How to choose the right nail?

Nail Sizes The nail length you need for a project (particularly structural projects) may be specified by a building code. Without a definite requirement, a general guideline for a good nail length is three times the thickness of the top material you're fastening .

How do you pick the right size nail?

First off, a good rule of thumb for picking screws or nails for your project is this: The length should be twice the thickness of the wood you're driving through . So if you're driving through a one-by-four board, which is ¾” thick, then you should opt for a 1 ½” long screw or nail.

How do you choose the right finish nail length?

Finish Nail Length and Gauge The general rule among contractors for selecting the right baseboard nail length is between 1.5 and 2 inches (4d to 6D) . The gauge indicates the diameter or thickness of the nail.

What is the rule of thumb for nail length?

The accepted rule of thumb is the nail length should be 21/2 times the thickness of the wood you are nailing through . Thus, for 1-inch-thick material, you would use an 8-penny nail and for 2-inch-thick material, you'd use a 16-penny nail.

What nail shape will suit me?

If you have short palms and short fingers, it's best to opt for rounded oval and almond shapes . For longer palms and fingers, consider dramatic stiletto or coffin (or ballerina) shaped styles. Almond shaped nails tend to suit everyone.

What is the rule for nail length?

You always want to use a nail that is at least three times the length of the material you are nailing through . As a simple example, if you are nailing 1/2″ sheathing on an interior wall then you should use a nail that is at least 1 1/2″ long.

What nail length should I get?

# 1: Nails should always be longer than they are wide In order to make your fingers appear longer/slimmer you have to stretch them visually. Square or round nails (as or less long than wide), do the opposite and will make pretty much everyone's fingers look a lot shorter.

What is the general rule for selecting the correct nail length?

The rule is simple: a brad should be three times as long as the thickness of the material you are fixing . Example: if the material is 15 mm thick, the brad should be 45 mm long. Choose a brad gun that takes the length of brad you need.

How do you know what nail shape is best for you?

When choosing a nail shape, it is important to consider your hand type and personal style . If you have short nails, you may want to choose a round or oval shape to help elongate your fingers. If you have wide nail beds, you may want to choose a round or squoval shape to help make them look narrower.

What is the most attractive nail length?

Nails grown barely past your fingertips are the ideal length, says Fisher. They look feminine but won't stop you from, say, unzipping him or sexting. See what else guys really notice about your looks.

What nail length is classy?

Medium length nails are lively, sophisticated, and classy. They can be worn for any occasion; as these nails are practical enough for your everyday adventures, yet glamorous enough for your weekend festivities. To sum it up, medium length nails are absolutely essential for any nail enthusiast.

How do you know what nail color suits you?

Understanding your undertone colours Finding the ideal nail color starts with understanding your undertone. To determine your undertone, observe the veins on your wrist . If your veins appear blue or purple, you likely have a cool undertone. If they have a greenish hue, you probably have a warm undertone.

How to Pick the Right Nail for Your Next Project (2024)

Home Improvement

Understanding Nails for Different Projects

Bob Formisano

Bob Formisano is a licensed architect and builder with nearly 40 years of experience building new homes and restoring older homes. One of his specialties is repairing old systems dating back to the 1920s, including galvanized water pipes, knob-and-tube wiring, and more. His home repair articles for The Spruce span more than 10 years.

Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process

Updated on 06/14/24

Reviewed by

Deane Biermeier

Reviewed byDeane Biermeier

Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Deane is a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board.

Learn more about The Spruce'sReview Board

Fact checked byAlexandra Kay

How to Pick the Right Nail for Your Next Project (2)

In This Article

Types of Nails

01 of 08
Common Nail

Common nails are used for general construction and specifically for framing and other structural work.
Common nails have a thick shank, a wide head, and a diamond-shaped point. They are most commonly used with 2x dimensional lumber, such as two-by-fours. They are thick enough to be strong, but they are also more likely to split wood than thinner nails.
A special type of common nail is the sinker, with a slightly narrower shank and a special head designed to be sunk flush with the surface of the wood.
02 of 08
Box Nail

Box nails are similar to common nails and sinkers but have thinner shanks. They are better suited to thinner wood materials, such as1x (3/4-inch-thick) lumber and exterior trim.
Box nails should not be used for structural projects because they lack the strength and holding power of common nails. The thinner shank of a box nail is less likely to split thinner materials.
03 of 08
Duplex Head Nail

Duplex head nails have two nail heads: one on top, and another slightly lower.
Duplex nails are used for temporary construction, such as formwork forpouring concrete or attaching temporary cleats during roofing. The nail is driven until the lower head is flush with the wood.
When it's time to disassemble the project, the nail can be extracted using the upper head and the claw of a hammer or pull bar.
04 of 08
Annular Ring or Ring Shank Nail

An annular ring nail, or ring shank nail, has rings on its shank for extra grip and additional resistance to pulling out of the wood.
These nails are commonly used for installing subflooring, where the extra holding power can help prevent floors from squeaking. Similar nails that may have rings include drywall nails or deck board nails, also for improved holding power.
Continue to 5 of 8 below
05 of 08
Masonry Nail or Concrete Nail

Masonry nails and concrete nails are thick, short, and very strong. They are designed to be fastened into concrete, concrete block, and mortar joints, and are a staple of masonry work.
These nails are made of hardened steel, often with grooves along the length of the nail shaft to help them penetrate hard materials by spiraling as they are driven.
06 of 08
Finish Nail or Casing Nail

A finish or casing nail has a small, slightly rounded head slightly bigger than the nail shank. The head is designed to accept the pointed tip ofa nail set, making it easier to countersink the nail without slipping.
A casing nail is essentially a large finishing nail. It is often used for installing exterior trim boards and nailing door frames and trim. Casing nails are commonly galvanized for corrosion resistance. The nail head is tapered and may be set flush or just below the wood surface.
07 of 08
Brad Nail

Brad nails (or brads) have thin shanks similar to finishing nails.
Brad nails are used in light woodworking. Because of the small shank diameter and the small head, these nails reduce the possibility of splitting the wood.
Because they are difficult to drive by hand, brad nails are typically used with a nail gun.
08 of 08
Roofing Nail or Clout Nail

Roofing nails, sometimes called clout nails,havea short shank and a wide, flat, thin head.
Roofing nails are used to fasten shingles, roofing felt, or sheet metal to wood. The shanks can be smooth or ringed for increased pull-out resistance.

Penny Nail Names

The penny nail system uses names like 10d, 16d, and so on. The penny system refers to nail length. Each higher number represents a 1/4-inch length increase in the nail.

Penny Name	Length (Imperial)	Length (Metric)
2d	1-inch	25.4 mm
3d	1-1/4-inch	31.7 mm
4d	1-1/2-inch	38.1 mm
5d	1-3/4-inch	44.4 mm
6d	2-inch	50.8 mm
7d	2-1/4-inch	57.1 mm
8d	2-1/2-inch	63.5 mm
9d	2-3/4-inch	69.8 mm
10d	3-inch	76.2 mm
12d	3-1/4-inch	82.5 mm
16d	3-1/2-inch	88.9 mm
20d	4-inch	101.6 mm

Nail Points

A nail point is the end of the nail: the part that is hammered or driven into the material.

Diamond point: The most common type of nail point is a diamond-shaped point. It makes the nail easy to drive and minimizes the possibility of splitting the wood.
Blunt point: A blunt point makes the nail more difficult to drive, but it is designed to avoid splitting the wood. Some carpentersdull the nail tip to prevent splitting the wood.

Nail Shanks

The nail shank is the long part of the nail. It is the strongest part of the nail, with the most holding power.

Smooth shank: A smooth shank drives in easily but pulls out just as easily.
Spiral shank: A spiral shank, used for hardwoods, rotates as it is driven into the material which prevents it from pulling out easily.
Ring-shank: A ring-shank locks into the wood fibers as it's driven in, mostly with softwoods, to secure it from pulling out.

Nail Heads

The nail head is the flat, usually round section at the opposite end of the tip. Common flat heads offer a large striking surface.

Checkered nail heads: Checkered flat heads with a grid pattern prevent the hammer from slipping off the head when striking.
Countersunk and cupped heads: These nail heads are conical, so they can be easily driven just below the surface to create a smoother finish.

Nail Coatings

Special coatings lubricate the nail shank to improve strength and driving ability. An uncoated nail is often called a bright nail.

Zinc: Galvanized nails coated with zinc offer protection against rust.
Vinyl: Vinyl coatings also increase drive and holding strength.
Phosphate: Black phosphate coatings are used for indoor nails to help them adhere better to some interior materials.

Types of Metals for Nails

Nails are made from ordinary steel, stainless steel, brass, copper, or aluminum. Most construction nails are steel, and often they are coated.

Nails for outdoor use are often galvanized or hot-dipped with a zinc coating to improve their weather resistance.With pressure-treated lumber, hot-dipped nails are essential to prevent the corrosion caused by the chemicals used in the lumber.

Stainless steel is also used for outdoor applications, though stainless steel nails are considerably more expensive than zinc-plated nails.

FAQ

Which nails are the most durable?

Stainless steel nails are the most durable nails, especially when used outside for projects like fences, decks, or sheds. But stainless steel nails are more expensive than galvanized nails or zinc-plated nails.
What is the difference between framing and common nails?

Framing nail shanks are thinner and they have thin, almost flat heads. Common nails have a thicker nail shank and thicker heads.

How to Pick the Right Nail for Your Next Project (2024)

Types of Nails

Common Nail

Box Nail

Duplex Head Nail

Annular Ring or Ring Shank Nail

Masonry Nail or Concrete Nail

Finish Nail or Casing Nail

Brad Nail

Roofing Nail or Clout Nail

Penny Nail Names

Nail Points

Nail Shanks

Nail Heads

Nail Coatings

Types of Metals for Nails

More from The Spruce

FAQs

How to choose the right nail? ›

What nail length is classy? ›