Nail Size Chart: Penny, Gauge, Gun Nail and Metric Dimensions Table (Free PDF)

The first column has the penny size, then move over to that row and read down it. The length column show the length of the nail measured in both inches and millimetres. Shank gauge & Shank dia show you the thickness of the wire used for the shank. The Head dia column indicate the approximate width of the flat head. Approx nails per lb, this is the estimated number of bright nails in a pound.

A 16d common nail is 3-1/2 inches long. This nail is 8 gauge, meaning its 0.162 inches thick. There are about 47 nails like this in a pound.

d stands for denarius.

The 'd' stands for denarius, the Roman coin behind the old British penny. Nails in 15th century England were sold by the hundred. However, sometimes it was what we call a long hundred (120 nails).

The bigger the nail, the higher the number of pence it would fetch. If you had a nail that cost 16 pence per hundred then it was a 16d nail. Over time these prices froze into names.

From 2d up to 12d, there is an increase of 1/4 inch every penny step or two. For those above 16d, things alter. Every 10-penny jump represent 1/2 inch longer.

The shank gauge column show the wire thickness using the American Steel and Wire gauge.

The Shank gauge column uses the American Steel and Wire gauge. In that system, the bigger the number the smaller the wire. For example, some gauges might seem confusing, like 8d nails which has a 10-1/4 shank gauge. Make sure to double check against the decimal measurement.

Fifteen gauge is 0.072 inches. Eleven-and-a-half gauge is 0.113 inches. Eight gauge is 0.162 inches. This sets up the trap of replacing nails or screws with another size.

For instance, a 16d common nail is 0.162 inches thick. But a 16d box nail is just 0.135 inches thick. And a 16d sinker is only 0.148 inches thick. As you can see, the words following the penny number matter as much if not more different than the number itself.

There are approximately this many nails per lb.

This indicates how many nails is in one pound when they’re sold loose at lumberyards. These numbers are based off bright nails, meaning uncoated.

Since galvanized nails are hot-dip galvanized and thus heavier, there is fewer of them. For example, there are roughly 92 galvanized 8d commons per pound rather than 99. Similarly, vinyl-coated nails vary by count.

The 3d row is a range because the big manufacturers don’t agree on nail count. Grip-Rite has 543 per pound; Tree Island, 474. This column is only to be used for estimating how much you need to buy. It’s not for engineering purposes.

The 7d and 9d odd sizes are standardized.

There are a few standard sizes, but 7d and 9d are not commonly available in stock. They use the same wire as the size below. The next size up is 1/4 inch longer.

This table covers plain-shank common wire nails only

Sizes above 60d are usually called spikes Sinker, Finish, Casing, Threaded & Collated Gun nails has different diameters Box Nails have their own table below

For example, one penny size refers to three different nail types. Across the row, you match the shank and read the penny size from the left column.

Full strength (common) dia. The nail of the given length with the full-strength wire. The nail of the given length but with noticeabley lighter wire. Box diameter. The two columns of sinkers show the length of the sinker and then its diameter. Decimal inches are listed first followed by the wire gauge in each diameter cell.

Common nails is the most frequent kind of nail. A box nail has the same length but drops a gauge number (i.e., one or two wires). An 8d box nail measures 0.113 in thick. That’s 14 percent slimmer than its 8d common counterpart, at 0.131 in thick. That’s about 25 percent less steel cross-section area.

The thinner shank splits dry or brittle wood far less. Box nails is designed for use with thin-walled crate, which explains why they are used there. But they bend more readily in heavy lumber, and grip less. If structural connections is called out as common, don’t downgrade them to box nails of equal penny size.

The Hand Drive Cousin, sinkerers, were a mainstay during framing gun days. 1/8 in. shorter than the standard nail, they’re also one gauge thinner. Typically coated with phosphate or vinyl, sinkers has a checkered head that’s countersunk.

As it goes into the wood, the coating provides lubrication; then, as it sets, the checkering grab hold. Driving a pound of 16d sinkers drive more nails than driving a pound of 16d commons. You’ll get 57-ish to 64 nails where you might of otherwise expect only 47. Today, most of what lumberyards sells in the US under “16d” for framing work is sinker.

Ambiguity on all sides is the trap. Does it mean a sinker? A box? Or a common? Is it 8d or 16d? If there’s no mention of ‘common,’ ‘box,’ or ‘sinker’ then what are they saying?

Inspectors will assume bare penny means common. And here's why: The IBC and IRC fastening schedules writes out 16d common (3-1/2 in x 0.162 in) or 16d box exactly because the withdrawal and shear values differs so much. The IBC and IRC fastening schedule actualy specifies sizes like 16d box or 16d common (3-1/2 in x 0.162 in).

Why? Because a callout like 8d or 16d without the word common, box or sinker is ambiguous, and inspectors reads bare penny callouts as COMMON. Because that’s how they’re supposed to be written down; otherwise confusion rules and there’s no way to know if someone’s trying to match an existing nail. To match an existing nail, pull it out, grab some calipers and measure its shank. And look at the decimal columns, not the penny name on the box.

Blank cells: That combination is not standard. There are no 3d sinkers, and box nails max out at 40d. Sinkers are close cousins to cement-coated coolers. They’re thin wire, short in length than. Treat as part of the sinker column.

At these penny sizes, you’ll find the next table for finish and casing profiles. The nail gun table shows their gun-driven equivalents.

Select your penny length (penny sizes are all standard) on the left; select the family.

Finish diameter and finish gauge describes the slender brad-head nail. Casing diameter and casing gauge describe the heavier countersunk-head version.

Calculating the approximate count of bright finish nails per pound give you an estimate of how many are in a pound. Because it’s a thicker wire casing counts will be about 25 to 30 percent fewer.

The head is just slightly larger than the shank; they use a little barrel shaped thing called a brad head on a finish nail. It’s much thinner than a typical nail of equal penny, and the head itself cup up for a nail set to seat without sliding off.

And, if you have ever tried to hide a nail hole with filler, an 8d finish has a dramatically slimmer shank at 12-1/2 ga (0.099 in) compared to a common 8d at 0.131 in, which means you get a hole you can cover over with a swipe of filler. That’s what the whole deal is: hiding the hole.

Between common and finish are the casing nails (typicaly one gauge heavier than the finish nail at each penny size). These has a smooth conical countersunk head made for casings on windows and doors, but were designed to be used also for jambs, stops, exterior trim, etc., where you want more bite than the finish nail provide.

That's particularly so when they're hot-dip galvanized, the tapered head pulls tight against the surface without crushing the material.

Also, watch those little sizes; as you can see from the 2d finish row, there’s a gap (17 ga at Tree Island, 16-1/2 ga at Grip-Rite). This is because nobody ever standardized trim wire under 3d. These aren’t ASTM catalog numbers for the 1d and 2d decimals; they’re wire-gauge equivalent interpolations. Measure your own nails if it matters based off a few thousandths.

And finally, don’t confuse nail-gun gauges with trim gauge numbers: an angled 15 ga gun nail is identical to a 4d finish nail driven by hand (15 ga, 0.072 in); whereas a 16 ga gun nail (0.0625 in) is thinner than any hand finish nail here.

This table applies only to nails. It does not apply to gun brads and pins (see nail gun table). It also does not apply to escutcheon pins and panel pins sold in metric, or galvanized casing nails used as face nails on siding when the siding maker’s schedule or code calls for a specific diameter.

Never use casing or finish nails instead of common nails for structural application. The shank is one to three gauges lighter, and head pulls right through. You should of used common nails for that.

The way you read gun fasteners specs is twofold. Gauge numbers identify trim nails: bigger = thinner nail. Decimal diameters identify framing nails: you read it off the second column of the reference table. Find your callout in that second column to get the other specs.

There you see the shank diameter expressed as inches and millimeters, true shank diameter. You see what typical lengths they comes in. You see what the angle and collation should of be on your tool to match.

You even see what size hand-nail each one is, so you can convert between gun size and the penny tables up top.

Also, there is a ladder of sizes for trim guns. For instance, 23 gauge headless pins is roughly .026 inches thick. These are nearly impossible to see and don’t hold at all.

Then you go to 21 gauge which are slight-head pins. Next you go to 18 gauge brads that is only for light trim. After that you go to 16 gauge straight finish nails that are .0625 inches thick. You then go up one more time to 15 gauge angled finish nails that are .072 inches thick.

A 15 gauge nail is equal in diameter to a hand driven 4d finish nail (the wire). A 15 gauge angled nail also comes in two different incompatible magazine angles: 25 degree FN style and 34 degree DA style. Although the nail is the same size, the angle of the strip do not interchange.

A lot of times we make framing nail substitutions. The usual 16d gun nail is 0.131 inches in diameter. That is 8d common wire at nearly the same length than a 16d. 0.131 inch nails. But that's not the same as a 16d common nail. 0.162 inches in diameter.

And if an IRC fastening schedule calls for full commons, then go to 0.148 or 0.162 in gun nails. If you're driving them by hand, you might want to try those too. Metal connector (joist hanger) nails are the short 0.148 in rows. When hanging something on a flange, a 0.148 in nail equals 10d common diameter.

Size and collation is both important. They have full round heads on a 21-degree plastic strip. Also available: 20- to 22-degree. They has offset (or clipped) round heads on 30- to 34-degree paper tape strips. Coil wire is 15 degrees for coil nailers.

Gun won’t accept 30 degree sticks when set for 21 degrees. In some areas, clipped-head nails can’t be used in shear walls. Before building with paper-collated stock, consult your local codes.

Metric nail sizes are the same as the fasteners with metric labels sold in Europe and Australia. To read one labeled 90 x 3.75, here's how it breaks down: 90 = length (90 millimeters = 3-1/2 inches) 3.75 = shank size (3.75 millimeter = 0.148 inches).

So a 90 x 3.1 nail would be roughly equivalent to 3-1/2 inches long by 0.120 inches thick. Similarly, a 75 x 2.8 nail would be around 3 inches long by 0.113 inches thick.

Note that ring-shank nails of any diameter will increase their pull-out grip, but you won't see the shank size or the call-out changed. Nails found in roofing coil are not covered in this chart. These are generally roofing nails. They are usually 3/4 to 1-3/4 inches long and 0.120 inches thick with an oversized head.

Also excluded are specialty masonry nails, roofing nails, drywall nails, etc.

In the metric system, nails is measured as length x diameter in millimetres. This is typically listed after the length. For example, if there is a box of nails labeled 75 x 3.75, they will be 75 mm long with a shank diameter of 3.75 mm. This is listed on the left column in the table.

Compare these measurements against the US tables by reading the diameter and length in inches. As a general rule for similar sizing, translate the size to the closest penny size.

When purchasing from merchants who list by weight (which some do in the EU and UK), use the approximate nails per kilogram column to help convert prices. Note that some merchants actualy list the nail diameter before the length, such as 3.75 x 75. The largest number are always the length.

Round wire nails are the most common round nails used in the UK and Ireland. They have a range of sizes which you will find available at Screwfix, Wickes, Timco etc. These is the big trade suppliers.

The diameters are an odd size as they are based off the old imperial wire gauges specified in BS 1202. Preferred diameters and new tolerances was set in the new standard BS EN 10230-1. But the trade still sells the old legacy sizes.

In Germany, the system are different: it’s the DIN 1151 series. When changing between standards, match nails by their measured diameter, not by catalogue names.

Those are the working approximates to go from metric to imperial system. To go from metric to imperial, use the penny equivalents.

The 65 x 3.35 comes close on 8d common nail. The 75 x 3.75 matches 10d common wire, though it runs short of 3 inches. The 90 x 4.00 is the same length than a 16d, but the wire is slightly under a 16d common. The 65 x 2.65 isn’t directly comparable to any common size since its wire is just like an 8d box nail.

If your structural drawing calls out the exact metric, you’ll have to provide that exact size. That’s not a free pass to use other sizes based off the column of pennies.

The whole metric family of nails are labeled with this length by diameter scheme. This includes ring shank nails, lost head nails, oval brads, and clout nails. All list their overall length and shank diameter similarly.

The head size and count per kilogram is not like the table of round head nails above. There is also ring shank varieties of each of these that give up some rigidity for increased withdrawal resistance. These match those in the threaded nail table below.

A more usable clue on the trade counter is the count column. This figure is derived from the weight of the steel nail shank and takes into account its head weight. The three sizes shown as ranges (65 x 3.35, 75 x 3.75, and 90 x 4.00) are bracketed by actual supplier pack counts.

Generally, hot-dip galvanized nails will be between 5-10% less per kilo than the basic count. Again stainless steel nails varies a little because they has a higher density. You should of checked the weight to be sure.

There are two types of shank styles of threaded nails. Both is within a single size series. Screw shank nails has helical flutes that twist into place, making them good for pallet and other hardwoods. And there is ring shank nails with annular grooves that resist pulling out better.

First, locate the penny size. Then read off the inch/millimetre length. Note the threaded shank diameter. See that threaded nails has a thinner wire than the corresponding penny-size nails (common nails). The wire mass doesn't do the holding: it's the thread.

Throughout the range you see the economy of the design. From 20d to 60d, all the threaded nail wires measure .177 in. That’s for all the threaded nails from 20d to 60d. Their common nails scale from .192, .262 in.

The threads harden the shank as they work it. They lock down wood fibers into the grooves. Even as the wood dries the withdrawal resistance remain high. Because smooth shanks let go in this particular failure mode, the threads keeps the resistance high.

For siding, subfloor, decking boards and pallet assembly they specify ring shanks. They also use them where moisture cycling and vibration back smooth nails out.

Beyond the range of common nails, they extend to 70d, 80d and 90d. Those are 7, 8 and 9-inch sizes. And you’ll use those on pole barns and for landscaping timber.

The measurement for engineered connections is the root diameter, or the shank just under the grooves. The root is roughly .008 in smaller than the listed diamater. For example, the 0.148 ring shank has a 0.140 root. That’s the diameter used in lateral design values in the NDS.

A 16d ring shank is not as strong laterally as a 16d common nail. But it win on withdrawal. Post frame ring shanks is hardened and come with a 0.200 x 15/32 head size. They can goes up to 8 inches long.

The system has size traps: A 16d sinker uses 0.148-in wire; a 16d ring shank uses that same 0.148-inch diameter. That’s why roofers often spec ring shanks by decimal alone (e.g., “0.120 x 2-3/8”), because they don't want to get into ambiguous pennies.

Read callouts with care. Collated ring shank framing nails use diameters on the gun table, ranging from 0.113 to 0.148 inches. These is not part of this series (see above). The metric version (e.g., 90 x 4.00 ring) follows the metric table.

Only drive threaded nails once. Pulling and then driving again tear up the fibers the rings rely upon. You should of checked the size first. Based off the design, you'll need to be accuratly sure.