Single Family Residential Construction Guide -

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPANS FOR HEADERS SUPPORTING WOOD FRAME WALLS

Maximum Allowable Spans for Headers Supporting Wood Frame Walls
Allowable Spans of Headers (in feet) for Bearing Walls
All Framing Douglas Fir No.1 Allowable span
of headers in
garages or walls
not supporting
floors or roofs
(150 lbs./ft.)
Size of
Wood Header No Stories Above
(250 lbs./ft.) One Story Above
(650 lbs./ft.) Two Stories Above
(1050 lbs./ft.)

Two 2x4 Up to 4'-0" n/a n/a Up to 5'-6"
Two 2x6 Up to 6'-0" Up to 3'-0" n/a Up to 8'-0"
Two 2x8 Up to 8'-0" Up to 4'-0" n/a Up to 10'-0"
Two 2x10 Up to 10'-0" Up to 5'-0" Up to 3'-0" Up to 12'-0"
Two 2x12 Up to 12'-0" Up to 6'-0" Up to 4'-0" Up to 16'-0"

	Allowable Spans of Headers (in feet) for Bearing Walls
	All Framing Douglas Fir No.1			Allowable span of headers in garages or walls not supporting floors or roofs (150 lbs./ft.)
Size of Wood Header	No Stories Above (250 lbs./ft.)	One Story Above (650 lbs./ft.)	Two Stories Above (1050 lbs./ft.)

Two 2x4	Up to 4'-0"	n/a	n/a	Up to 5'-6"
Two 2x6	Up to 6'-0"	Up to 3'-0"	n/a	Up to 8'-0"
Two 2x8	Up to 8'-0"	Up to 4'-0"	n/a	Up to 10'-0"
Two 2x10	Up to 10'-0"	Up to 5'-0"	Up to 3'-0"	Up to 12'-0"
Two 2x12	Up to 12'-0"	Up to 6'-0"	Up to 4'-0"	Up to 16'-0"