5 4 Lumber Dimensions. When the board is first rough sawn from the log, it is a true 2x4, but the drying process and planing of the board reduce it to the finished 1.5x3.5 size. When you purchase lumber, you may be surprised to find that a 2 x 4 board is not actually 2 inches thick by 4. Standard dimensions of hardwood lumber.

1 4 Thick Teak Strips 1 2 To 1 7 8 Wide 1 To 5 Long Teak Lumber Teak Lumber
1 4 Thick Teak Strips 1 2 To 1 7 8 Wide 1 To 5 Long Teak Lumber Teak Lumber from i.pinimg.com
This threw me off when i adapted an old floor plan from one of those places that sells house plans, and found out that the dimensions were off everywhere by 1/4. Standard dimensions of hardwood lumber. Boards are referred to by their nominal size, not the actual size.

Why a 2 × 4 is not always a 2 × 4.

Lumber is cut to a standard length, width, and depth. Timbers, whose smallest dimension is 5 inches or more. In fact, the entire first trip to the lumber yard can be intimidating to a new woodworker. Lumber is cut to a standard length, width, and depth. The thickness and width are nominal dimensions. The size increases in 1/4″ increments. Lumber sizes can be confusing at first. Nominal refers to the dimension the lumber was sawn.