What is the actual dimension of a 2 by 4?
What Is a 2×4’s Real Size? At the lumberyard, board sizes are typically given in “nominal” dimensions, but those aren’t the true sizes. Which means, for example, three 2×4 boards laid side by side will not measure a foot across. Because a nominal 2×4 board is really 1-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches.
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 1×6 actually measure?
Lumber Dimensions: Nominal vs. Actual
| Nominal Size | Actual Size |
|---|---|
| 1×6 | 3/4″ x 5-1/2″ |
| 1×8 | 3/4″ x 7-1/4″ |
| 1×10 | 3/4″ x 9-1/4″ |
| 1×12 | 3/4″ x 11-1/4″ |
What is the actual size of a 2×6 board?
Nominal vs. Actual Measurements of Dimension Lumber
| Nominal Size | Actual Size |
|---|---|
| 2 x 3 | 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches (38 x 64 mm) |
| 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) |
How wide is 2×8?
Lumber Dimensions: Nominal vs. Actual
| Nominal Size | Actual Size |
|---|---|
| 2×6 | 1-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ |
| 2×8 | 1-1/2″ x 7-1/4″ |
| 2×10 | 1-1/2″ x 9-1/4″ |
| 2×12 | 1-1/2″ x 11-1/4″ |
When did they stop making true 2×4?
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.
How wide is a 1×5?
Nominal vs. Actual Measurements of Dimension Lumber
| Nominal Size | Actual Size |
|---|---|
| 1 x 5 | 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches (19 x 114 mm) |
| 1 x 6 | 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches (19 x 140 mm) |
| 1 x 8 | 3/4 x 7 1/4 inches (19 x 184 mm) |
| 1 x 10 | 3/4 x 9 1/4 inches (19 x 235 mm) |
How wide is a 1×6 fence board?
Specifications
| Actual Thickness (in) | 1.00 |
|---|---|
| Actual Length (ft) | 6.00 |
| Actual Width (in) | 6.00 |
| Common Length In Feet | 6-ft |
| Industry Standard Minimum Length (ft) | 6.00 |