How many square feet in a sheet of plywood
Multiply the two sides in feet. A 4×8 sheet is 4 ft × 8 ft = 32 sq ft. A 4×10 sheet is 40 sq ft, and a 5×5 sheet of Baltic birch is 25 sq ft. In square inches, a 4×8 sheet is 48 in × 96 in = 4,608 sq in, which is the number to use when you add up part areas for furniture.
| Sheet | Inches | Millimetres | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 ft | 48 × 96 in | 1219 × 2438 mm | 32 sq ft |
| 4 × 10 ft | 48 × 120 in | 1219 × 3048 mm | 40 sq ft |
| 5 × 5 ft (Baltic birch) | 60 × 60 in | 1525 × 1525 mm | 25 sq ft |
| Metric 8 × 4 (UK, AU) | about 48 1/32 × 96 1/16 in | 1220 × 2440 mm | 2.98 m² (32 sq ft) |
For walls, floors and roof sheathing, divide the area to cover by 32 and round up. A 12 ft × 8 ft wall is 96 sq ft, so 3 sheets. For furniture that shortcut fails: parts have to fit between saw cuts, grain has to run the right way, and you lose a strip on every edge you trim. That is what a cut list and a cutting diagram are for.
4×8 in the US, 2440 × 1220 mm almost everywhere else
In the US and Canada, sheet goods are sold as 4×8 ft, with 4×10 ft available in some species and at lumber yards. In the UK and Australia the same sheet is sold in metric as 2440 × 1220 mm and still called an 8 × 4. It is about 1 mm larger in each direction than a true 4×8, which only matters if you plan to the last 1/32 in. Some mills also make 2500 × 1250 mm sheets, so check the label before you plan.
Baltic birch is the odd one out. It is made in Europe on a 1525 mm press, so the full sheet is 5×5 ft (60 × 60 in). Many US suppliers also sell it cut down, for example 30 × 60 in or 12 × 60 in.
Nominal vs actual plywood thickness
Plywood is sold by a nominal thickness and is usually a little thinner after sanding. The usual rule is 1/32 in under. That matters for dados, rabbets and any joint sized to the material.
| Sold as | Usually measures | Millimetres (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 in | 7/32 in | 5.6 mm |
| 3/8 in | 11/32 in | 8.7 mm |
| 1/2 in | 15/32 in | 11.9 mm |
| 5/8 in | 19/32 in | 15.1 mm |
| 3/4 in | 23/32 in | 18.3 mm |
Baltic birch is made in true metric thicknesses: what is sold as 3/4 in is 18 mm (about 0.709 in), and 1/2 in is 12 mm. Imported hardwood plywood can also be metric. Measure each stack with calipers before you set up a dado blade.
Thickness does not change a cutting diagram, because the saw cuts through it. It does change part sizes: a cabinet bottom that fits between two sides of 23/32 in plywood is 1/16 in wider than one between two true 3/4 in sides.
MDF sheet sizes
MDF is sold as 4×8 ft in the US, but many panels are made slightly oversize, often 49 × 97 in, so you can trim to a clean 48 × 96 in. Larger formats such as 5×8 and 5×10 ft exist at panel distributors. In the UK the standard is 2440 × 1220 mm, with 3050 × 1220 mm and 3050 × 1525 mm as larger sizes. Always measure the actual sheet and type that size into your plan, not the label.
Plan your sheets in Cortaplan
- Under Sheets, tap Common sizes and pick 4 × 8 ft, 4 × 10 ft or 5 × 5 ft (Baltic birch), or type the size you measured.
- Add a second sheet size if you have offcuts or a different panel on hand. Leave Qty blank to buy as many as needed.
- Enter your parts in inches: fractions like 23 3/4 and feet like 4' 6" both work.
- The result shows how many sheets you need and the yield, and the plan updates as you type.
Questions
How many square feet are in a 4×8 sheet of plywood?
32 square feet. 4 ft × 8 ft = 32 sq ft, or 4,608 square inches.
Is 3/4 plywood really 3/4 inch thick?
Usually not. Most 3/4 in plywood measures about 23/32 in, and 3/4 in Baltic birch is 18 mm, about 0.709 in. Measure your sheet before cutting joints.
What size is a sheet of plywood in mm?
A US 4×8 sheet is 1219 × 2438 mm. In the UK and Australia the standard sheet is 2440 × 1220 mm. Baltic birch is 1525 × 1525 mm.