FreeTypes of Plywood: Grades, Uses and Which to Choose
The meaning of plywood: a sheet made of thin wood veneers (plies) glued with their grain crossing. The main types of plywood are softwood plywood (CDX and sheathing) for construction, hardwood plywood with a birch, maple or oak face for furniture, Baltic birch for drawers and jigs, and marine plywood for wet places. The crossed grain makes every type strong, stiff and light, and good at holding screws.
The different types of plywood
| Type | What it is and what it is for |
|---|---|
| Softwood plywood (CDX, sheathing) | Pine or fir veneers with rough C and D faces and glue that tolerates exposure (the “X”). For roofs, walls and subfloors, not for visible furniture. |
| Hardwood plywood | A face veneer of birch, maple, oak or walnut over a veneer, MDF or particleboard core. The usual choice for cabinets and furniture. |
| Baltic birch | Birch plies all the way through, with almost no voids; often in 5 × 5 ft sheets. Very stiff, with a clean layered edge: drawers, jigs, shelves. |
| Marine plywood | Waterproof glue and no voids in the core. Boats, outdoor furniture, wet rooms. |
| MDF-core and particleboard-core plywood | Hardwood face on a flat engineered core: flatter and cheaper than veneer core, but heavier and weaker at screws. |
| Lauan / meranti (underlayment) | Thin, cheap tropical-hardwood sheets for underlayment, drawer bottoms and backs. |
| Film-faced plywood | A tough phenolic film on both faces: concrete forms, workbenches, trailer floors. |
| Flexible (bendy) plywood | Plies all running one way so it bends into curves. |
Plywood grades
| Grade | Face quality |
|---|---|
| A | Smooth and sanded, paintable; only small, neat repairs. |
| B | Solid surface with small knots, repair plugs and tight patches. |
| C | Knots up to about 1 1/2 in and small splits; for hidden or construction use. |
| D | Larger knots and holes; for hidden layers only. |
Which plywood for cabinets?
Use 3/4 in (18 mm) hardwood plywood, birch or maple, with a good face (A or B) for carcasses and shelves, 1/2 in (12 mm) Baltic birch for drawer boxes, and 1/4 in (6 mm) plywood or HDF for backs and drawer bottoms. Keep CDX for construction.
Plywood sold for furniture
| Board | Thicknesses | Common sheet sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwood plywood (wood grain) | 4 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 18 mm, 21 mm, 25 mm | 2440 × 1220, 2500 × 1250, 4×8 ft, 4×10 ft |
| Birch plywood (wood grain) | 4 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 18 mm, 24 mm | 2500 × 1250, 2440 × 1220 |
| Baltic birch 5×5 (wood grain) | 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 18 mm | 5×5 ft |
| Sanded plywood (US) (wood grain) | 6.35 mm, 11.91 mm, 18.26 mm | 4×8 ft, 4×4 ft, 2×4 ft |
| Poplar plywood (wood grain) | 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, 18 mm | 2500 × 1220, 2440 × 1220 |
| Okoume plywood (wood grain) | 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, 18 mm, 22 mm | 2500 × 1220, 3100 × 1530 |
| Marine plywood (wood grain) | 9 mm, 12 mm, 18 mm | 2440 × 1220, 2500 × 1220 |
| Film-faced plywood | 12 mm, 18 mm, 21 mm | 2500 × 1250, 2440 × 1220 |
| Flexible plywood (wood grain) | 5 mm, 8 mm | 2440 × 1220 |
Plywood thicknesses
Plywood is sold in 4 mm (3/16"), 5 mm (3/16"), 6 mm (1/4"), 6.35 mm (1/4"), 8 mm (5/16"), 9 mm (3/8"), 10 mm (3/8"), 11.91 mm (1/2"), 12 mm (1/2"), 15 mm (9/16"), 18 mm (11/16"), 18.26 mm (3/4"), 21 mm (13/16"), 22 mm (7/8"), 24 mm (15/16"), 25 mm (1"). For furniture carcasses and doors, 16–19 mm is standard; thin sheets are for backs and drawer bottoms.
Plywood sheet sizes
- 2440 × 1220 mm (96 1/16" × 48 1/16")
- 2500 × 1250 mm (98 7/16" × 49 3/16")
- 4×8 ft (2438 × 1219 mm)
- 4×10 ft mm (120" × 48")
- 5×5 ft mm (60" × 60")
- 4×4 ft (1219 × 1219 mm)
- 2×4 ft (1219 × 610 mm)
- 2500 × 1220 mm (98 7/16" × 48 1/16")
- 3100 × 1530 mm (122 1/16" × 60 1/4")
Weight of a 2440 × 1220 mm sheet
At a typical density of 450–700 kg/m³:
| Thickness | Weight per sheet |
|---|---|
| 4 mm | 5–8 kg (11–18 lb) |
| 5 mm | 7–10 kg (15–22 lb) |
| 6 mm | 8–13 kg (18–29 lb) |
| 6.35 mm | 9–13 kg (20–29 lb) |
| 8 mm | 11–17 kg (24–37 lb) |
| 9 mm | 12–19 kg (26–42 lb) |
| 10 mm | 13–21 kg (29–46 lb) |
| 11.91 mm | 16–25 kg (35–55 lb) |
| 12 mm | 16–25 kg (35–55 lb) |
| 15 mm | 20–31 kg (44–68 lb) |
| 18 mm | 24–38 kg (53–84 lb) |
| 18.26 mm | 24–38 kg (53–84 lb) |
| 21 mm | 28–44 kg (62–97 lb) |
| 22 mm | 29–46 kg (64–101 lb) |
| 24 mm | 32–50 kg (71–110 lb) |
| 25 mm | 33–52 kg (73–115 lb) |
Advantages
- Stiff and strong: the best choice for long shelves
- Holds screws well, even near edges
- Lighter than MDF
- Attractive layered edge on birch plywood
Drawbacks
- More expensive than MDF and chipboard
- Faces can splinter when cut
- Thickness varies slightly between sheets
- Voids in the core of cheaper grades
What it is used for
- Shelves, bookcases and workshop furniture
- Cabinet carcasses and drawers
- Beds and seating
- Outdoor projects (exterior or marine grades)
Tips for working with Plywood
- Cut with the good face down when using a circular saw (the blade tears on the way up).
- Use a sharp 60-tooth or higher blade for clean edges.
- Measure the real thickness before cutting dadoes or grooves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the actual size of a 4x8 sheet of plywood?
Usually 48 × 96 in (1219 × 2438 mm), sometimes a little larger so it can be trimmed square.
Is birch plywood better?
Baltic birch has more, thinner plies and almost no voids, so it is stiffer and has a nicer edge, at a higher price.
Furniture plans to build
All plans →
Related guides
How Many Sheets of Plywood Do I Need?Work out how many sheets of plywood or MDF a project needs: square feet in a 4x8 sheet, the area method, why real layouts need more, and sheets per bundle.How to Cut Plywood With a Circular SawCut plywood straight and without splinters using a circular saw: blade choice, support, a straightedge guide, good face down, and planning your cuts first.