Sheets of plywood available in different sizes and actual width, length and thickness depend on manufacturer’s product line and plywood type. But most local retailors offer only a few standard sheet dimensions which typically 4 feet in width and 8 feet in length or smaller as a stock option. Bigger odd sizes available from manufacturers as well, they just not commonly used and might cost more.
Standard plywood dimensions chart
| Width / Length | Nominal thickness* | ||
| in | mm | in | mm |
| 24 x 48 | 610 x 1219 | 1/8 | 3 |
| 48 x 48 | 1219 x 1219 | 1/4 | 6 |
| 48 x 72 | 1219 x 1829 | 3/8 | 10 |
| 48 x 84 | 1219 x 2134 | 1/2 | 13 |
| 48 x 96 | 1219 x 2438 | 5/8 | 16 |
| 48 x 120 | 1219 x 3048 | 3/4 | 19 |
| 60 x 72 | 1524 x 1829 | 1 | 25 |
| 60 x 96 | 1524 x 2438 | ||
| 60 x 120 | 1524 x 3048 | ||
Chart represents most common plywood sheet sizes in inches (imperial system) and millimeters (metric dimensions).
Practical use
Softwood plywood typically used for rough framing comes in 4 x 8 feet (1220 x 2438 millimeters) sheets. Even though with all variation often 3/4” (19 mm) nominal (23/32”) thickness tongue and groove flooring boards will be allowed to use as a rough subfloor according to building codes. In some application 5/8” will be still acceptable.
Roof sheeting might be done with thinner 1/2” or, in some cases, even 3/8”particle boards under asphalt shingles. But heavier roofing materials including slate or concrete might still require 3/4” plywood installation or (and) building some additional supports for rafters.
Plywood is available in different grades – A, B, C, and D. A-rated products are the finest with decreasing in quality and the most defects allowed in D category.
Sheathing pressure-treated 4’x8’plywood which might very in thickness from 1/4” to 3/4” widely used for different outdoor applications.
Hardwood plywood
Sanded oak plywood with actual dimensions 2’x 2’, 2’ x 4’, 4’ x 4’ or 4’ x 8’ very is typical for use in indoor applications. Some properly finished sheets with a smooth surface might be used by a carpenter while building some decorative wood elements around the house. Thinner plywood easy to bend and might be a perfect solution for finishing wooded arches or other round-shaped objects.
Cost consideration
Type and quality of plywood will certainly determine the price at a first place. But identical thickness and overall properties plywood in bigger sheets will typically cost less per square foot than smaller pieces. It is always cheaper to buy one 4’ x 8’ sheet and cut it comparing to paying for four 2’ x 4’ pieces.
How heavy the plywood is
The weight of a plywood sheet will proportionally increase with increasing in width, length, and thickness. 3/4 thick plywood will weigh about 2.5 pounds per square foot (PSF). And the whole 4’ x 8’ sheet will be approximately 84 lb. or 38 kilograms. But still depending on a type and wood species used for plywood production variations in weight might be +/- 15% even though actual sheets dimensions will be identical.