2x12 actual size
1½ × 11¼ inches
3.8 × 28.6 cm · 38 × 286 mm · sold as a 2x12
Nominal against actual
| Nominal | Actual | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 2 in | 1½ in (38 mm) | −½ in |
| Width | 12 in | 11¼ in (286 mm) | −¾ in |
| Cross-section | 24 in² | 16.88 in² | −30% |
What a 2x12 is for
The deepest common joist, used for long floor spans and for deck framing. Depth is what carries a span — doubling the depth of a joist raises its stiffness roughly eightfold, while doubling its width only doubles it.
The name is the rough-sawn size before drying and planing. Why every board is smaller than its name →
What this costs you in practice
The error compounds wherever boards sit side by side. Three 2x12s are 33¾ inches across, not 36; eight of them are 90 inches rather than 96, which is 6 inches short over a run you might have measured on paper. That is why framing is dimensioned centre to centre and not edge to edge: 16 inches on centre is a real 16 inches whatever the boards themselves measure, so a sheet of plywood still lands on a stud.
Other 2-inch nominal boards
| Nominal | Actual | In mm |
|---|---|---|
| 2x2 | 1½ × 1½ in | 38 × 38 mm |
| 2x3 | 1½ × 2½ in | 38 × 64 mm |
| 2x4 | 1½ × 3½ in | 38 × 89 mm |
| 2x6 | 1½ × 5½ in | 38 × 140 mm |
| 2x8 | 1½ × 7¼ in | 38 × 184 mm |
| 2x10 | 1½ × 9¼ in | 38 × 235 mm |
Frequently asked questions
What is the actual size of a 2x12?
1½ × 11¼ inches — 3.8 × 28.6 cm, or 38 × 286 mm.
Why is a 2x12 not 2 by 12 inches?
Because it was, once. The board is sawn at roughly its nominal size while green, then dried and planed smooth on all four faces, and both processes take material off. The name records the rough-sawn size and the label never caught up. This is standardised, not accidental — every mill in North America surfaces to the same finished dimensions.
How much smaller is a 2x12 than its name?
½ inch off the thickness and ¾ off the width, which is 30% less cross-section than the name implies. That matters for spans and for anything where you are counting boards to fill a width.
What lengths does a 2x12 come in?
Typically 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20 feet. Unlike the cross-section, length is not reduced — an 8-foot board is 8 feet, or a little over, because it is cut to length after planing.