Standard sheet sizes in the UK
The sizes UK stockholders and merchants commonly sell, for metal, board and plastics. A starting point, not a catalogue: always use the sizes your own supplier stocks.
Sheet metal and plate
| Size (mm) | Often called | Common for |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 × 1000 | Thinner mild steel, galvanised and aluminium | |
| 2500 × 1250 | “8 by 4” metric | Mild steel, galvanised, aluminium, stainless |
| 2440 × 1220 | 8 × 4 ft | Stainless and aluminium |
| 3000 × 1500 | 10 × 5 | Steel and stainless sheet and plate |
| 4000 × 2000 | Heavier plate |
Plate is also sold cut to size, and many stockholders will profile it for you. Weigh a sheet before you lift it: the metal weight calculator does it in a second.
Board: plywood, MDF, MFC and OSB
| Size (mm) | Often called | Common for |
|---|---|---|
| 2440 × 1220 | 8 × 4 | Plywood, MDF, OSB, hardboard |
| 3050 × 1220 | 10 × 4 | Longer MDF and ply panels |
| 2800 × 2070 | Full-size MFC | Melamine-faced chipboard for kitchens and wardrobes |
| 2440 × 607 | Half sheet | Cut down at DIY stores |
| 1220 × 607 | Quarter sheet | Cut down at DIY stores |
18mm is the usual carcass board, with 6mm and 9mm for backs and drawer bottoms. Nest a job on any of these with the plywood and MDF calculator.
Acrylic and sign boards
| Size (mm) | Common for |
|---|---|
| 2440 × 1220 | Acrylic, foam PVC, aluminium composite |
| 3050 × 2030 | Cast and extruded acrylic |
| 3050 × 1220 | Acrylic, foam PVC |
| 3050 × 1500 | Aluminium composite panel |
Sizes vary more between brands here than for steel or board. Nest a sign job with the acrylic sheet calculator.
Why the size you buy matters
The same parts can need a different number of sheets on different sizes. A part that fits four across a 2500mm sheet may only fit three across 2440mm, and that can add a sheet to the order. Before you settle on a size, nest the job on each size your supplier offers and compare the cost. The app does this for you: give it every size with its price and it picks the cheapest mix.
Straight answers
Try it on your own job
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