Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Surfaced lumber actually isn't the same as its nominal size. In other words, a two-by-six is not 2 inches thick and 6 inches wide. After it has been dried and surfaced, it is actually 1 1⁄2 inches by 5 1⁄2 inches. The equivalents to nominal sizes are given in the chart. Lumber is stocked by most dealers in lengths that range from 6 to 20 feet, normally in even increments.
Lumber Sizing
Nominal Size
1x2 1x3 1x4 1x6 1x8 1x10 1x12 2x2 2x3 2x4
Surfaced Size (in.)
3/4 x 1 1/2 3/4 x 2 1/2 3/4 x 3 1/2 3/4 x 5 1/2 3/4 x 7 1/4 3/4 x 9 1/4 3/4 x 11 1/4 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 1 1/2 x 3 1/2
Nominal Size
2x6 2x8 2x10 2x12 4x4 4x6 4x8 4x10 4x12
Surfaced Size (in.)
1 1/2 x 5 1/2 1 1/2 x 7 1/4 1 1/2 x 9 1/4 1 1/2 x 11 1/4 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 3 1/2 x 7 1/4 3 1/2 x 9 1/4 3 1/2 x 11 1/4
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