Read the row from left to right
penny or size label → length in inches and millimeters → gauge → head diameter → type → approximate count per pound.
Nail Size Chart for Penny, Length, Gauge and Use
Printable reference + builder
Use this nail size chart in four steps: identify the nail type or penny label, confirm actual length, compare shank gauge, then check the intended use and every project constraint. In the current common-nail dataset, 6d is 2 inches (50.8 mm) at 11.5 gauge, 8d is 2.5 inches (63.5 mm) at 10.25 gauge, and 16d is 3.5 inches (88.9 mm) at 8 gauge. These are reference rows, not a universal purchase or installation schedule.
Material thickness is only one input. Penetration, member arrangement, edge distance, head style, shank type, coating, substrate, exposure, structural schedule, local code, and tool instructions can change the choice. For collated fasteners, match the nailer model, magazine angle, collation, head, diameter, and approved length range. Roofing systems add substrate and manufacturer fastening-pattern requirements. Use the chart to narrow a lookup, then confirm the package, tool manual, approved plan, code, and project specification before buying or driving nails.
Penny sizes (d)
Length & gauge
Count per pound
Printable reference
Quick answer
Nail size chart quick answers
Common 6d
2 in; 50.8 mm; 11.5 ga; current count reference about 181/lb.
Common 8d
2.5 in; 63.5 mm; 10.25 ga; current count reference about 106/lb.
Common 10d
3 in; 76.2 mm; 9 ga; current count reference about 69/lb.
Common 16d
3.5 in; 88.9 mm; 8 ga; current count reference about 49/lb.
The count values are approximate. They come from the current dataset and vary with type, shank, head, coating, manufacturing tolerance, and package contents. They are useful for rough planning, not a purchasing guarantee. The same penny label can have different gauge or count values in common, box, finish, casing, or sinker rows. Confirm the type before comparing numbers.
Build your chart
Build a nail reference by type and field
Choose Common, Box, Finish, Casing, Sinker, Roofing, or All Types. Then display only the columns needed: penny label, length in inches, length in millimeters, gauge, head diameter, and approximate count per pound. The Framing preset uses common rows and shows penny, inch length, gauge, and count. Finish & Trim adds millimeters for finish rows. Master List exposes all current types and columns.
The nail size chart builder does not ask for material thickness and does not calculate penetration, edge distance, connection capacity, withdrawal resistance, corrosion class, nailer compatibility, or code compliance. Do not turn static scenario copy into an unsupported recommendation engine.
Browser Print remains free and does not use the daily download quota. The Free plan allows one PDF or PNG download per day. The current Pricing page describes Pro downloads as Unlimited. That is the current plan wording, not a promise of unlimited API access, automated bulk exports, unrestricted redistribution, or a permanent plan or price. Content use and redistribution remain governed by the Terms. Preview and export reproduce current reference rows; they do not certify a fastener, tool match, connection, or quantity.
3/3 free PDF/PNG downloads today
Quick Presets:
Preview & Download
Framing • Common
ChartsPrintables.com
Nail Size Chart
Type: Common • Letter
| Size (d) | Length (in) | Gauge |
|---|---|---|
| 2d | 1" | 15 ga |
| 3d | 1.25" | 14 ga |
| 4d | 1.5" | 12.5 ga |
| 5d | 1.75" | 12.5 ga |
| 6d | 2" | 11.5 ga |
| 7d | 2.25" | 11.5 ga |
| 8d | 2.5" | 10.25 ga |
| 9d | 2.75" | 10.25 ga |
| 10d | 3" | 9 ga |
| 12d | 3.25" | 9 ga |
| 16d | 3.5" | 8 ga |
| 20d | 4" | 6 ga |
| 30d | 4.5" | 5 ga |
| 40d | 5" | 4 ga |
| 50d | 5.5" | 3 ga |
| 60d | 6" | 2 ga |
Note: 'd' (penny) sizes are historical. Verify actual length and the controlling project requirements.
Gauge (ga) indicates wire thickness; compare type and manufacturer dimensions before use.
File Details
Rows
16
Type
Common
PDF FILE SIZE
≈0KB
Quality
300 DPI
How to read a nail size chart
Penny or size label
Treat “d” as a lookup label, not a formula. The current dataset assigns each label a length within a nail type. Roofing rows use inch labels rather than penny labels.
Length
Confirm the physical fastener length and the project’s required penetration. Nominal lumber names do not equal actual board thickness, and material thickness alone does not establish the connection.
Gauge
Gauge describes wire thickness, and a higher gauge number generally means a thinner nail within the relevant system. Do not compare gauge without also checking type and manufacturer dimensions.
Use
Framing, finish, casing, box, sinker, and roofing labels describe different constructions and tasks. Head, shank, coating, collation, and tool compatibility remain separate decisions.
Framing nail selection path
Start with the approved framing schedule or project specification. Identify the members being joined, their actual dimensions, the connection detail, required fastener type, length, diameter or gauge, head, shank, coating, spacing, and installation method. Use the nail size chart only to compare the current common or sinker rows after those requirements are known.
If a pneumatic nailer is used, read its manual for compatible fastener angle, collation, head style, shank diameter, and length range. A label such as 21-degree or 30-degree does not prove compatibility by itself, and a fastener that fits the magazine is not automatically approved for the connection.
Finish and trim nail selection path
Begin with the trim thickness, substrate, desired head visibility, and risk of splitting. Finish and casing nails have different current rows, while brads and pins may be described by separate tool families not represented as penny rows in this dataset. Do not convert a gauge label directly into holding capacity.
Select a length that meets the project detail without reaching hidden wiring, plumbing, glass, or other vulnerable material. Confirm nailer range, fastener strip or stick format, angle where applicable, head, and manufacturer compatibility. Test on scrap when surface damage, countersink depth, or splitting matters.
A nail size chart is most useful here as a comparison sheet: type first, then length, then gauge. The tool manual, finish manufacturer, substrate guidance, and project specification decide whether the candidate is suitable.
Roofing nail selection path
Use the roofing-system instructions as the controlling source. Confirm the roof covering, deck or sheathing, underlayment, required penetration, head diameter, shank, coating or material, fastening pattern, wind zone, and local code. The current nail size chart roofing dataset lists inch-size labels, 11-gauge rows, head diameter, and approximate count values. Those rows do not create a fastening schedule.
Coil or strip compatibility depends on the nailer model, collation, angle, shank, head, and supported length range. Match the fastener package to the exact tool. Do not assume that all roofing nails of the same length feed or perform alike.
Count-per-pound is especially weak as a purchasing basis because head, shank, coating, and product design change weight. Calculate project quantity from the approved fastening pattern and waste allowance, then check the supplier’s package count. Do not reverse-engineer a guaranteed roof quantity from a generic weight estimate.
Nailer compatibility and nails-per-pound method
Use supplier package count when available. For bulk stock, weigh and count a representative sample from the actual product, then document sample size and scale resolution. Coating, head, shank, and manufacturing variation can shift the result. The estimate cannot replace an approved fastening schedule, package label, purchase specification, or jobsite inventory count.
Compatibility check
Record the tool model, magazine angle, collation material, head style, shank diameter, supported length range, and any manufacturer listing. Compare all fields with the fastener package. Angle alone is not enough. Never modify a tool, guard, or fastener to force a match.
Approximate weight method
The chart shows an approximate count-per-pound value for each row. For a rough estimate, planned pounds = required nail count ÷ approximate nails per pound. For example, a plan requiring 1,000 fasteners and a row showing about 100/lb suggests about 10 lb before waste. This arithmetic is reproducible, but the input count is not guaranteed.
Method & limits
Methodology, source limits, and workshop references
This nail size chart organizes penny or inch label, length, gauge, head diameter, type, and approximate count-per-pound. Millimeter values use inch length × 25.4. Complete edition-level standards and manufacturer source records are not available for every row, so treat the numbers as reference values rather than a purchase, compatibility, or installation schedule.
The fastener package, exact tool instructions, approved project documents, applicable local code, and manufacturer system instructions control the final choice. This page does not calculate tool compatibility or structural capacity. Before purchase, record the exact nail type, length, gauge, head, shank, coating, package count, tool model, collation, and project requirement. That record makes discrepancies easier to resolve and prevents a nearby chart row from being treated as approval.
Use the related workshop charts below for board dimensions, screw references, specified pilot-hole lookup, and wrench measurements. Each chart supports a separate task; none approves a substitution.
Related charts
Lumber SizesWorkshop preset
| Nominal | Actual Size |
|---|---|
| 1 x 2 | 3/4" x 1 1/2" |
| 1 x 3 | 3/4" x 2 1/2" |
| 1 x 4 | 3/4" x 3 1/2" |
| 2 x 4 | 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" |
| 2 x 6 | 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" |
| 2 x 8 | 1 1/2" x 7 1/4" |
| 4 x 4 | 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" |
| 4/4 | 13/16" |
| 8/4 | 1 3/4" |
| 3/4" Ply | 23/32" |
Screw SizesWorkshop
| Size | Pilot | Clear |
|---|---|---|
| #4 | 1/16" | 9/64" |
| #6 | 5/64" | 11/64" |
| #8 | 3/32" | 13/64" |
| #10 | 7/64" | 1/4" |
| #12 | 1/8" | 17/64" |
| 1/4" | - | F |
| 5/16" | - | P |
| 3/8" | - | W |
| M4 | 2.5mm | 4.5mm |
| M6 | 3.5mm | 6.6mm |
Screw Size Chart
Compare an adjacent fastener family without assuming equivalence.
Customize & DownloadDrill Bit SizesWorkshop chart
| Number | Fraction | Decimal (in) | Millimeters |
|---|---|---|---|
| #80 | — | 0.0135 | 0.34 |
| #50 | — | 0.0700 | 1.78 |
| #52 | 1/16" | 0.0625 | 1.59 |
| #41 | 3/32" | 0.0938 | 2.38 |
| #22 | 5/32" | 0.1562 | 3.97 |
| #11 | 3/16" | 0.1875 | 4.76 |
| #7 | 13/64" | 0.2031 | 5.16 |
| — | — | 0.2570 | 6.53 |
| — | 3/8" | 0.3750 | 9.53 |
| — | 1/2" | 0.5000 | 12.70 |
Wrench SizesWorkshop
| Size | M-Bolt | S-Bolt |
|---|---|---|
| 8mm | M5 | 5/16" |
| 10mm | M6 | - |
| 7/16" | - | 1/4" |
| 13mm | M8 | - |
| 1/2" | - | 5/16" |
| 17mm | M10 | - |
| 9/16" | - | 3/8" |
| 19mm | M12 | 3/4" |
| 3/4" | - | 1/2" |
Nail size FAQ
What does the “d” mean in nail sizes?
The “d” is the historical penny label. In the current dataset it is a lookup label associated with length for common, box, finish, casing, and sinker rows. Roofing rows use inch labels instead. Verify the actual fastener package.
Does penny size tell me the nail gauge?
No. Penny label and length do not uniquely define shank gauge across nail types. Choose the type first, then compare the current row’s length, gauge, head, and count fields. Manufacturer dimensions and project requirements control.
Can I choose a framing nail from material thickness alone?
No. Thickness is one input. Required penetration, member arrangement, edge distance, fastener type, material condition, structural schedule, local code, and tool compatibility also matter. Follow the approved plan and fastener manufacturer.
Are 21-degree and 30-degree framing nails interchangeable?
Do not assume so. Magazine angle is only one compatibility field. Collation, head style, shank, length range, diameter, and model-specific listing can differ. Use the nailer manual and the fastener package for the exact tool model.
How accurate are nails-per-pound values?
They are approximate dataset references. Actual count changes with shank diameter, head geometry, length, coating, manufacturing tolerance, and package mix. Estimate weight from the selected row, then use supplier count or weigh a representative sample before purchasing.
Can this chart approve nails for structural or roofing work?
No. It organizes current size data and selection questions. Structural schedules, roofing system instructions, corrosion exposure, substrate, local code, manufacturer requirements, and inspection govern the work. Use qualified review where failure could cause harm.