1/4 plywood: actual thickness and weight
Sanded panel measures
0.234–0.266 in
5.94–6.76 mm
From the standard, NIST PS 1-22
A 4 × 8 ft sheet weighs about
APA’s weight table does not list 1/4, so no weight is given here; weigh a sheet or ask the maker.
How thick 1/4 plywood really is
1/4 is a Performance Category, the name stamped on the panel under the US plywood standard, NIST PS 1-22. The standard does not hold the panel to exactly 1/4 in; it gives a range. Sanded panels, the smooth faces sold for cabinets and furniture, are held to a tighter range than unsanded sheathing.
| Panel | Inches | Millimetres |
|---|---|---|
| Sanded | 0.234–0.266 | 5.94–6.76 |
| Unsanded, touch-sanded or overlaid | 0.219–0.281 | 5.56–7.14 |
Cutting a dado or rabbet for it? Measure the sheet you have: any panel inside the range meets the standard. Every category side by side is on the plywood thickness chart.
Next
Lay out parts on a sheet with the plywood cut list calculator. The face and back letters are explained on plywood grades, sheet sizes on plywood sizes, and the metric sheets on Baltic birch plywood. 1/4 MDF is sold at its full stated thickness; its weight is on its own page.
Work it out for your project
- Estimate the lumber for a whole project
List the parts, get the boards and board feet to buy, with waste.
Sources
- NIST (US Department of Commerce) / APA, Voluntary Product Standard PS 1-22, Structural Plywood, §5.4, §5.10 and Table 10 (effective 2 October 2023), read 2026-11-07
- APA – The Engineered Wood Association, Panel Design Specification, Form D510C (revised February 2008): §2.5 span ratings, Table 5 (thickness by span rating) and Table 6 (approximate weight), read 2026-11-08