303
Lookup 1 — What does this penny size mean?
Enter a penny size like 16d — get its length, gauge, and best use.
REFERENCE TABLE · CONSTRUCTION · PRINTABLE
Nail Size Chart: Penny Sizes 2d to 60d
Nail sizes are named in pennies — a system older than the United States itself. The “d” stands for denarius, the Roman penny: in 15th-century England a 6d nail cost six pennies per hundred, and the name stuck long after the price didn’t. The chart below lists every standard penny size from 2d to 60d with its length, gauge (wire thickness — backwards from what you’d expect), and what each size is actually for — plus three live lookups so you never have to guess. The table prints cleanly: take it to the job site.
304
Lookup 2 — Which nail for my job?
Pick the job — get the right penny size and the why.
305
Lookup 3 — Convert inches to penny size
Know the length you need? Find the nearest penny size.
The chart
Two rules make the chart make sense. Rule one: from 2d to 10d, each penny step adds a quarter inch — length (in) = penny ÷ 4 + 1/2. Above 10d the steps widen. Rule two: gauge runs backwards — a lower number is a thicker nail (16d at gauge 8 is nearly twice the wire of 2d at gauge 15). Printing? Use your browser’s print command — the table below is formatted for paper.
| Penny | Length | Gauge | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2d | 1 in | 15 | Paneling, small moldings |
| 3d | 1-1/4 in | 14 | Small trim, light moldings |
| 4d | 1-1/2 in | 12-1/2 | Light trim, cabinet backs |
| 5d | 1-3/4 in | 12-1/2 | Baseboard, thin window trim |
| 6d | 2 in | 11-1/2 | Finish carpentry, casing, siding |
| 7d | 2-1/4 in | 11-1/2 | Siding, exterior trim |
| 8d | 2-1/2 in | 10-1/4 | Sheathing, subfloor, fencing |
| 9d | 2-3/4 in | 10-1/4 | Subfloor, heavier sheathing |
| 10d | 3 in | 9 | Deck boards, light framing |
| 12d | 3-1/4 in | 9 | Framing, floor joists |
| 16d | 3-1/2 in | 8 | Wall framing — the classic framing nail |
| 20d | 4 in | 6 | Heavy framing, timber |
| 30d | 4-1/2 in | 5 | Heavy timber, pole barns |
| 40d | 5 in | 4 | Heavy timber, landscaping ties |
| 50d | 5-1/2 in | 3 | Heavy timber construction |
| 60d | 6 in | 2 | Timber spikes, large construction |
Worked example: framing a wall
Say you’re nailing two studs together. The stock is 1-1/2 in thick, and the 3× rule says the nail should be three times the thickness of what it fastens — about 4-1/2 in, with two-thirds of the nail buried in the base material. The chart gives you 16d (3-1/2 in): the standard framing nail, long enough to hold through both members without blowing out the back. A 10d (3 in) would work in a pinch but leaves less bite; a 20d (4 in) risks poking through. Lookup 2 makes this call for every common job.
Common, box, and sinker nails
The chart shows bright common nails — the thick-shanked default. Box nails are the same lengths but a gauge or two thinner: they split wood less, which is why trim and siding often go box. Sinkers are vinyl-coated commons that drive easier and grip harder — the framing-crew favorite. Galvanized or stainless for anything outdoors; the coating changes the grip slightly, so the penny size stays the same while the holding power shifts a little.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Nail specs | table lookup by penny size | 16d → 3-1/2 in, gauge 8 — the classic framing nail. |
| Task nail | job → penny size | Framing a wall → 16d — the 3× rule applied for you. |
| Nearest penny | min |length − target| | 3.5 in → 16d — the closest standard size. |
Who uses this
- DIY framers: confirming 16d before the first wall goes up — the most common beginner mistake is grabbing whatever’s in the pouch.
- Deck builders: sizing 10d ring-shank for 5/4 boards — smooth-shank pops when the boards cup.
- Trim carpenters: reaching for 6d instead of 8d — the smaller head sets cleanly and fills invisibly.
- Students & shop teachers: the denarius story makes the penny system memorable — cite it with the block below.
Accuracy & limitations
Lengths are the US standard penny sizes; individual manufacturers vary slightly. Gauges are for bright common nails — box, sinker, galvanized, and coated nails run thinner or thicker at the same penny size. Application guidance assumes standard dimensional lumber; engineered lumber, hardwoods, and masonry have their own fastening rules (and local building codes always win). Not professional advice.
Cite this calculatorBright Side Kit. “Nail Size Chart: Penny Sizes 2d to 60d.” brightoolbox.com, 2026.
Bright Side Kit. "Nail Size Chart: Penny Sizes 2d to 60d." https://brightoolbox.com/nail-size-chart/ Accessed October 23, 2026.Frequently asked questions
What does the “d” in 16d stand for?
It stands for denarius, the Roman penny. In 15th-century England nails were sold by the hundred, and a nail that cost ten pennies per hundred became a 10d nail. The prices fell away centuries ago; the names stayed — and they now designate size, not price.
What size nail do I use for framing?
16d (3-1/2 in) — the framing nail. Two-by stock is 1-1/2 in thick, and the 3× rule wants about 4-1/2 in of nail; 16d is the standard that gets two studs home without blowing through. Sinkers (coated 16d) drive easier and are the framing-crew favorite.
How long should a nail be for the job?
Use the 3× rule: the nail should be about three times as long as the thickness of the piece it fastens, so two-thirds of it ends up buried in the base material. Fastening 3/4-in trim? 2-1/4 in of nail — reach for 6d (2 in). Lookup 3 converts any length back to penny size.
Why does a lower gauge number mean a thicker nail?
Gauge is a wire-drawing scale, not a measurement: it counts how many times the wire was drawn through the dies, so more draws = thinner wire = higher number. A 60d spike at gauge 2 is nearly twice the wire diameter of a 2d nail at gauge 15. When in doubt, read the length column instead.
Common vs box vs sinker — which do I buy?
Common: thickest shank, maximum grip — framing and structural work. Box: same lengths, thinner shank — less splitting, for trim and siding. Sinker: coated common that drives easier and holds harder — the framing-crew default. Outdoors, buy galvanized or stainless regardless of style.
Can I just use screws instead of nails?
Sometimes — but know the trade. Screws win at withdrawal (pull-out), nails win at shear (sideways force), which is why framing is still a nail job. Structural screws exist that do both, at ten times the price per fastener. For shear-loaded joints, the penny chart is still the answer.