Skip to Main Content Skip to Footer Content

What Is Plywood?

An attic with exposed wood and brick.

Plywood is a manufactured wood material that uses resin to hold several thin layers of wood together to form one sheet. Plywood provides large sheets of wood at a uniform thickness that would otherwise be impossible, unstable or expensive with traditional lumber.

Plywood is a versatile building material that every DIYer needs to keep on hand. When it comes time to buy a few sheets, which grade or type should you get? Let us help! Mr. Handyman has everything you need to know about plywood below.

Click the links or keep reading to learn more about plywood grades, plywood sizes, and more:

  • Types of Plywood
    • Plywood comes in different grades and types that are specific to certain applications. Let us help you pick the best plywood for your next project.

  • Tips on Working With Plywood
    • From handsaws to table saws; we’ll help you safely trim your plywood to size with the right tools.

  • Plywood Sheet Sizes, Core Types, and Veneers
    • The standard size sheet of plywood is 4' x 8', but there’s a lot more to know.

  • Painting and Staining Plywood
    • Some types of plywood are easier to paint or stain than others. If you’re planning on finishing plywood, read this first!

    Where Is Plywood Used?

    Plywood is used everywhere; from furniture to construction, so you’d be hard-pressed to find a home that doesn’t contain plywood.

    There are many reasons it’s so popular, such as:

    • Costs less
    • Resistant to shrinking and warping
    • Standard sizes

    Since it’s so versatile, there are many different types and grades of plywood suited for different applications. Plywood is often confused with OSB (oriented strand board), which shares a similar fabrication technique with plywood. However, instead of wood veneer, OSB uses resin to hold together large chips of wood. OSB is less expensive and is mostly used in sheathing applications like home siding or roofing.

    PROFESSIONAL HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT

    Perhaps you’ve purchased all your plywood for your new project and are feeling a little overwhelmed. If that’s the case, we can help!

    We’re happy to take over the project and will ensure it turns out just how you want it. For professional carpentry services, give us a call or request a service online.

Let Us Call You

Service Type

By checking this box, I agree to opt in to receive automated SMS and/or MMS messages from Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company, and its franchisees to the provided mobile number(s). Message data rates may apply. View Terms and Privacy Policy. Reply STOP to opt out of future messages. Reply HELP for help.

By entering your email address, you agree to receive emails about services, updates or promotions, and you agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

About Mr. Handyman

Handyman greeting customer at door.
Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company, was founded in 1996, became a part of the Service Brands International (SBI) home services offerings, and in 2015 was acquired by Neighborly, the largest home franchisor in the world. In that time, Mr. Handyman has served nearly 1 million customers across North America.
Learn More