A 2x10's maximum span depends on where it's used.
According to IRC 2021, a 2x10 with 16-inch spacing can span up to 18'-9" as floor joists, more than 26' as rafters and ceiling joists,4'-3" as beams, and 7' as headers without providing additional support. These values apply to Southern Pine Species.
This article lists the maximum span of 2 x 10 under different situations for varying species of lumber.
How Much of a Span Can 2x10 Support on its Own?
The span or the length of the room that a 2x10 can cover is not solely dependent on the wood itself.
Key factors to take into account include lumber species and its grade, subjected loads, spacing between two members, and the structural component’s end-use.
The end-use of a structural component refers to how it is being used.
You can use a 2x10 construction wood as a floor joist, rafter, beam, header, or as framing component for the ceiling.
The International Residential Building Code (IRC) provides information on the load-bearing and spanning capabilities of different grades, species, and sizes of construction timber.
2x10 Span as Floor Joists
IRC 2021 specifies that the maximum spans can be categorized according to their spacings and species.
Spacing decides the amount of material that will be utilized for creating the structural framing system.
Along with spacing, the grade of timber is influential in determining the maximum load-carrying capacity of the wooden element and, in turn, influences the span.
The table below shows the maximum span ranges for a 2x10 comprised of four timber species.
| Spacing (inch) | Species | 10 psf Dead Load Joist Span Range (Ft-In) | 20 psf Dead LoadJoist Span Range (Ft-In) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12" | Douglas Fir-Larch | 21-0 to 15-5 | 21-0 to 13-9 |
| 12" | Hem-Fir | 19-10 to 15-0 | 19-10 to 13-5 |
| 12" | Southern Pine | 20-8 to 14-0 | 20-8 to 12-6 |
| 12" | Spruce-Pine-Fir | 19-5 to 15-0 | 19-5 to 13-5 |
| 16" | Douglas Fir-Larch | 19-1 to 13-4 | 19-1 to 11-11 |
| 16" | Hem-Fir | 18-0 to 13-0 | 18-0 to 11-8 |
| 16" | Southern Pine | 18-9 to 11-1 | 18-9 to 10-10 |
| 16" | Spruce-Pine-Fir | 17-8 to 13-0 | 17-8 to 11-8 |
| 19.2" | Douglas Fir-Larch | 18-0 to 12-2 | 18-0 to 10-11 |
| 19.2" | Hem-Fir | 17-0 to 11-10 | 17-0 to 10-7 |
| 19.2" | Southern Pine | 17-8 to 11-0 | 17-8 to 9-10 |
| 19.2" | Spruce-Pine-Fir | 16-7 to 11-10 | 16-7 to 10-7 |
| 24" | Douglas Fir-Larch | 16-8 to 10-11 | 16-5 to 9-9 |
| 24" | Hem-Fir | 15-9 to 10-7 | 15-9 to 9-6 |
| 24" | Southern Pine | 16-5 to 9-10 | 16-5 to 8-10 |
| 24" | Spruce-Pine-Fir | 15-5 to 10-7 | 15-0 to 9-6 |
For a detailed breakdown of span ranges in accordance with spacing and Grade of Timber, please refer to table R502.3.1 of the IRC 2021.
2x10 Span as Rafters
Since one of the rafter's primary purposes is to withstand and transfer loads from the roof to the supports, their spans heavily depend upon the roofing configuration.
Lightweight roofing systems often translate into rafters with a greater span and spacing since they don’t have to withstand much loading.
A heavyweight roofing system with a large snow load requires a compact rafter system with individual rafters having reduced spans.
For generalization, it is recommended that rafters made out of Douglas Fir-Larch should have a span ranging from 26’0” to 17’2”.
2x10 Hem-Fir rafters can span more than 26' and must not span less than 16’9”.
Southern pine rafters may span 26’ with a minimum threshold of 15’7”.
Concluding with the Spruce-pine-fir, its rafters are recommended to stay within the 26’ - 16’ 9” range.
2x10 Span as Beams
Similar to rafters, the span of 2x10 beams depends upon their loading conditions.
Specific species of timber prove to be more durable under loads and extreme weather conditions.
Vital load-bearing elements require Southern Pine.
A smart choice will be to utilize a 2x10 beam made from this species, as it’ll provide greater spanning lengths and durability.
A detailed breakdown of the spanning capabilities of all four species concerning their joist spans and beam configurations is given below.
| Wood Species | Beam Configuration | Effective Joist Span- 12 ft Maximum Beam Span (ft-in) | Effective Joist Span- 14 ft Maximum Beam Span (ft-in) | Effective Joist Span- 16 ft Maximum Beam Span (ft-in) | Effective Joist Span- 18 ft Maximum Beam Span (ft-in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Pine | 1 – 2×10 | 4’11” | 4’7” | 4’3” | 4’0” |
| Southern Pine | 2 – 2×10 | 7’4” | 6’9” | 6’4” | 6’0” |
| Southern Pine | 3 – 2×10 | 9’2” | 8’6” | 7’11” | 7’6” |
| Douglas Fir-Larch, Hemlock-Fir, Spruce-Pine-Fir | 1 – 2×10 | 4’6” | 4’1” | 3’9” | 3’6” |
| Douglas Fir-Larch, Hemlock-Fir, Spruce-Pine-Fir | 2 – 2×10 | 7’0” | 6’6” | 6’0” | 5’6” |
| Douglas Fir-Larch, Hemlock-Fir, Spruce-Pine-Fir | 3 – 2×10 | 8’10” | 8’2” | 7’8” | 7’2” |
For a detailed breakdown, refer to table R507.5(1) of the IRC 2021.
2x10 Span as Ceiling Joists
Generally, when dealing with ceiling construction, give importance to the presence of a storage space or an attic.
Loading conditions can uncover variations.
For a ceiling space expecting heavy loads due to storage, the spans may be as low as 16"1 ".
The spans with a spacing of 12" or 16" may be as high as 26' for ceilings with a low dead load.
There may be differences in spans in accordance with the species and grade of timber.
2x10 Spans as Headers
Quantifying the spans of 2x10 as headers is a bit tricky.
Since headers take up much of the load, specifically of the walls, their spans have a huge range.
Apart from the loading conditions, the configuration of the headers, whether it is a single, double, or triple header, also makes a huge difference.
The spanning range of a dual header configuration may be from 5’3” to 9’2” for a 12’ wide structure encompassing one jack per stud.
A triple header may span 6’7” to 11’5” for a 36’ wide building with two jack studs.
Although a typical range is provided, the specific ranges heavily depend on the structure's floors and its geometric properties.
Consulting a structural engineer to ensure the structure's safety.
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What is the Maximum Weight a 2 x10 Can Support?
A single 2x10 beam can withstand 40 and 10 pounds per square foot of live and dead load, respectively.
An efficient way of increasing the maximum weight carrying capacity of your 2x10 is to convert it from a single ply to a double or Triple ply.
The extra material creates more surface area for the loads to dissipate.
A double-ply 2x10 withstands 228 pounds per square foot of load, while a triple-ply can hold 488 pounds per square foot.
What is the Maximum Span of an Unsupported Double 2x10?
Double 2x10 is employed to increase the load-bearing capacity of the member and does not affect the member’s spanning capabilities.
IRC 2021 misses out on giving spanning details of Double or Triple ply wooden structural elements, so one must improvise.
The spanning details presented below are based on conducted research and prior experience.
As with any structural member, the spanning capacities of a double 2x10 depend on the species, grade, and spacing.
Southern Pine is preferred when dealing with a double 2x10 joist.
It can hold up to 40 pounds per square foot of loads in an unsupported condition and has a spanning range of 6’0” to 11’.
Other species have proven to be effective load transfer agents when allowed to span within the 5’6” to 10’ range.
What is the Maximum Span of an Unsupported Triple 2x10?
A triple 2x10 is typically employed where there are space constraints and heavy loading conditions.
Usually, one can find a triple 2x10 in the supporting frames of rooms having a hot tub or storage.
The maximum span of a structural member is unaffected by the amount of material used.
Since the basic geometry of the structure remains more or less the same, the span of a member remains approximately the same, regardless of the member being a double, triple, or quadruple ply.
A ballpark range may be provided and followed for residential construction works.
Depending on the grade and species of Timber used, a Triple 2x10 has a span range of 6’11” to 13’.
Triple 2x10s made of durable lumber like Southern Pine or Redwood can give higher spanning lengths under heavy loading conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How are Two 2x10s Joined Together to Form a Beam?
Using nails is a viable solution for creating two 2x10s.
4 numbers of 3” nails made from non-corrosive materials should suffice.
Incorporating the concept of the factor of safety, using extra nails can further improve stability.
To prevent the possibility of splitting the two boards after the application of load, it is best to nail them down in a vertical pattern ensuring a 16” spacing.
What is the Cantilever Maximum Span of 2x10 Joists?
Any horizontal structural element requires support at its ends.
At the very least, there at least has to be one support provided for members like joists.
Table R507.6 of the IRC 2021 mentions specific span restraints concerning ourselves with Cantilever joists.
2x10 cantilever joists made out of Southern Pines can span up to 3’-4” when it spans 16’.
Species like Douglas Fir-Larch or Hemlock-Fir offer reduced spanning capabilities, limiting themselves to a 3’3” cantilever with a joist spanning 14’.
When calculating permissible cantilever spans, an acceptable rule of thumb is to assume the maximum allowable cantilever span as 1/4th of Beam’s back span.
What is a Double or Triple 2x10?
When dealing with timber construction, any element with the prefix “Double,” “Triple,” “Quadruple,” and so on refers to the combination of wooden boards or planks.
A double or triple 2x10 is formed by combining two or three identical 2x10 wooden boards.
Usually, a double or triple wooden element is utilized when specific space requirements and the imposed loads are high.
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