Construction workers use nails for a variety of tasks, from roofs to floors. Every major construction or renovation project requires fasteners of varying qualities to ensure the stability of the structure. Therefore, choosing the right nail size, type, and material is crucial.

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What specifications does nail size include?

Its size consists of many factors, such as diameter, gauge, and shank length. There is a standard for these characteristics. We will list them one by one later. Knowing the size of the nail is also important for choosing the right hardware for your job and will save you money and time. Please use these nail size charts to find the right nail for your application.

Nail size standards

The following nail size chart is the industry standard for nail sizes. To understand the nail size chart, you first need to know these measurements:

Ⅰ. Penny size: The penny size is a standard unit of measurement for nails, abbreviated as “d.” This measurement initially referred to the price of 100 nails, with longer nails costing more. Now penny size indicates nail size, although it doesn’t correspond precisely to another unit of measurement. For example, a 16 penny nail is abbreviated as a 16d nail and is longer than an 8d nail.

Ⅱ. Gauge: A nail’s gauge is a unit of measurement referring to its diameter or thickness. Higher nail gauge sizes correspond to thinner nails, with smaller nail gauge sizes correlating to thicker, stronger nails. For instance, a 12-gauge nail is thinner than a 5-gauge nail.

Ⅲ. Shank diameter: The shank of the nail refers to its longer portion driven into the material rather than the flat head. The shank’s diameter is a measurement of its thickness in inches.

Ⅳ. Shank length: Shank length refers to nail length and is measured in inches.

Ⅴ. Head diameter: The nail head diameter is an approximate measurement of the nail’s head in inches.

What types of nails are there?

It’s well known that different nail types will perform different functions, but what we may not know is what type of nail is best for what type of project. Pullout resistance is a factor that influences nail selection, for example, a threaded shank or ring shank nail will resist pullout better than a smooth shank nail. And whether the project involves hardwood or softwood will also affect the construction team’s choice of nail.

Nail material

Nails are made of a variety of materials, the most common of which are stainless steel nails and copper-plated nails. Copper nails have excellent structural support and service life, and are very suitable for high-humidity environments. Stainless steel nails are suitable for soft materials and are corrosion-resistant and weather-resistant.

The shape of the nail head

Different applications also require unique nail heads. For roofing, nails must lie discreetly under shingles while providing tear resistance. Flat, wide nail heads are ideal for this situation. Specialty nail designs and coatings allow construction workers to find suitable hardware for their jobs.

(You may want to know about – Roofing Nails).

 

Based on these factors, the three most commonly used nail types include:

1. Regular nails: Regular nails have a smooth shank and a diamond-shaped head. They are ideal for structural work, repairs, and other applications that require typical resistance. Their smooth shank makes them strong enough to support lateral loads, and pull-out resistance is a secondary factor.

2. Box nails: Box nails have a smooth shank similar to regular nails. The main difference is that box nails are usually slightly higher in gauge. These nails are ideal for projects that do not require high strength retention, such as handling thinner wood, crates, trim, and other non-structural projects.

3. Ring nails and threaded nails: Ring nails or threaded nails have a threaded shank that provides additional grip once inserted into the material. These nails have excellent pull-out resistance and structural support. Construction workers use ring nails in projects that require extra grip, such as flooring and drywall replacement.

Common nail size chart

Here is the nail size chart for common nails:

2d, 15 gauge: 15-gauge shank, 0.072-inch shank diameter, 1-inch shank length and 3/16-inch head diameter

2d, 14 gauge: 14-gauge shank, 0.083-inch shank diameter, 1-inch shank length and 13/64-inch head diameter

3d: 14-gauge shank, 0.083-inch shank diameter, 1.25-inch shank length and 13/64-inch head diameter

4d: 12-gauge shank, 0.109-inch shank diameter, 1.5-inch shank length and 1/4-inch head diameter

5d: 12-gauge shank, 0.109-inch shank diameter, 1.75-inch shank length and 1/4-inch head diameter

6d: 11-gauge shank, 0.12-inch shank diameter, 2-inch shank length and 17/64-inch head diameter

8d: 10-gauge shank, 0.134-inch shank diameter, 2.5-inch shank length and 9/32-inch head diameter

10d: 9-gauge shank, 0.148-inch shank diameter, 3-inch shank length and 5/16-inch head diameter

12d: 9-gauge shank, 0.148-inch shank diameter, 3.25-inch shank length and 5/16-inch head diameter

16d: 8-gauge shank, 0.165-inch shank diameter, 3.5-inch shank length and 11/32-inch head diameter

20d: 6-gauge shank, 0.203-inch shank diameter, 4-inch shank length and 13/32-inch head diameter

30d: 5-gauge shank, 0.220-inch shank diameter, 4.5-inch shank length and 7/16-inch head diameter

40d: 4-gauge shank, 0.238-inch shank diameter, 5-inch shank length and 15/32-inch head diameter

60d: 4-gauge shank, 0.238-inch shank diameter, 6-inch shank length and 17/32-inch head diameter

Box Nail Size Chart

This box nail length chart can help you determine the best size of box nail for your application:

• 3d: 14 1/2-gauge shank, 0.076-inch shank diameter and 1.25-inch shank length
• 4d: 14-gauge shank, 0.080-inch shank diameter and 1.5-inch shank length
• 5d: 14-gauge shank, 0.080-inch shank diameter and 1.75-inch shank length
• 6d: 12 1/2-gauge shank, 0.098-inch shank diameter and 2-inch shank length
• 7d: 12 1/2-gauge shank, 0.098-inch shank diameter and 2.25-inch shank length
• 8d: 11 1/2-gauge shank, 0.113-inch shank diameter and 2.5-inch shank length
• 10d: 10 1/2-gauge shank, 0.128-inch shank diameter and 3-inch shank length
• 16d: 10-gauge shank, 0.135-inch shank diameter and 3.5-inch shank length
• 20d: 9-gauge shank, 0.148-inch shank diameter and 4-inch shank length

Annular and Threaded Nail Sizing Chart

Consider this annular and threaded nail size chart when selecting threaded nails for your project:

• 6d: 0.12-inch shank diameter and 2-inch shank length
• 8d: 0.12-inch shank diameter and 2.5-inch shank length
• 10d: 0.135-inch shank diameter and 3-inch shank length
• 12d: 0.135-inch shank diameter and 3.25-inch shank length
• 16d: 0.148-inch shank diameter and 3.5-inch shank length
• 20d: 0.177-inch shank diameter and 4-inch shank length
• 30d: 0.177-inch shank diameter and 4.5-inch shank length
• 40d: 0.177-inch shank diameter and 5-inch shank length
• 50d: 0.177-inch shank diameter and 5.5-inch shank length
• 60d: 0.177-inch shank diameter and 6-inch shank length
• 70d: 0.207-inch shank diameter and 7-inch shank length
• 80d: 0.207-inch shank diameter and 8-inch shank length
• 90d: 0.207-inch shank diameter and 9-inch shank length

Find the Right Nails at Wanzhi Steel

Nail size varies widely depending on the type of hardware your project requires. Understanding the requirements of your work and the types of nails available can help you select the best one.

At Wanzhi Steel, we offer a wide selection of quality nails, screws, bolts, and other fasteners to fit your application. We will work with you to find the products to help you accomplish your project.

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