Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Dimensions: Get True 2x4s and More at Arborist Now
Photo by Ono Kosuki
Introduction
Did you know that the 2x4s you can pick up at the hardware store are actually 1.5”x 3.5”? The name of the lumber product “2x4” is known as a nominal dimension. It’s a name for the wood product, not the actual dimension of the wood. Unless you work regularly with milled boards or take the time to measure the wood you buy from the store, you probably would never know there was a difference.
To get real 2x4s, you need to source your wood from a company that offers products that fit “actual dimensions.” This dimensional lumber is cut to the true dimensions specified in the name. In the case of 2x4s, the boards would be cut a true two inches by four inches.
The San Francisco team at Arborist Now transforms green timber—usable wood from sick or rotting trees—into lumber cut to true sizes and offers it for sale. Because of our work as local arborists, we have the opportunity to transform downed or diseased trees into beautiful timber for use in all sorts of applications.
Read on to learn more about true board sizes and our approach to recycling local trees.
Why are Nominal Boards Sized Differently from Actual Boards?
A Lumber Yard with Stacks of Nominally Measured Boards - Photo by Mark Stebnicki
Most people looking for wood for various projects need specific sizes. When they go shopping for 2x4s, they expect to get wood that’s two inches by four inches. What they don’t realize is that the processing of timber for sale is a multistep process. It requires paring down wood to ensure uniformity.
When a tree is milled into 2x4s at a big mill, it’s cut to a size that’s two inches by four inches. But that lumber has to be dried before it’s sold to customers. Buyers want smooth pieces of wood, which requires planing each piece—shaving the wood down to achieve a smooth, level surface—before sale. After drying and planing, the wood is no longer two inches by four inches. Instead, it comes out to about one and a half by three and a half inches.
As you can see, the manufacturing process takes about a half inch off of each side before it hits the store shelves. Drying causes shrinkage, and planing removes even more wood.
For the average buyer at a big box store, the size difference is not important. The same is true for professionals such as home builders. Pros are well aware of board sizes and account for those differences in their building process.
For a milling operation to produce true 2x4s, it would need to account for shrinkage and planing. Because we are a smaller operation that caters to discerning buyers, we can take that extra time and effort. We can carefully take a tree from its natural state down to a true 2x4—or a variety of other sizes.
Let’s take a closer look at the differences between nominal and actual dimensions.
Nominal Wood Dimensions Compared to Actual Wood Dimensions
Here is a list of nominal versus actual sizes for softwood thickness and width in inches:
| Nominal | Actual |
| 1 x 2 | 3/4 x 1½ |
| 1 x 3 | 3/4 x 2½ |
| 1 x 4 | 3/4 x 3½ |
| 1 x 5 | 3/4 x 4½ |
| 1 x 6 | 3/4 x 5½ |
| 1 x 8 | 3/4 x 7¼ |
| 1 x 10 | 3/4 x 9¼ |
| 1 x 12 | 3/4 x 11¼ |
| 2 x 2 | 1½ x 1½ |
| 2 x 3 | 1½ x 2½ |
| 2 x 4 | 1½ x 3½ |
| 2 x 6 | 1½ x 5½ |
| 2 x 8 | 1½ x 7¼ |
| 2 x 10 | 1½ x 9¼ |
| 2 x 12 | 1½ x 11¼ |
| 4 x 4 | 3½ x 3½ |
| 4 x 6 | 3½ x 5½ |
| 6 x 6 | 5½ x 5½ |
As you can see, the size differences can be a half inch or more. If you want true sizing, you need to source it from a company like ours.
Milled Wood and Green Lumber for Sale at Arborist Now
Our milling services focus on producing beautiful timber products from local trees. Clients ask us to remove them for various reasons. The trees might be sick and in danger of falling. They might have already fallen and need to be removed from the property. Often, these trees have plenty of green timber—which is wood that has a water content of 19% or more.
We believe that it’s important to recycle what we can. That’s why we are careful to remove healthy wood from downed trees for use in our milling operation.
We produce a variety of wood products from these trees. These products are sought after by customers throughout San Francisco and the surrounding areas. These include:
Slabs
A Redwood Slab Milled by Arborist Now
A slab is a thick, flat piece of wood milled for the full length of the log. If you have seen rustic tables that span the length of a room, you have likely seen how slabs can be used. They can also be cut down to smaller sizes if necessary.
Slabs often leave a natural edge on both sides, so you get the full natural effect of the tree. These are usually between 2” to 4” thick. We can mill slabs to other thicknesses depending on your application.
Most clients use slabs for applications that take full advantage of their long length and thickness. These include bar tops, table tops, and bench tops.
Rounds/Cookies
Rounds, sometimes referred to as cookies, are cut across the grain of the tree to produce a thick disc. They keep the natural circular shape of the tree. This allows you to see the rings and track the development of the tree over its lifetime.
Like slabs, rounds are uniquely beautiful because none are exactly alike—yet all of them give you a snapshot of the life of the tree. They are conversation pieces and can be transformed into works of art. They can become both functional and visually stunning.
Rounds are ideal for table tops and other applications where their natural round shape is most useful.
Cants
Sawing a cant requires milling all four sides to produce a squared piece of lumber. Cants allow you to see the heart of the tree without any other visual distractions. Cants are best suited for construction and woodworking projects where you need strength and uniformity.
Dimensional
Precisely Cut Boards by Arborist Now are True to Actual Measurements
Dimensional boards are one of the areas where Arborist Now excels at delivering high-quality lumber products. These are a step above what you find at big box stores. Our dimensional lumber is carefully milled and processed to produce true measurements that you can depend on. If you want true 2x4s, 2x6s, 4x4s, or other dimensional wood materials, we can help.
Our structural lumber is ideal for use in projects like structural framing, fencing, planters, decking, garden beds, and other applications where true measurements matter.
Stumps
One of the most interesting products we produce from green timber is stumps. We cut sections across the grain to maintain the original shape of the tree—and we can even keep the bark on the stump. They make great seats for outdoor areas and can be cut to sizes that suit your needs, usually between 12” and 30”. Since these are created from real trees, there are numerous diameters available. Smaller diameters are better for seating and side tables, while larger stumps can be used for larger tables.
We offer all of the above wood products. If you have something special you are looking for, we might be able to cut it for you. Just ask, and we can let you know!
Ethically Sourced Slabs, Cants, Stumps, and More In the Sizes You Need
A Finished Project Using High-quality, Durable Milled Timber from Arborist Now
Our work in the San Francisco communities we serve is focused on balancing beauty, practicality, and environmental responsibility. Every piece of wood we produce comes from trees in the Bay Area. They are salvaged by us and recycled so they can continue to provide functionality and natural beauty year after year.
If you are interested in dimensional timber or any of our other high-quality, locally sourced lumber products, please let us know. We look forward to answering your questions and delivering the exact structural wood you are looking for!
