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Plywood Buying Guide

Jimmy Graham

By Jimmy Graham
Published June 28, 2022

Plywood is a versatile construction item. Find out about the different types and applications to ensure the correct selection for your project.

A man cutting plywood with a CRAFTSMAN jigsaw.

What is Plywood?

Three sheets of plywood.

Along with concrete blocks and lumber, plywood is one of the main staples of residential and commercial construction. Plywood is made from thin wood veneers or “plies” that are then glued together, pressed and heated to form sheets. The wood grain of the plies are rotated 90° with each alternate layer to reduce expansion and contraction of the wood. This gives plywood stability and resistance to shrinkage, breaking, warping, and cracking.

The Plies of Plywood

The edges of the sheets of plywood showing the multiple plies.

The layers of veneer or plies of the plywood help determine the strength of the sheet. Plywood must have a minimum of three plies and are usually combined in an odd number of layers. The most common plies are:

  • 3-ply is one of the most common types of plywood. With three layers of veneer it’s strong and durable. It can be a good choice for indoor use with a more decorative look than plywood with more layers.
  • 5-ply refers to the five layers of veneers. This is common type of plywood that is suitable for a wide range of miscellaneous and construction uses where rigidity and strength are needed.
  • Multi-ply plywood is mostly for exterior use and roofing. Usually designed with seven or more layers, it creates a very strong, durable home frame material that will withstand wind and weather damage.

Plywood Grades

Plywood receives grades (ranging from A to D) based on the number of blemishes on the product.

  • Grade A: Both the face and back are nearly free of defects, with a smooth, sanded surface and virtually no knots. Ideal for cabinet doors and furniture and can be painted or stained.
  • Grade B: Also sanded smooth, but the face and back have a few defects.  These blemishes may have been repaired filler. Cheaper than Grade A.
  • Grade C: Unsanded, with tight knots up to 1-½-in width. Larger sections that have been patched and filled. Good for subflooring or other applications where appearance is not important.
  • Grade D: Also unsanded, with knot holes up to 2-½-in width. Generous patching and filling with some unrepaired defects. Like Grade C, good for structural uses where it will not be seen.

When two grades are indicated, such as A/B, the A refers to the face and the B refers to the back. This can save costs to the mill. The most common is B/C-grade, which is a mix of B-grade on the face side and C-grade on the back side.

Plywood Sizes

Plywood panels are generally available in three main sizes: 4-ft x 4-ft, 4-ft x 8-ft, and 4-ft x 9-ft.

You should choose the thickness depending on what type of project you have. Plywood is usually made 1/8-in thick to more than 1-1/2-in thick. Most common plywood thicknesses are ½-in, ¾-in, and 1-in.

Exterior & Interior Use

A white pug in a plywood dog house with a red roof.

Exterior plywood is used outside the home where durability is required. Bound together using water-resistant glue that doesn’t wear off easily, this plywood is wind and weather resistant. Some of the most suitable applications for exterior plywood are walls, roof linings, and outdoor structures.

Interior plywood is not very resistant to outdoor elements and tends to degrade quickly when exposed to moisture and heat. Some of the popular applications for interior plywood include indoor furniture, interior cladding, and craft projects.

Sanded Plywood

Three sheets of sanded plywood in front of kitchen cabinets.

The sanded plywood face gives a beautiful high-quality surface that is ready for finishing. It is used where outward appearance is important. And thanks to being sanded at the mill, minimal if any additional sanding is required for most applications.

Typical construction uses include stair treads and risers, cabinets and built-ins, shelving, paneling, and accent panels.

Plywood Sheathing

A worker installing plywood sheathing on a roof.

Exterior plywood sheathing is used on weather-protected building exteriors like roofs and walls underneath siding. Sheathing is normally rated CDX, with a C-grade face, D-grade back and X for weather exposure. It has exterior rated glue to stand up to the elements.

Plywood Underlayment

A man installing plywood underlayment in a living room.

Plywood underlayment is water repellant and thicker than normal plywood, ranging from ¾-in to 1-1/8 in. It is a durable, single-layer flooring panel for use under hardwood flooring, carpet and pad, and tile and vinyl floor coverings.

Tip

Look for tongue and groove panels for a squeak-free floor. The sheet should be labeled “T&G”.

Hardwood & Softwood Plywood

A man cutting a sheet of plywood with a Bosch circular saw.

Hardwood plywood is made from oak, maple, poplar, and walnut trees. It is designed for demanding end uses. Having between three and seven layers, hardwood plywood is characterized by its excellent strength, stiffness, and durability. Hardwood plywood has outstanding surface hardness, making it damage and wear resistant. This tough exterior makes it a choice for packing cases, speaker boxes, and furniture.

Softwood plywood is usually made either of Douglas fir, pine, Southern yellow pine, poplar and whitewood and is typically used for exterior frame sheathing, roof sheathing, and sub-flooring. Softwood plywood is also ideal for projects like sheds, plant boxes, doghouses, and shelving.