Best Plywood & Sheet Goods for DIYers
Plywood is the versatile sheet good for furniture, shelving, subfloors, and sheathing. The grade and species set the use: cabinet-grade hardwood ply for fine work, sanded pine for general builds, and rough sheathing for structure.
What to look for
- ·Match grade to the job: cabinet-grade hardwood ply (birch, oak) for furniture and built-ins, sanded pine for general projects, CDX/OSB for sheathing and subfloor.
- ·Plywood grades use two letters for the face and back (A is smooth, D is rough). ACX means a smooth face, rough back, exterior glue.
- ·For damp or outdoor use, choose exterior-glue (X) or marine-grade plywood; standard interior ply will delaminate if it gets wet.
Quick comparison
| Product | Tier | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birch Cabinet-Grade Plywood | Editor's pick | $45 to $90 per 4x8 sheet | Furniture and cabinets |
| Oak Veneer Plywood | Editor's pick | $50 to $100 per 4x8 sheet | Stain-grade projects |
| Marine-Grade Plywood | Editor's pick | $70 to $150 per 4x8 sheet | Constant moisture and outdoor |
| Sandeply Sanded Pine Plywood | Best value | $30 to $60 per 4x8 sheet | General sanded projects |
| ACX Sanded Plywood | Best value | $35 to $70 per 4x8 sheet | Smooth-face value |
| Plywood Underlayment | Best value | $25 to $50 per 4x8 sheet | Flooring underlayment |
| CDX Sheathing Plywood | Budget pick | $25 to $50 per 4x8 sheet | Sheathing and subfloor |
| OSB Sheathing Panel | Budget pick | $18 to $40 per 4x8 sheet | Lowest-cost sheathing |
| RTD Sheathing Plywood | Budget pick | $22 to $45 per 4x8 sheet | Budget structural use |
Editor's pick
Birch Cabinet-Grade Plywood
$45 to $90 per 4x8 sheet
A smooth, stable hardwood plywood with attractive birch veneer for furniture, cabinets, and built-ins. Takes paint and stain well and holds joinery. The pick for fine work.
Best for: Furniture and cabinets
Typically available at Home Depot, Lumber yards.
Oak Veneer Plywood
$50 to $100 per 4x8 sheet
A hardwood plywood with a real oak face for stain-grade cabinets, shelving, and trim. A premium choice when you want a wood-grain look that finishes beautifully.
Best for: Stain-grade projects
Typically available at Home Depot, Lumber yards.
Marine-Grade Plywood
$70 to $150 per 4x8 sheet
A high-quality, void-free plywood with waterproof glue for boats, docks, and constant-moisture builds. The pick where water exposure would destroy ordinary ply.
Best for: Constant moisture and outdoor
Typically available at Lumber yards.
Best value
Sandeply Sanded Pine Plywood
$30 to $60 per 4x8 sheet
A smooth sanded pine plywood (Home Depot) for general projects, shelving, and paint-grade work at a fair price. A versatile value sheet good.
Best for: General sanded projects
Typically available at Home Depot.
ACX Sanded Plywood
$35 to $70 per 4x8 sheet
A sanded plywood with a smooth A face and exterior glue for projects that may see some moisture. A solid value with a finish-ready front.
Best for: Smooth-face value
Typically available at Home Depot, Lumber yards.
Plywood Underlayment
$25 to $50 per 4x8 sheet
A smooth, void-free underlayment plywood for going under vinyl, tile, and laminate floors. A value sheet that gives a flat, stable base.
Best for: Flooring underlayment
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Budget pick
CDX Sheathing Plywood
$25 to $50 per 4x8 sheet
Rough structural plywood with exterior glue for roof and wall sheathing and subfloor. A budget workhorse where strength matters more than looks.
Best for: Sheathing and subfloor
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
OSB Sheathing Panel
$18 to $40 per 4x8 sheet
Oriented strand board for sheathing and subfloor at the lowest cost, very consistent and strong. The budget standard for structural sheet goods.
Best for: Lowest-cost sheathing
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
RTD Sheathing Plywood
$22 to $45 per 4x8 sheet
A budget structural sheathing plywood for walls and roofs, an alternative to CDX. A low-cost choice for framing and structural work.
Best for: Budget structural use
Typically available at Home Depot, Lumber yards.
Frequently asked
What plywood should I use for furniture?+
Use cabinet-grade hardwood plywood (birch, oak, maple veneer) with a smooth, paint- or stain-ready face and a stable core. It looks good, holds screws and joinery well, and stays flat, which is why it is the standard for cabinets and built-ins.
What do plywood grade letters mean?+
Two letters rate the face and back from A (smooth, sanded, few defects) to D (rough, knots, patches). ACX, for example, has an A face, C back, and exterior (X) glue. Higher face grades cost more and look better; choose based on which sides will show.
Plywood or OSB for sheathing and subfloor?+
Both work for sheathing and subfloor and meet code. Plywood is a bit stiffer, holds fasteners slightly better, and tolerates moisture and re-drying better. OSB is cheaper and very consistent. For most jobs either is fine; many choose OSB for cost, plywood where moisture is a concern.
What plywood holds up outdoors or when wet?+
Use exterior-glue plywood (the X grades like ACX or CDX) for areas that may get damp, and marine-grade plywood for boats, docks, and constant moisture. Standard interior plywood uses glue that fails when wet and will delaminate.
What thickness of plywood do I need?+
Common thicknesses: 1/4 inch for cabinet backs and paneling, 1/2 inch for shelving and light builds, 3/4 inch for furniture, cabinets, and subfloor, and 5/8 to 3/4 inch for sheathing depending on span. Match thickness to the load and span.