Fast Fact: How Big is a 2x4?

 
A piece of surfaced (sanded smooth) 2x4 lumber actually measures inches thick and 3½ inches wide. In rough-cut condition, a 2x4 is slightly less than 2 inches thick and approximately 4 inches wide. When wood is milled from a rough to a smooth surface, it loses about ¼-inch from each of its four sides. Thus, thickness and width are each reduced by approximately ½-inch.

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