Building materials · Reference
Standard plywood sheets measure 4×8 ft (1220×2440 mm). Baltic birch comes as a 5×5 ft square (1525×1525 mm) and European mills use 2500×1250 mm. A nominal 3/4-inch panel is actually 23/32 inch (~18.3 mm).
A panel sheet is specified by its face length × width (e.g. 8 ft × 4 ft / 2440 × 1220 mm), with thickness quoted separately; the face grain runs the long dimension.
| Panel size | Metric (mm) | Imperial (ft / in) |
|---|---|---|
| North American / global standardMost common for plywood, MDF, OSB and particleboard | 1220 × 2440 mm | 4 × 8 ft (48 × 96 in) |
| Long panelAlso stocked as 4 × 9 ft (1220 × 2745 mm) | 1220 × 3050 mm | 4 × 10 ft |
| Baltic birch squareNative metric size, not a cut-down 4×8 | 1525 × 1525 mm | 5 × 5 ft |
| European standard | 2500 × 1250 mm | ≈8 ft 2 in × 4 ft 1 in |
| European oversizeFormwork / large-format panels | 3000 × 1500 mm | ≈9 ft 10 in × 4 ft 11 in |
Source: Latvijas Finieris — Riga Ply (Baltic/EU birch plywood mill)
| Nominal name | Actual (imperial) | Actual (metric) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 in nominal | 7/32 in | ≈5.5 mm |
| 3/8 in nominal | 11/32 in | ≈9 mm |
| 1/2 in nominal | 15/32 in | ≈12 mm |
| 5/8 in nominal | 19/32 in | ≈15 mm |
| 3/4 in nominalA 3/4-in sheet is milled to 23/32 in, not 19.05 mm | 23/32 in | ≈18.3 mm |
Source: Inch Calculator — Actual Plywood Thickness (corroborated by APA)
| Panel type | Standard sheet size | Common thickness range |
|---|---|---|
| Structural / softwood plywood | 4 × 8 ft (1220 × 2440 mm) | 5/16–1 1/8 in (~8–28.5 mm) |
| Baltic birch plywood | 5 × 5 ft (1525 × 1525 mm) | 3–40 mm |
| MDF | 4 × 8 ft (1220 × 2440 mm) | 3–25 mm+ |
| OSB | 4 × 8 ft (1220 × 2440 mm) | 3/8–1 1/8 in (~9.5–28.5 mm) |
| Particleboard | 4 × 8 ft (1220 × 2440 mm) | 3/8–1 1/8 in (~9.5–28.5 mm) |
Source: APA — The Engineered Wood Association (plus panel manufacturers)
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4 × 8 ft (1220 × 2440 mm) is the standard for plywood, MDF, OSB and particleboard. Long lengths of 4 × 9 ft (1220 × 2745 mm) and 4 × 10 ft (1220 × 3050 mm) are also stocked.
3/4 in is a nominal name; sanded panels are milled to 23/32 in ≈ 18.3 mm, about 1/32 in (0.8 mm) under. APA lists 15/32, 19/32 and 23/32 in as the real thicknesses of nominal 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 in panels.
Baltic birch is produced as a 5 × 5 ft square = 1525 × 1525 mm — a native Baltic/CIS metric size — and is also sold in 4 × 8 ft (1220 × 2440 mm).
European mills standardize on 2500 × 1250 mm (≈8 ft 2 in × 4 ft 1 in), with oversize formwork panels up to 3000 × 1500 mm; 2440 × 1220 mm (the 4×8 equivalent) is also common.
Common thicknesses are 1/4 in (6 mm), 3/8 in (9 mm), 1/2 in (12 mm), 5/8 in (15 mm) and 3/4 in (18 mm); APA structural plywood ranges up to 1 1/8 in (~28.5 mm).
By its two face dimensions — length × width (e.g. 8 ft × 4 ft / 2440 × 1220 mm) — with thickness stated separately; the face-veneer grain conventionally runs the long dimension.
Every figure on this page is traced to a named source, linked under each table. Standard sizes come from published standards and established industry references; where a size is a typical range or varies by manufacturer, we say so. Sizes vary by region, model and revision — treat these as the standard reference, and confirm the exact spec of the item you are selling.
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