Common (non-US) Lumber sizes?

Off-topic
1

What are common lumber sizes OUTSIDE of the USA?


In the US we have:

  Lumber:
      Nominal     Actual
      2x4         1.5" x 3.5"
      2x6         1.5" x 5.5"
      2x8         1.5" x 7.25"
      2x10        1.5" x 9.25"
      2x12        1.5" x 11.25"
      4x4         3.5" x 3.5"
      etc

      Commonly available in 8', 10', 12', 16', and 20' lengths.


  Plywood:
      Comes in 4' x 8' sheets and is readily available in
      1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8, and 3/4" thicknesses.

So, what are the common standard(s) sizes of lumber and plywood sized outside the USA?

2

In Canada we use the same sizes as the US.

Don’t forget that most of the rest of the world is metric. In Canada we use both systems (though metric is what is taught in school).

3

Yep, I’m well aware (and thoroughly disappointed in the US) that the US is the oddball on this one - it’s why I’m asking the question. I’m working on some technical skills specs, and, because props are needed to test these skills, …

I would like to know what the common lumber and plywood sizes are internationally (outside the US and Canada). This info would help greatly in making some specific dimensional decisions.

Help!

4

I think these are pretty much the same every where. Atleast in Finland we use the 2x4 etc. but the lenght is usually in metres.

5

Ok. What are the common (metric) lengths?

And, what size is(are) the common plywood sheet size(s)?
In the US plywood is sold in 1.219m x 2.438m (4’x8’) sheets.

6

In Canada, plywood is sold in 4’ x 8’ sheets with the thickness in millimeters. (eg- 4’ x 8’ x 19 mil) (19 mil being 3/4")

7

every so often you get a company that puts out oddball metric thicknesses of plywood, like 17 or 18 mm but thats not very often. all fraiming and construction is Canada is done in feet and inches tho.

8

I think it’s usually 5 metres in lenght. That’s about the only size I can come up with, that’s even close to some standard. Depending on who you buy it from you can get it cut to desired length or just in random lengths between 4 and 7 metres. We have had some of the lumber cut from our own forest and after that cut to desired thickness and width. So, the lenghts can vary quite a lot.
I don’t know much about plywood, since I’ve never actually needed it too much. But I think the 4’x8’ is quite close to the standard in here too.

9

Okay I found some info on common plywood sizes that are sold:
width (mm): 1200 1500
length (mm): 1200 1800 2400 3000 3600
I think you can choose any combination you want from those.
The thicknesses vary depending on the wood the plywood is made of.
Thickness (mm): 4,5 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30

These are the most common sizes, but I’ve used 50 mm thick plywood too. That’s about as thick as they make. Our neighbour had found it sold somewhere cheap. There are also different types of plywood. Some can be left under water for really long periods without this affecting too much. Some are a lot harder to bend, some are quite easy to bend. Some are covered with a really thin layer of some kind of plastic and they are quite slippery and the surface is really hard.

edit. Welcome to the exciting world of plywood.

10

Joona - thanks.

The the 19mm x 1200mm x 2400mm plywood sheets is the (most important) info I needed for plywood. This is almost identical the US’s 3/4" sheets measuring 23/32" x 4’ x 8’ (18mm x 1219mm x 2438mm).

Any chance you could tell me the readily available lumber sizes corresponding to those below. In the US, the actual sizes are significantly different from what the sizes are called (example: in the US the most common/basic board is called a “two-by-four”, but it’s not 2x4, it’s actually 1.5" x 3.5" (38mm x 89mm)). If there is a similar “trend” where you are, then I’d like to know both what they are called, and what the actual size is.


In the US we have readily available at almost every lumber source:
    Called      Actual-Size-inches      Actual-Size-mm
    2 x 4       1 1/2 x 3 1/2           38 x 89
    2 x 6       1 1/2 x 5 1/2           38 x 140
    2 x 8       1 1/2 x 7 1/4           38 x 184
    2 x 10      1 1/2 x 9 1/4           38 x 235
    2 x 12      1 1/2 x 11 1/4          38 x 286
    4 x 4       3 1/2 x 3 1/2           89 x 89

  These sizes "always" available in 8' (2438mm) lengths.  (And ussually
  available in 10', 12', 16' lengths too).

NOTE: in the US most of the major lumber suppliers publish this info on their web sites. Unfortunately, I’m having trouble finding non-US lumber suppliers on-line.

Thanks again,
.duaner.

11

Found, what I guess are the common sizes.
width (mm):75, 100, 115, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225
thickness (mm): 16, 19, 22, 25, 32, 38, 44, 50, 63, 75

All combinations are available, but there are no standards in lengths. Other sizes are also really easy to get. You can get wider or thicker if you want. But the length is usually around 5m if you go to a shop to buy wood. I didn’t find the sizes for 2x4 but I think it is quite close to 50mm x 100mm. I’ve measured it, but can’t remember anymore.