Scantlings

Scantlings are the specified cross-sectional dimensions of structural members, used especially in timber construction. The term applies across shipbuilding, architecture, and carpentry, where it denotes the size and proportion of elements such as timbers, frames, beams, joists, and planks, as well as the overall strength criteria they must meet. In shipbuilding, scantlings define the size of hull frames, beams, deck timbers, and planking and are chosen to provide the required stiffness and load-carrying capacity for a vessel of given size and material. Classification societies and regulatory codes publish scantling rules or tables that relate ship dimensions, construction material, material properties, and service loads to minimum acceptable section sizes. Designers adjust scantlings to balance weight, strength, and cost while maintaining seaworthiness and safety.

In building construction and carpentry, scantlings refer to the cross-sectional sizes of structural members such as beams, posts, studs, joists, and planks. These are usually described in nominal sizes (for example, 2x4) that differ from the actual finished dimensions; modern practice often uses standardized actual dimensions depending on the material and region. Scantlings inform calculations of bending and shear resistance, deflection, and overall stability, and they are governed by building codes and engineering specifications.

Historically and in some technical fields, scantlings may also indicate the minimal dimensions required for a particular member or the standard sizes used in a particular trade, sometimes varying by geographic region or period. The term emphasizes proportion and structural capability rather than appearance.