might be called a 1×4, but it’s actually 3/4″x3 1/2″. Typically, the actual thickness of a wood board is 75% of the nominal thickness and the actual width of a wood board is around 85-95% of the width of the board. The difference between nominal and actual lumber is the thickness and width of a lumber board. What is the difference between nominal and actual lumber? This has resulted in the difference between common lumber sizes and actual lumber sizes. However, over time, actual lumber sizes have shrunk, but the name of the board remained the same for simplicity sake.īuilders and lumber mills realized that you could get the same result out of a board that was a little thinner than the old board, allowing them to create more dimensional lumber with the same amount of cut down forest. Historically, lumber was called what the thickness and width of a board were. Make sure you read our full post on how to buy wood for woodworking projects! Nominal vs actual lumber dimensionsĬommon (or nominal) lumber is typically what you would see being called a 2×4 or a 1×6 or something like that. This post will break down all the differences between nominal and actual lumber dimensions and everything else you need to know. When following a woodworking plan or blog post, when someone refers to a 1″x4″, they mean a board that is actually 3/4″x3 1/2″.Ĭommon (or nominal) lumber sizes are not the same size as the actual wood board itself, which can lead to problems with math and woodworking if you aren’t aware. Over time, manufacturers began to mill the wood differently to a smaller processed size. Lumber is labeled by its common measurement, such as a 1″x8″ or a 2″x4″ because historically, these were the dimensions. ![]() This is what is known as actual versus common (or nominal) board measurements. Standard lumber sizes are one of the most confusing things in the world of DIY projects and woodworking, especially to people who don’t do it regularly and aren’t familiar. One crazy thing that we didn’t know when we started doing DIY woodworking projects is that boards are not the dimensions they say they are. If you’re reading this post, I assume the answer to that is yes. ![]() Have you ever been to the home improvement store to buy wood and noticed that wood is called one thing, but the actual dimensions of it are something else?
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