Nominal vs. actual
| Tag says | Actually is |
|---|
| 1x2 | 3/4 × 1-1/2" |
| 1x3 | 3/4 × 2-1/2" |
| 1x4 | 3/4 × 3-1/2" |
| 1x6 | 3/4 × 5-1/2" |
| 1x8 | 3/4 × 7-1/4" |
| 1x10 | 3/4 × 9-1/4" |
| 1x12 | 3/4 × 11-1/4" |
| 2x2 | 1-1/2 × 1-1/2" |
| 2x4 | 1-1/2 × 3-1/2" |
| 2x6 | 1-1/2 × 5-1/2" |
| 2x8 | 1-1/2 × 7-1/4" |
| 2x10 | 1-1/2 × 9-1/4" |
| 2x12 | 1-1/2 × 11-1/4" |
| 4x4 | 3-1/2 × 3-1/2" |
| 6x6 | 5-1/2 × 5-1/2" |
Fence pickets
| Common picket | Actual size |
|---|
| Narrow dog-ear | 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 6 ft |
| Standard dog-ear | 5/8 × 5-1/2 × 6 ft |
| Wide dog-ear | 5/8 × 6 × 6 ft |
| Thick / "1 in" cedar | 1 × 5-1/2 × 6 ft |
Thickness varies: unlike framing lumber, picket thickness isn't standard. You'll see 5/8", 19/32", and a full 1" depending on brand. Measure before you plan a project that needs a specific thickness.
Planters & raised beds: cedar pickets hold up untreated for years, which makes them great for garden boxes. If you use pressure-treated pickets for a bed that grows food, line the inside with plastic so the soil doesn't sit against the treated wood.
The 8-inch jump: boards up to 6" wide lose 1/2". At 8" and wider they lose 3/4". So a 2x6 is 5-1/2" but a 2x8 is 7-1/4", not 7-1/2". That quarter inch wrecks cut math if you assume the pattern holds.
Thickness never changes: every "2x" is 1-1/2" thick, every "1x" is 3/4". Only width moves.
Workbench tip: pressure-treated 4x4s make solid bench legs but come wet and heavy. Buy them a week early and let them dry in the garage or they'll twist after assembly.