#3 BY 3 INCHES ACTUAL SIZE FREE#

Nominal lumber or rough sawn wood is available from sawmills. The actual size of boards like 1x3s, 1x4s, 1圆s, etc., is smaller than their nominal dimensions. Modern technology and kiln drying (rather than air drying) have allowed modern nominal lumber to be cut smaller than 2 inches by 4 inches but the final size of the board is still 1-½ inches by 3-½ inches. This removes the saw marks and smooths the board.īetween the drying and planing process, a 2×4 board ended up with a final size of 1-½ inches by 3-½ inches. The cutter head spins and removes a portion of the wood. When the wood was dry, a planer was used to smooth the board on all four sides. In the past, a nominal 2×4 would be rough cut to about 2 inches by 4 inches. The surface of nominal lumber has saw marks, and it feels rough to the touch. The measurements of nominal lumber is the size of the board before it has been planed smooth to its final dimensions.Īfter a tree is cut, the log is milled or rough sawn to thickness and width. Why is a 2×4 not 2 inches by 4 inches? For that answer, we’ll need to look at the difference between nominal lumber and dimensional lumber. If we measure a 2×4×8 we’ll see that it actually measures 1-½ inches × 3-½ inches × 8 feet. The thickness and width of a board are measured in inches and the length is measured in feetīut there’s more. So that’s the first confusing thing about understanding wood sizes. The third number (8) refers to the length of the board in feet. The second number (4) refers to the width of the board in inches. The first number (2) refers to the thickness of the board in inches. Let’s look a little closer at a 2×4×8 and breakdown what each number means. We’ll often see woodworking plans calling for a board like a 2x4x8 (spoken as a two by four by eight or just two by four). Why Are Lumber Nominal and Actual Sizes Different?.What Do the Numbers Mean in Wood Sizes?.

#3 BY 3 INCHES ACTUAL SIZE FREE#

Click here to visit my site policies.īefore we get into understanding wood sizes, be sure to click the subscribe button at the bottom of this page to sign up for my FREE weekly newsletter loaded with helpful pocket hole tricks, space-saving workshop ideas, clever DIY tips and more! There is no cost to you for using these links. Purchases made using these links help support the Saws on Skates website and allow me to share more DIY projects. This post contains affiliate links to supplies or tools I used to complete this project. Related: Beginner’s Guide to Woodworking Terms Today we’ll learn why a 2×4 is not 2 inches by 4 inches and I’ll share helpful tips about understanding wood sizes. I understand that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. There are so many numbers and terms to learn. Wood sizes are confusing! Why is a 2×4 not 2 inches by 4 inches? I’m sharing why actual wood sizes are different so you can understand how and what to buy.

3 by 3 inches actual size