What Size Sheets Does Plywood Come In? (Find Out Now!)
Plywood is one of the most common building materials in the United States. It’s used in furniture, walls, and even flooring. If you want to create something using plywood, you need to make sure that you have the purchasing all planed out. This means knowing how to get the right number of sheets. But, what size sheets should you expect from major plywood retailers?
It is possible to find plywood in almost any type of sheet size, but there are some that are more common than others. The typical sheet size is 4 by 8 feet. However, utility plywood can also be sold in 4 x 10, 5 x 6, and 5 x 8-foot measurements. If you want to go for a more unusual plywood size, you can also find 2 foot by 4 foot sheets as well as 5 square foot sheets.
It’s important to know what you should expect when you’re heading to the hardware store. While you can get your plywood in any size, this guide will help you understand the basics that sit on most store shelves.
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What Standard Size Sheets Does Plywood Come In?
The first thing that we want to point out is that you can have a wide range of different sizes that plywood comes in. Here’s what you need to know about each typical cut, laid out in a nice table format.
Plywood Type | Length | Width |
Standard Cut | 8 | 4 |
Standard Cut | 5 | 5 |
Utility Plywood | 10 | 4 |
Utility Plywood | 8 | 4 |
Utility Plywood | 6 | 4 |
Craft Cut Plywood | 4 | 2 |
Which Cut Is Right For You?
Most projects will do fairly well with a standard cut of plywood, even if you are using craft-grade plywood or utility plywood for your project. This is because it’s fairly easy to cut the wood down to size and join it together. That’s to be expected. It’s basically what woodworking is all about.
How Thick Is Plywood Sold?
Plywood gets sold at a wide range of different thicknesses. The most common range of thicknesses range from 1/8 of an inch to 1 1/2 inch, with wider thicknesses being fairly rare to find. The two most common thicknesses that you will find are 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch. Plywood of all widths and lengths are sold in these measurements.
If you need a thicker type of plywood, you may have to go to a specialty lumberyard for it. This is even true for woods that are as thick as 1 3/4 inches. If worse comes to worst, you can also glue sheets together with wood glue to get the desired thickness for your project.
What Should You Do If You Need A Smaller Cut Of Wood?
There is some good news for people who need smaller pieces of plywood for their project: cutting the wood is always an option. In fact, you might not even have to cut it yourself. If you want to, you can usually get it cut right where you bought it from. Most major chain hardware stores, including Home Depot, offer wood cutting services for free if you buy the lumber there. That said, some might charge a nominal fee.
While the general policy is that you should be able to get wood cutting services for free (or at least cheap), it’s important to remember that many stores may not have a wood cutting service available. To make sure that you’re not stuck with giant wood pieces that you can’t cut on your own, it’s best to call the store ahead of time to confirm that they can cut it for you.
This way, you won’t be disappointed if you buy the wood and get there, only to find out that the machine is broken. It saves time to call ahead!
What Should You Do If You Aren’t Sure What Thickness You Should Buy?
If you are not sure what thickness of plywood you need, the best thing that you should do is to pick a common thickness for the project that you have in mind. For example, most flooring and walls will do well with a 3/4-inch thick plywood set up. If you have a cabinetry setup that you want to put together, then you will need to measure the typical thickness of the cabinets that you want to make.
A good rule of thumb to use if that you should Google instructions on how to make or do the project you want to do. In most good tutorials, they will mention the specific measure of thickness you need.
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Related Questions
What is the difference between ACX and CDX plywood?
Both are exterior types of plywood that are made from different grades of plywood. ACX will have A-grade plywood on one side, and C-grade plywood on the other. CDX plywood will have C-grade plywood on one side, and D-grade plywood on the other. ACX is the higher quality and more visually appealing form. “X” in the names of each of these stands for “exterior,” and basically says that it’s hardy enough for outdoor use.
How can you tell if the plywood you bought is high quality?
High-quality plywood will be heavy and have layers that are clearly made in straight lines. Good plywood will not have many pits, overlapping layers, or knots in the wood either. A good rule of thumb to use is that you should try to pick out the plywood that almost feels like a form of hardwood. The more knot-filled and overlapped layers it has, the worse quality it is. Low grade plywood is bad quality by default.
What does “MR grade” mean in plywood sales?
When you see an “MR grade” stamp on plywood, it means that the plywood has been graded for moisture resistance. This makes it a good choice for making furniture that will be in humid areas, and that it may work well for a shed floor. Most MR grades will also have specific ratings that show precisely how resistant to water it is.MR does have its limitations. It’s worth noting that “MR” does not mean it’s entirely waterproof in the vast majority of cases. So, buy your wood and prep it accordingly.
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Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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