Nail Sizing Chart by length and penny classification
Length
Nail length may be indicated in inches or by the penny system. Penny weight is abbreviated with a d (20d nails). Originally an indication of how many English pennies it cost to purchase 100 nails of an individual size. The penny system helps denote the nail length. Higher numbers mean longer lengths:
| Penny Classification | Length | Gauge | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2d | 1 inch | 15 | 0.072 |
| 3d | 1 1/4 inch | 14 | 0.083 |
| 4d | 1 1/2 inch | 12 | 0.109 |
| 6d | 2 inch | 11 | 0.12 |
| 8d | 2 1/2 inch | 10 | 0.134 |
| 10d | 3 inch | 9 | 0.148 |
| 12d | 3 1/4 inch | 9 | 0.148 |
| 16d | 3 1/2 inch | 8 | 0.165 |
| 20d | 4 inch | 6 | 0.203 |
| 30d | 4 1/2 inch | 5 | 0.22 |
| 40d | 5 inch | 4 | 0.238 |
| 50d | 5 1/2 inch | 4 | 0.238 |
| 60d | 6 inch | 4 | 0.238 |
Diameter
You’ll usually see the diameter of the nail shank indicated by gauge in the nail sizing chart. The higher the gauge number, the thinner the nail is. For example, the 10 gauge nail is thicker than 16 gauge. It also measures how strong the nail is. The smaller the gauge size, the stronger the nail.
All types of nails consist of a head, shank and point. Given the differences in size and potential coatings, there are thousands of varieties of nails. Listed below are some of their design characteristics.
All about Nails ( heads, points, shanks, and coatings)
Nail heads:
- Flat heads
- Checkered flat heads
- Countersunk heads
Nail points:
- Dull points are less likely to prevent wood from splitting.
- Diamond points that are slightly blunted and are good for general use.
- Long diamond points are used where splitting isn’t an issue.
- Blunt-pointed nails are often used for hard wood flooring installations.
Nail shanks:
- A standard nail shank is smooth
- Annular ring or ring shank nails have a series of raised rings around the shaft
- Barbed shanks have a pattern designed for use on dense hardwoods.
- Spiral shanks are shaped like a helix and designed to twist into the wood to lock itself in.
- Fluted or knurled threads can be found on some nails used for masonry to help prevent cracking.
Nail coatings:
- Most types of nails are not coated but some are treated with materials to lubricate the shank and improve driving efficiency or increase holding strength.
- Galvanization is a process that coats nails with zinc to provide some protection from rust.
- Cement coating offers additional holding strength.
- Vinyl coating on some nails is also designed to increase holding strength and to make them easier to drive.
Additional information can be found at Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.
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Last Updated on 3 years ago
