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Plywood is a widely used building material used for walls, structures, docks, furniture and so much more.

It’s categorized by number of layers and type. Plywood comes in 3 to 13 layers.

Short Answer: The main types of plywood include:

Softwood
Hardwood
Aircraft plywood
Exterior plywood
Lumber core
Marine plywood
Overlaid plywood
Structural plywood

Below we explain each in detail.

You’ll find various prices matched with multiple materials, ply, sizes, veneers, grades, and more. Our ultimate guide to different types of plywood and the projects for which they work best should help you narrow your options to find the right kind for your needs.

I. Plywood Buying Guide

What exactly is plywood? What type of wood is plywood?

Hardwood plywood (often simply referred to as ‘plywood’) is a type of wood that is actually manmade – so technically it is not actually a natural wood, but rather is an engineered wood product.

Plywood is made by sticking three or more boards (veneers) of wood together with some sort of adhesive. The explanation does not need to be much more complicated than that.

However, it is important to know the differences between types of plywood, so that you can make a more informed choice when purchasing furniture, building materials or other plywood products.

What Is Plywood Used For?

Plywood is a strong, versatile material that’s used for dozens of applications, such as:

Did you ever notice the floor you were roller skating on as a kid? Yes, it was plywood (with a heck of a gloss.)
The same goes for the basketball court you played on (and possibly still do.)
Underlayment for roofing and flooring
Exterior sheathing for homes and commercial buildings
Indoor cladding for walls
Boat and shipbuilding
Cabinetry
Some types of furniture such as sofas and chairs
Crating foods, wines, and other products for shipment
Crates for hay, cotton bales, and other farm products
Sheathed crates transporting military or industrial machines and/or equipment

A. Types of Ply

Source: Workshop Supply

The term “ply,” as it refers to plywood, means the layers manufacturers use to create the boards at various thicknesses. Some projects won’t need a thick board, while others will. Ply achieves the right depth and can also make the boards stronger.

The thickness of the plywood board (how many sheets are glued together) is known as the plywood grade. Each layer is known as a wood veneer. A veneer is a thin sheet of wood that you can glue together to create a different number of plies.

Plywood, then, is the finished product when the manufacturer glues the veneers together.

It’s important to note, though, that veneers can also have various thicknesses. Depending on your location, some parts of the home must meet specific standards for the number of plies required for a board of a certain depth, especially with external walls and roofing.

1. 3-Ply

3-ply is one of the most common types of plywood. This kind has three layers of veneer and is layered enough to be strong and durable but can look more decorative than plywood with more plies, making it a good choice for indoor use.

2. 5-Ply

5-ply pieces of wood have five layers of veneers. This is another common type of plywood used for projects that require less durability and strength than those needed for exterior use.

3. Multi-Ply

Multi-ply plywood is mostly for exterior use and roofing. It can comprise several veneers, usually seven or more, to create an incredibly strong, unyielding frame for a home that can stand up to wind and damage.

B. Types of Plywood Sheets

The various types of plywood you’ll find in the hardware store can make your shopping trip seem overwhelming but understanding how they differ is the key to deciphering what the best kind is for your project.

1. Softwood Plywood

Source: Lowe’s

Softwood plywood is a type of plywood that manufacturers make using softwoods, like pine, redwood, or cedar. Some examples of softwood plywood are:

Cedar plywood
Redwood plywood
Pine plywood

Although the name implies that these woods aren’t as strong as others, you might be surprised to know that construction workers typically use softwoods for exterior frame sheathing, roof sheathing, and sub-flooring.

Softwood plywood can also create things like sheds, temporary flooring, doghouses, shelving, and more.

2. Hardwood Plywood

Hardwood plywood typically has between three and seven layers and uses hardwoods. Manufacturers glue the layers of wood at right angles to one another to create an incredibly strong finish.

Birch plywood
Oak plywood
Maple plywood
Walnut plywood
Poplar plywood

Hardwoods are best for things like furniture, packing cases, sporting equipment, musical instruments, and other intricate projects that require strong frames.

3. Aircraft plywood

Source: Spitfire Aircraft Company

According to Woodwork Made Easy Aircraft plywood is among the highest-grade, most durable kind you can find. This wood uses hardwoods, like mahogany or birch, to create an incredibly strong finished piece that can also resist heat and moisture.

The design incorporates some very thin veneers that can keep it light and flexible, while still giving it unyielding strength for the heftiest jobs. You’ll find this type of plywood in projects that need industrial-strength woods, like airplanes, boats, and furniture that’s meant to hold a lot of weight.

4. Exterior plywood

Exterior plywood has weather and water-resistant glue that holds each veneer together. When you create an exterior with plywood, one of the biggest – and most important – concerns is how the wood will handle wind, rain, and other weather.

Exterior wood is meant to combat the elements to provide a strong, sturdy frame for years to come.

Exterior plywood sheets typically have several veneers glued together, classifying them as multi-ply. You can also choose various kinds of wood for exterior plywood, depending on the area in which you live.

Some locations that experience unusually harsh seasons may fair better with wood like oak, which can resist mildew and mold from damp conditions.

5. Lumber Core

Source: Schaller Hardwood

Lumber core plywood is usually made with three plies, with two thin veneers on each side and a thick core. The outer veneers are typically made of a hardwood, while the inner core consists of strips of wood glued into one solid slab.

The inner core helps grasp screws, which makes it a good choice for projects that need a strong screw hold. One disadvantage is that poorly-made lumber core plywood may have voids within the core that diminish its strength and screw holding abilities.

6. Marine plywood

Source: Timber & Building Supplies Online

You might think that the name of marine plywood , also known as marine-grade wood indicates that it’s waterproof, but that’s not the case. Instead, wood manufacturers make marine grade plywood with water-resistant exterior glue using the same layered construction as other woods.

The difference is in the grade of marine types. According to the APA – Engineered Wood Association, marine-grade wood consists of Western Larch or Douglas Fir woods and must have a B-grade or better, which we’ll discuss in the “More Details” section of this guide.

This kind of wood is one of the best-constructed, high-graded plywood on the market.

Marine-grade wood isn’t resistant to mold, mildew, or rot from weather and water. Manufacturers don’t treat it with any chemicals, so rot and decay can be a problem unless you treat it with a pressure-preservative, as suggested by the APA.

To be graded as marine-grade, this wood must have no knotholes in any of its plies and use a top-performing water-resistant glue between plies. This ensures that the glue won’t stop working if the wood becomes damp from weather or wet conditions.

You’ll see marine-grade woods used mostly on outdoor furniture and decorative pieces, like gazebos, planter boxes, and benches.

7. Overlaid Plywood

Source: Piano Plywood

Overlaid plywood, which can be either high or medium density (HDO or MDO), is a kind that utilizes the same structure of regular sheets with veneers glued to one another. However, overlaid sheets have an overlaid face that gives it a somewhat finished appearance.

The finished exterior isn’t necessarily for decoration, but instead gives the panels a durable surface that’s also smooth enough to keep water and other particles from damaging or sticking to it.

The coating also helps the wood resist scratches and other abrasions that may happen during transport and construction.

Manufacturers bond the exterior surfaces to the rest of the veneers through a process of heat and pressure. High-density overlaid panels have more resin than medium-density panels, making them a bit more expensive.

However, both can make a finished project stronger and more durable than can traditional plywood.

8. Structural plywood

Source: Bunnings Warehouse

Structural plywood , also known as sheathing plywood, is not for looks, but rather, strength for framing and building structures in which you’ll eventually cover the wood. This type of wood needs a very strong adhesive to keep the plies together.

You can use structural woods on the inside or outside of a building, but they aren’t typically as weather-resistant as other types.

Structural woods usually have a C or D grade, but no higher, so they’ll be an inexpensive option compared to some woods, but they also may not have the high performance you need for outdoor structures.

9. Other plywood types

There are other types of plywood that are not as common, but that you may still come across. Some of these terms might refer to completely different types of plywood, or they could be other terms for the plywood types listed above:

Commercial plywood
Flexible plywood
Tropical plywood
MR grade ply
Decorative plywood
Veneer core plywood
Sanded plywood
Composite plywood

C. Other Types of Boards Often Used as Plywood

There are some other types of wood board that people use in place of plywood. Although they aren’t technically classified as plywood, you can use them in many similar instances.

Some of the following alternatives can provide inexpensive options for those on a budget, while others can create a completely different finished look for your project.

1. Composite Woods

Source: Columbia Forest Products

Composite woods come in similar sizes as traditional plywood, but manufacturers don’t make them quite the same. They do use layers, but composites have regular wood layers on the inside and external layers that consist of fiberboard covered with a layer of hardwood.

The construction leaves the outside smooth and easy to work with, while the strong core gives the wood a durable and unyielding frame. You’ll find composite wood mostly on furniture and cabinetry. In other words, much of this type is cabinet grade plywood.

2. Blockboard

Source: Piano Plywood

Blockboard uses a similar construction as plywood, usually with three layers. The inner core has thick, square cuts of wood that are glued together to create the strong core. The outer layers are thin and enclose the wood, forming a thick piece of wood.

Sometimes, you’ll see finished outer layers for cabinetry and other furniture pieces on blockboard.

While plywood is a good option for surfaces that need a strong surface, blockboard is more about the core and a decorative finish. Blockboards usually range in thickness from 3/8-inches to 1 3/16-inches.

3. Foamboard

Source: Boulter Plywood

Foamboard has become more popular in recent years, offering a rot-resistant alternative to plywood.

These boards have a reinforced polyurethane foam construction that is reinforced with fiberglass, creating a board that’s just as strong as plywood, but also offers extra protection against mildew, mold, and rotting.

Foamboard can also be significantly lighter in weight than plywood, even in the densest boards.

4. Fiberboard

The most common type of fiberboard is medium density fiberboard, also known as MDF. This alternative to plywood consists of engineered wood fibers glued together to create a dense composite. You can find either hardwood or softwood MDF, or a combination of the two.

The benefit of this type of wood is that the small fibers create a finished piece without knots or rings. Unfortunately, you also won’t see the wood grain, which can be a drawback for people who want that authentic wood look for their furniture or other finished product.

MDF is a less expensive alternative to plywood, but is stronger than the least costly options, like particle board. Still, you might end up with cracks or split wood as you work because MDF won’t be able to handle a lot of stress.

The finished product is easy to cut and paint. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about splinters as you work because MDF’s dense construction results in a smooth finish.

5. Hardboard

Hardboard is a thin piece of fiberboard that often has one side rough and the other finished. Manufacturers use wood pieces to create hardboard, which then gets densely compressed to make a panel that doesn’t bend or warp.

Hardboard is exceptionally durable, despite its thin frame. It’s common to see this type of panel on kitchen countertops, furniture frames, and subflooring. Some people use hardboard for the base of their laminate flooring because it’s so strong and can stand up to constant wear and tear.

6. Particleboard

Source: Lowe’s

Particleboard is one of the least expensive alternatives to plywood. Particleboard has no layered construction. Instead, it’s comprised of small slivers of wood scraps glued together to create a board. This is the type of material you usually find on inexpensive furniture pieces.

Particleboard may be cheaper than plywood, but it’s also much less durable. This type of wood can split and crack easily, and it’s not uncommon to hear about pieces breaking during assembly of particleboard products.

You’ll also notice that particleboard is much heavier than plywood, making assembled pieces more difficult to transport.

One of the biggest issues with particleboard is that, in its regular form, it’s untreated, so it’s susceptible to swelling if it’s in an area with high moisture. If you’re going to use particleboard, you should ensure that you seal it correctly to avoid warping and swelling.

7. Moisture-resistant Particleboard

Source: Fineer

Moisture-resistant particleboard has the same construction as regular particleboard, except that manufacturers use a particular moisture-resistant resin to keep the board from swelling and warping in wet areas.

You’ll be able to tell the difference between regular particleboard and its moisture-resistant version by the color of the board. Moisture-resistant boards usually have a green dye added to the resin to make them distinguishable.

II. More Details

Now that you know more about the various kinds of panels you’ll find, you’ve probably decided on the right type for your project.

However, there a few more essential details can help you narrow your options further. Let’s look at the different materials, finishes, sizes, and grades of plywood that you’ll come across as you shop and how it all translates into the right kind for your job.

A. Grades of Plywood

We’ve mentioned that there are grades of plywood a few times in this article. It’s important to understand why wood has a grading system and what the grades mean for the type of wood you purchase.

The plywood grade system uses letters A, B, C, and D, with A being the best and D being the lowest quality (often the cheapest plywood).

You’ll see two letters, though, for most woods. One letter designates the grade for the front of the board while the other grades the back, or the part you won’t see when you install it.

Typically, one side will have a lower grade than the other, and that’s the side you’d want to use in the back.

Exterior panels will usually have high grades of A-B or A-C. You’ll want to ensure that you choose the highest grade possible for anything that may be exposed to weather or needs excellent strength.

A grade of C-D is usually okay for internal structural use but isn’t something you should consider using if it won’t be adequately covered.

You might sometimes see an additional grade with an X at the end, like A-CX. This just means that the board has met the standards for external use.

For projects that require a high-end finish, opt for higher grades. These should have little to no knots and voids and should provide a nice, smooth finish for staining or painting.

B. Plywood Sizes

Plywood board comes in several different thicknesses, widths, and lengths to meet the needs of your project.

Some sheets are so thin that they’re flexible enough to bend over structures to form a uniform shape, while others are incredibly thick, made to withstand things like weight and wind.

Sheets can be very long, but you can usually ask a hardware store or lumber yard to cut the sheets to the measurements you need.

The size indicated on the panels may not be the exact size, though, which is important to remember when picking up the sizes you need for your project.

A ¾-inch piece of plywood, for example, actually measures 23/32-inch, which is crucial to take into account when you plan your project since a 1/31-inch gap won’t be very attractive in most pieces.

Some lumberyards also tag their sizes in millimeters rather than inches, which can further complicate your shopping. Be sure to have your phone with you to do a quick conversion using Google or a mobile app so that you can make sure you have the correct size.

What Is The Thinnest Plywood?

The thinnest plywood is 1/16 inch. Plywood thickness ranges from 1/8 inch up to 1 ½ inches. The thinnest plywood is airplane-grade plywood.

Its strength is obvious, although it’s not used on current planes anymore. Try using it on model airplanes, though, and you’ll have a winner.

Today’s uses for airplane-grade plywood encompass musical instrument cases, chocolates, cigars, as well as models, dollhouses, and packaging for delicate or high-end quality items.

It’s also used as an underlayment between the subflooring and hardwood planks.

C. Materials

We discussed several how hardwood and softwood boards differ and what types of wood qualify as hard and soft. But, what differences will these woods bring to your project?

Interestingly, scientists classify hardwoods and softwoods by their trees’ seeds, not the actual density or strength of the wood itself.

However, they do perform slightly differently in woodworking, but mostly in the way that you cut them.

You can usually cut softwoods a little more easily than hardwoods, but hardwoods may be able to outlast softwoods in furniture, flooring, and other parts of the home that are subject to wear and tear.

You might prefer the look or feel of one type of wood over the other when it’s made into a sheet of plywood. Your best bet is to look at all the options and feel them. You might even prefer the feel of one over the other which can help you decide on the best kind for your project.

Remember, though, that hardwoods can be more expensive than softwoods. Softwoods tend to be more common and available, so they may not eat into your budget as much.

D. Finishing Plywood

If you don’t want to cover up your wood panels, and instead want to stain or paint them, you’ll need panels that provide the right surface to do so.

High-grade panels, those marked with A or B are the best type to use for finishing. If you want to finish both sides, you’ll need to make sure that both letter grades are A or B.

To paint almost any plywood, you should plan to use a primer first, which will give the wood a smoother surface and help the paint adhere to it.

You’ll probably need at least two coats of paint to give the wood the right finish. Painting with a brush may help you penetrate the wood better, which will require fewer layers.

If you’d like to stain the wood instead, choose smooth plywood, or you’ll find it difficult to create an even finish with the stain. Allow the stain to dry for at least 24 hours before coating it with a clear varnish, which will help protect the stain and seal your wood.

With both paint and stain, you should consider using a sealant as the last step to prevent molding and rotting in the wood when exposed to moisture.

III. Frequently Asked Questions

1. When was plywood invented? Who invented it?

The earliest idea for plywood was conceived in 1797, when Samuel Bentham first applied for patents that covered the machine production of veneers. In those patents, he described laminating layers of veneer with a specialized glue in order to form a single thick piece.

Roughly 50 years later, Immanuel Nobel realized that several thin layers of wood could be bonded together to establish a single durable piece of laminated wood, known now as plywood.

2. Is plywood used for furniture?

Specialized furniture-grade plywood is often used in furniture. This type of wood has a specific hardwood surface veneer, and it is used in bare furniture, wall paneling and cabinetry.

Because of how plywood is treated and stained, there is also a great deal of variety that buyers can enjoy when it comes to purchasing plywood for furniture.

3. Plywood Uses: What is plywood used for?

Plywood uses are determined by the type of plywood used. Consider:

Structural plywood: Great for beams, internal structures, subfloor, shipping crates, wall bracing and roof bracing.

Exterior plywood: This is probably one of the most commonly used types of plywood and is used for walls, outdoor flooring and roof linings.

Interior plywood: Used for indoor furniture, ceilings and interior cladding.

Marine plywood is used for building docks and boats and anything that requires weather-proofed wood.

Source: Famitchell.com

4. Can plywood be recycled?

The way in which plywood is recycled largely depends on the type used. Untreated, unstained, and unpainted plywoods are often converted into woodwaste.

This can later be turned into compost or mulch. The wood may also be used for animal bedding, landscaping, and raw soil improvement. Solid pieces of plywood may be repurposed by end-users to establish a distressed aesthetic in the desired variety of furniture.

5. What happens if plywood gets wet?

Most varieties of plywood will shrug off rudimentary water damage, and stronger varieties are better equipped to manage extended water damage.

Like most types of wood, even if it is treated against water damage, extended exposure to moisture will start to wear and damage the wood. Untreated pieces will not hold out as well, and warping and rotting will begin much quicker as time goes on.

6. Can plywood be stained?

Plywood is a very easy material to stain because of its efficient construction. Because of how affordable the plywood is, it can also be ideal for all types of practice projects.

Staining plywood will require special gel stains, though preconditioning the wood will allow you to use just about any other wood stain. The right care will allow the wood to have a single uniform color as desired.

7. Can plywood be sanded and polished?

Plywood can both be sanded and polished. Like any other wood, however, it is important to use the appropriate equipment to ensure that the finish appears as desired.

It is recommended for individuals to start with 80-grit sandpaper to get the basic surface down before moving on to finer grits to get a smoother and more vibrant polish on the wood.

8. Can plywood be bent?

Although plywood can be bent, it has to be of a specialized variety, as most other types of plywood will splinter and break if they are bent.

The best variety of plywood available for bending has to be close-grained so that the surface does not separate with bending. Close-grained hardwood faces are ideal, which include plywoods that are made from mahogany, poplar, and birch.

9. How is plywood made? What is plywood made of?

The construction process begins with felling trees. When logs are collected, they are debarked and cut into a very thin veneer. This is an intensive process that results in either a single continuous sheet or pre-measured sheets that will make the arrangement process easier.

After the sheets are dried, they are arranged and bonded using the appropriate adhesives. Once the bonding is finished, the plywood is stamped and graded according to a number of different factors, including the grain and density.

10. How thick is plywood?

Plywood thicknesses vary according to what the pieces are being used for. If the plywood is being used a support, it needs to be thicker and sturdier than if it is being used as a veneer.

Normal plywood thicknesses may vary from an eighth of an inch to as much as one and a quarter of an inch. Specialized types of plywood may have even more variety when it comes to their thicknesses.

11. What is luan plywood?

Luan is the name for a common variety of plywood used in the United States. It may also be known by an alternative spelling of lauan.

This wood comes from trees of the Shorea genus, and they are renowned for how straight they grow, which makes the manufacturing process easier and more efficient. The wood offers both durability and flexibility, making it a versatility option.

12. What is MDO plywood?

MDO, which stands for medium density overlay, is a type of plywood panel that showcases a paintable surface with weather-resistant resin overlay. This overlay is bonded with pressure and heat, and it is designed to stand against the elements much more efficiently than many other varieties of plywood.

13. What kind of plywood is best for flooring?

Interior plywood is one of the most advantageous when used for indoor flooring. Because this type of plywood is only moderately sealed against water damage, it is highly recommended for end-users to apply this flooring system to rooms that do not come in contact with moisture often.

For bathrooms and kitchens, exterior plywood is better designed to resist water damage.

14. What kind of plywood is best for roofing?

Radiant barrier plywood is most often used for roofing. This variety of plywood is designed to be very durable in the face of both physical wear and rain damage.

Roofers often favor using plywood because of its ease of installation and natural strength, though more durable options may be necessary in areas that are prone to frequent thunderstorms.

15. What are the advantages of plywood?

There are advantages of hardwood plywood over other options like wood veneer, hardwood veneer or even solid wood. You may not know it, but plywood is actually stronger than solid wood (depending on the plywood thickness, of course).

Plywood material also often cheaper than solid wood, and can look just as attractive if you go for a decorative plywood or plywood veneer.

However – functionality sometimes trumps design, particularly when comparing commercial plywood with other types more suited for furnishings and decor.

Commercial ply is not known for its aesthetic appeal, and which makes it even more important to know the different plywood types before you buy. This is something to keep in mind the next time you purchase a plywood product.

16. What’s more popular – plywood or drywall?

While both are used for different purposes (for the most part), drywall is more popular based on monthly search volume. Here’s a plywood vs. drywall trend chart:

17. What kind of lumber is good for rainy weather?

Homeowners who don’t have wood as cladding on their houses don’t have to worry much about rot or pests. Those who have wooden barns on their property or wooden shakes as cladding instead of brick, stone, or vinyl siding might want to use these woods:

• Cedar. Cedar’s natural oils make pests turn away. This wood stands up to inclement weather without treatment of any kind. It’s often used in homes on the coast.

• Heartwood redwood. This kind of wood is rot-resistant without treatment and is very durable.

• Teak. Teak has been used in boat-building since time immemorial. It’s highly weather resistant and is used in outdoor furniture and home construction on the coast. It’s a tad expensive for decking, though, so use another rot-resistant wood like cedar or Brazilian walnut.

IV. Where to Buy Panels Online

Buying panels online can be a little tricky because you can’t see the pieces you purchase in person, leaving you to guess whether you’re getting an adequate piece without voids and numerous knotholes.

However, the following online stores are ones that we recommend if you’d prefer to shop for plywood online than in the store:

Amazon.com
Lowe’s
Home Depot

Do be careful to only purchase from trusted suppliers on Amazon and when you aren’t buying directly from Lowe’s or Home Depot. Research the company first before finalizing your order to get an idea of the quality and grade of woods it sells.