How far can a 2×6 span without sagging?

A 2×6 can support up to 50 pounds per square foot of weight without sagging with a maximum span of about 12 feet when spanning a distance horizontally, with the 2×6 standing in a vertical position. This number includes both live and dead weight.

How far can you span a 2×6 beam?





The maximum distance a 2×6 can span, according to the 2018 IRC, for a floor joist, is 12′-6”, ceiling joist 20′-8”, rafter 18′-0”, deck board 24”, deck joist 9′-11”, deck beam 8′-3”, and 6′-1” as for header.

Can a 2×4 span 10 feet?

A 2×4 can span a maximum of 6′ 7” when spaced 16” apart and used as a floor or deck joist. When used as a ceiling joist or a roof rafter, a 2×4 can span up to 7′ 3” spaced at 16”, and 6′ 4” when spaced 24” apart. Due to the small spans of 2x4s, they often are not used in horizontal load-bearing capacities.

How far can you run a 2×4 without support?

You can calculate the typical span by multiplying the depth of the lumber by 1.5. For 2x4s, this would equal 6 feet, but that is only a general calculation. When used as floor or deck joists, the maximum span for a high-grade 2×4 is around 6′ 2” for 16” spacing using Southern Pine depending on the other factors.

Are 2×6 strong enough for deck joists?

For upper-level decks, 2×10 is recommended as the minimum size to use for strong guard post connections. 2×6 joists should only be used on ground-level decks that do not require, and will not provide for, any guards.

How much load can a 2×6 support?





A 2×6 joist can support 53 pounds per linear foot of uniform load, substantially more than the 4 pounds per linear foot when laid flat. Therefore, a 10 foot 2×6 will support 530 pounds of uniform weight. This weight can fluctuate based on the various factors, but on its edge is the strongest orientation for 2×6 lumber.

How far can a 4X10 beam span without support?

Dimensional Lumber Deck Beam Span Chart

Joist Spans
Douglas Fir-Larch, Hem-Fir, Spruce-Pine-Fir, Redwood, Cedars, Ponderosa Pine, Red Pine 4X10 9′-8″
4X12 11′-2″
3-2X6 7′-1″
3-2X8

What size beam do I need for a 14 foot span?

Thus, for a 14 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×12 or 6×12 size of wood beam. For a 14-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 12 inches in depth and 6″ in width (3-2×12) used for residential building, wood frame structure or projects.

Which is stronger 2 2×4 or 1 2×6?

The total bearing area of three 2x4s is 15 3/4 square inches; two 2x6s have a bearing area of 16 square inches. In bending, however, such as from a wind load, a 2×6 wall is considerably stronger. In tall walls, where column buckling might be a factor, a 2×6 wall would be stronger if a structural sheathing was used.

How far can a 2×6 span for a deck?



24 inches

Decking made of 2x4s or 2x6s can span up to 24 inches. If you will run decking at an angle, you might need to put the joists closer together.

How far can a 2×6 span for a roof?

Max. Live Load 20 lbs/ft2 (956 N/m2)

Maximum Span (ft – in)
Nominal Size (inches) Rafter Spacing, Center to Center, OC (inches) Lumber Grade
2 x 6 12 16′ – 4”
16 14′ – 11”
24 13′

What is the maximum span for a 2×6 ceiling joist?



Example: The highlighted cell (below) shows that a 2″ x 6″ Douglas Fir joist, with a grade of #2, spaced 24″ apart, can have a maximum span of 10 feet – 8 inches (10-8).

Can you use 2×6 for roof rafters?

2×6 shed roof rafters are enough for nearly any type of shed a homeowner wants to build. While a 2×6 might be nearly double the cost of a 2×4, you can likely space the 2x6s further apart, negating the added expense of increasing your lumber width.

How much weight can a 2×4 rafter hold?

A 2×4 can support up to 1,000 pounds vertically. This dimensional lumber is the most common material used to frame interior and exterior walls on a home. When used as wall studs, 2x4s are typically grouped to create a wall, spaced 16 inches apart.

How far apart can rafters be spaced?

Standard industry roof rafter spacing is 12”, 16”, 19.2”, and 24” on-center, however other spacing may be used by a Structural Engineer. Depending on all contributing factors though, 16” and 24” are commonly used for most buildings. The wider the space between rafters often results in rafters of greater depth too.

What determines the spacing between trusses?



Trusses are usually spaced at regular intervals, typically 600 mm, 900 mm or 1,200 mm apart. The spacing depends on the mass of the roofing material and local practice. A range of truss types can be configured to attain different shapes.