What is plywood?
The Wood Guide · The wood register
Engineered woodWhat is plywood?
Thin layers of veneer, glued crosswise on top of each other. That one step turns wood into a board that is stronger than solid wood of the same thickness.
- Each layer turned 90°
- Stronger than solid wood at equal thickness
- Less prone to shrinkage
What is plywood?
Thin layers of veneer, glued crosswise on top of each other. That one step turns wood into a board that is stronger than solid wood of the same thickness.
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How plywood is made
Plywood combines the natural strength of wood with a clever change in how it is built up. The process takes four steps.
- Wood selectionCarefully selected logs are peeled into thin sheets of veneer — like a roll of kitchen paper, but made of wood.
- Layer build-upThe veneers are laid crosswise on top of each other: the grain of each layer is turned 90 degrees relative to the next. This is the whole secret.
- GluingHigh-quality glue goes between each layer.
- PressingThe whole stack is pressed together under high pressure and temperature into one solid board.
Wood is strong along the length of the fibre and weak across it. By turning each layer, the strong direction of one layer compensates for the weak direction of the next. The result: a board that is strong in all directions, and that moves far less with changing humidity than a solid plank.
The properties of plywood
Strength
Thanks to the cross-wise build-up, stronger than solid wood of comparable thickness — and at a lower weight.
Stability
Far less prone to shrinkage and swelling with changing humidity than solid wood.
Versatile
Available in various wood species and grades, from affordable softwood to fine birch or okoumé veneer.
Easy to work
Sawing, sanding and finishing with standard tools. For many designers, the visible layers in the edge are actually an aesthetic asset.
At the edges. That is where the glue lines and the end-grain fibres are exposed, and that is exactly where moisture gets in. In a kitchen or bathroom, a good edge finish is not a finishing detail but a requirement.
From functional to aesthetic
Its natural look makes plywood especially popular in modern and industrial-inspired interiors.
Furniture making
Bookcases, cabinets and designer furniture — especially where the layered edge can stay visible. See our interior range.
Kitchen design
Popular for kitchen islands and cabinet fronts, often with a visible edge as a design accent.
Interior finishing
Wall panelling, ceilings and floors.
Construction
Roof sheathing, floor panels and wall sheathing — although OSB is gaining ground here.
Shipbuilding
Water-resistant plywood is a classic for boat interiors.
Packaging
Sturdy, lightweight crates and packaging.
Maintenance and service life
Indoors
Dust it, and if necessary wipe it with a slightly damp cloth. Rarely is more needed.
Outdoors
Choose water-resistant plywood and treat it regularly with a protective coating. Untreated plywood delaminates outdoors.
Damp rooms
Seal the edges properly — kitchens and bathrooms require it, otherwise moisture is drawn in through the edges.
Plywood uses wood efficiently thanks to its layered build-up, and lasts a long time when used correctly. However, the yield of the production process is lower than for OSB — which gets more board out of the same amount of wood. Ask your supplier where the wood comes from and how the forest is managed.
Plywood alongside the other boards
More background in engineered wood and processed wood — or look at solid wood for the counterpart.
Frequently asked questions about plywood
Why is plywood stronger than solid wood?
Because of the cross-wise build-up. Each veneer layer is turned 90 degrees relative to the previous one, so the weak direction of one layer is compensated by the strong direction of the next.
Can plywood be used outdoors or in a bathroom?
Only water-resistant plywood, and even then with the edges properly sealed — that is where moisture gets in first. Also treat it regularly with a protective coating.
What is the difference from OSB?
Plywood consists of thin, glued veneer layers; OSB of coarser, oriented wood strands. Plywood has a finer look; OSB gets much more board out of the same amount of wood.
Which grade should I choose?
That depends on where it goes: for visible work you choose a fine veneer species with a neat face layer; for construction, strength and glue quality matter most. Ask the merchant about the use class.
Board or solid?
Board material indoors, solid wood outdoors — that is usually the simple rule of thumb.
Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Edge of a plywood sheet: thin veneer layers glued together — Rotor DB, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sandakan, Malaysia — CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0