Plywood

What's in the plywood range

500+ listings: 450+ plywood and 60+ blockboard. Most sheets are 8x4 ft (450+), and 50+ are 7x4 ft.

By grade, BWP leads (300+, a count that also takes in the 150+ marine sheets, which are made to the separate IS 710 standard), then MR (100+) and a smaller set of BWR (19). Thickness runs from 4 mm to 25 mm, with 19 mm (85+), 25 mm (80+), 12 mm (75+) and 6 mm (70+) the most listed.

Greenply has the most (150+), followed by Wigwam (75+), Duro (55+), Sharon Ply (50+), CenturyPly (50+) and Trojan (45+), with Royale Touche (25+) plywood and blockboard, and smaller ranges from ACO and BILTUS.

Choosing plywood

Grade by location

• MR (moisture resistant): dry interiors, such as bedroom wardrobes, living room units and beds.
• BWR (boiling water resistant): a step up, for areas that see some moisture.
• BWP (boiling water proof): kitchens, bathroom vanities, and anything near a sink or against an outside wall that gets damp.
• Marine (IS 710): the strictest standard, for the wettest jobs and for buyers who want the extra margin.

A sensible split for a home is BWP for the kitchen and bathrooms and MR for bedroom and living room furniture. If in doubt near water, go one grade up.

Thickness by part

18 or 19 mm for wardrobe and kitchen carcasses, shelves and shutters; 12 mm for drawer sides and light partitions; 6 to 9 mm for backs and drawer bottoms; 4 mm for thin backing and curved work; 25 mm for tabletops, heavy counters and beds.

Blockboard for long spans

Blockboard has a core of solid wood strips between veneers and is often chosen for long shelves, doors and bed panels that need to stay straight over their length. The blockboards here are mostly 19 and 25 mm.

Read the stamp

Check the grade and the IS standard on each sheet. IS 303 covers general-purpose plywood, and since its 2024 revision it includes MR, BWR and BWP grades. IS 710 is marine plywood, a stricter standard. 150+ listings cite IS 303 and 150+ cite IS 710; some also list an emission class such as E0 or E1. Blockboard has its own standard, IS 1659, cited on 30+ listings.

Where plywood goes

Almost everything built into a home interior starts with a board: modular kitchen carcasses, wardrobes, beds, TV units, doors and partitions. Laminate or veneer goes on top; the plywood holds the screws and takes the load.

Plywood FAQs

What does IS 303 mean on plywood?

IS 303 is the Indian standard for general-purpose plywood. Since the 2024 revision it covers MR, BWR and BWP grades, so a BWP sheet stamped IS 303 is correct. The grade on the stamp tells you how much moisture the sheet is made to handle.

What is IS 710 plywood?

IS 710 is the standard for marine plywood. It sets tighter rules than IS 303 on the wood, the glue and gaps in the core, and the sheets must pass boiling-water tests. Yes, we stock marine plywood: look for IS 710 on the listing and on the sheet.

What is BWP plywood?

BWP means boiling water proof: the layers are bonded with a phenolic resin that holds when the sheet is boiled in tests. It is the grade to use in kitchens, under sinks and in bathroom vanities.

Is BWP the same as marine plywood?

No. BWP is a grade, and under IS 303:2024 a general-purpose sheet can be BWP. Marine plywood is made to IS 710, a separate and stricter standard. Check the IS number on the listing and on the sheet.

Is marine plywood waterproof?

It is made to resist water better than any other grade, which is why it is used in the wettest places. No plywood stays sound if water keeps getting into a raw cut edge, though: seal every edge and cover the faces with laminate or polish.

Which plywood is best for a wardrobe?

For a bedroom wardrobe, MR grade in 18 or 19 mm for the carcass and shutters, with 6 to 9 mm for the back. Choose BWP if the wardrobe stands against an outside wall or in a damp room.

Which plywood is best for a kitchen?

BWP for the whole kitchen carcass. Under the sink, marine plywood made to IS 710 gives extra margin. Laminate the faces and seal every cut edge.

How do I check plywood quality?

Read the stamp first: brand, grade, IS standard and thickness should all be printed on the sheet. Then check that the sheet is flat, that the edges show tight layers with no gaps, and that the stated thickness measures true. Ask to see the cut edge at the store.

What is gurjan plywood?

Gurjan is a dense tropical hardwood, and "gurjan plywood" usually means plywood with gurjan face veneers, or a gurjan core. Many of our listings describe the core as hardwood or mixed hardwood , and some Wigwam listings name a gurjan face veneer. Ask at the store if you need a gurjan face.

What is the price of plywood?

Each listing shows the price of one sheet, GST included. Price depends mainly on the grade, the thickness and the brand, so compare the same grade and thickness across brands. For a full home, ask the store for a quote.

Build on it

For ready-finished boards, see pre-laminated MDF. To finish your plywood, browse laminates, liner laminates for the insides, or real-wood veneers. For shutter faces, start with wardrobe laminates or kitchen laminates.

Ask to see plywood samples and their grade stamps at our Choolai or OMR store in Chennai before you place a big order.