Deck Joist Span

Southern Pine Deck Joist Span

Southern Pine is usually the strongest group in DCA 6 Table 2. Use this page when your lumber stamp says Southern Pine or Mixed Southern Pine.

Southern Pine — all sizes

Why Southern Pine spans farther

Design values for No. 2 Southern Pine under wet service still support longer spans than the DF-L / Hem-Fir / SPF group or the Redwood / cedar group at the same size and spacing. That does not mean every board is interchangeable—grade stamps and treatment matter.

Examples at 16″ o.c.: 2x8 → 11'-10", 2x10 → 14'-0", 2x12 → 16'-6". Compare other species on the main deck joist span chart or size pages like 2x10 deck joist span.

Deck joist spanCalculator2x8Assumptions

Disclaimer

This site is a reference tool. Span and overhang values are transcribed from the American Wood Council DCA 6-15 Table 2 (based on the 2015 IRC). It is not engineering design. Always follow your local building code and a licensed design professional. These tables do not apply to snow loads above 40 psf, hot tubs, roofed decks, or other concentrated loads.