The local building code should identify which is acceptable in your area but may site both with given parameters.

ground.Go ahead and build the frame as strong as you wish. If it were on edge, it could support several thousand pounds. structures are quite simple. Some building inspectors may demand that your deck be designed with snow load plus live/dead loads.

For this article though, our focus is primarily on the axial strength of 44 and 66 posts. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'decksbye3_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-decksbye3_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');If you wish to learn more, Richard Bergman has a very in-depth article titled DECK LOAD CAPACITY AND TRIBUTARY AREA: HOW THEY RELATE, going to great details while getting nerdy with math about supporting a deck.

This is critical because if you overload the soil more than Quantity: Enter the number of logs that are the size specified above. Therefore, it is safe to assume two beams, one on each end of the deck. how many footings and how much weight will they impose directly on the Length. Dividing by 5 will allow you to determine that 4500 lbs is the max live load your deck can hold. Diet and Hydration. The question around deck load capacity is one I receive often from visitors asking how much weight should they design their deck for.

All our marine pilings are generally graded in accordance with ASTM D25 and are treated to 2.50 lbs p.c.f. 8x8 ozco laredo pack But in Calgary, where I build decks, this is the requirement for all deck beams anyway. Install the new vinyl window balance system by reversing Attaching a 2 or 3 ply dimensional lumber beam or a 3 or 4-inch thick beam to a 44 post can be done in several ways. So, youve done your research into different types of decking materials and have decided that composite decking is the right choice for your home. That said, if the building department doesn't apply, you can simply calculate your beam based on a low grade of material to cover the worst case scenario. A cut stringer must be supported every 6-feet and a solid stringer every 13-feet. Another factor is the tributary area of the deck being carried by a post. What started as a small gathering ended up pretty large, and there were a lot of people on my deck. This In this article, well explain 44 and 66 posts, when and where to use them, how to secure them to a beam, and the spacing between post supports. One of our last variables in determining deck weight bearing capacity, fasteners, are arguably the most important aspect of deck construction and the most overlooked. Sit out of the dirt while enjoying a few drinks together. However, an 8-foot 44 supports 6468-pounds and 2339-pounds at 14-feet, while a 66 is 18032 and 10550-pounds respectively or 64% and 78% more load capacity. The type of soil determines how heavy the load can be before the footing is susceptible to settling. footing. Thats not all that you have to consider when adding a new edition to your deck. Many people are intimidated with trying to figure out the load capacity for a deck.Even Therefore if you have a hot tub that weighs 4500 pounds, that doesnt mean your deck can support it since that weight is only in a concentrated area. Therefore the first midpoint is 4 from the house and Through bolts must have a washer under the head and nut. you do not consider the size of footings with respect of the load

However, you should know that Best Composite Decking for a Full Sun Deck and Two Runner Ups. The 44 is more susceptible to twisting and bending due to its smaller dimensions, which limits its height and carrying ability. WebAs has been mentioned, there is simply no way an 8x8 is going to carry 20', even carrying its own weight. The three major types of wood species used in deck construction are Southern Yellow Pine (SYP), some combination of Spruce, Pine, and Fir (SPF), and Redwood, Western Cedar, or Red Pine. The roof is going to be 16' wide. The best Grade of lumber (Southern Pine) for the maximum spans identified support Tributary Areas of 159sq.ft. If all 28 of those men decide to do a cheerleader pyramid stand in the corner of the deck, it will fail. Hire an engineer. Building a deck is a great way to extend the outdoor living space of a home or business. is probably wise, youll notice that North Carolina, for instance, only has an average snow load of 15 pounds per square foot. In that case, youll need to know what the average snow load is per your geographic region a snow load chart helps. every case the loads imposed are less than half and almost a third of the house. Do not enter decimals or fractions. A 2x8 up to 12 feet; 2x10 to 15 feet and 2x12 to 18 feet. Putting a hot tub on a deck requires understanding the tributary loads of each part of your deck. Steel can bear 30,000 PSI of a compression load. One of the easiest methods is to cut a 24-inch rabbet into the connecting ends. Using pliers, grip the balance system and gently pull it out of the frame. For instance, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has an average snow load of 70 pounds per square foot. Dividing by 5 will allow you to determine that 4500 lbs is the max live load your deck can hold. Table R507.5 identifies the allowable deck beam spans based on different wood species and deck joist spans less than or equal to 6-feet through 18-feet. The capacity of a 12' tall 6x6 post varies greatly as described above. To determine the maximum load capacity of your deck, start by calculating its total area and multiply by 50 Keep in mind that 40lb/sqft is sufficient for a typical passenger car. A deck support post must withstand concentric compression and eccentric loads. Notching a 44 is acceptable for a 3-inch thick beam; however, bolting to the sides of the post is not acceptable. I hope you have a better understanding of the similarities and differences between 44 and 66 deck support posts, stair posts, and railing posts, and how to fasten posts and beams together. E 3 Construction Ltd also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. in most decks and so sometime, if your bearing capacity of the soil is Additionally, there must be at least 2 between the top bolt and the top of the beam, and 2-1/4 between the bottom of the notch and the bottom bolt. Ideally suited for a 12 x12 deck. That means more footings and/or larger dimensional lumber, 12 o.c. How much weight can a 66 pressure treated post hold?

16' x 8' x 8' (LWH) Holds 3-4 rooms of furniture and boxes. link to What Is The Difference Between Capped And Uncapped Composite Decking? He is also an active product developer and patent holder. With a header to the house and the deck was built 6, I'm putting a swim spa into an inground concrete bunker and will build a deck around it.

soil type. Live In most cases you can go to 80 lb/sqft in isolated spots, but unless you know roughly what the soil bearing and reinforcing is for that slab you might be looking at cracking. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'decksbye3_com-banner-1','ezslot_9',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-decksbye3_com-banner-1-0');Quick math, a 144 sq deck needs 4 sq of deck blocks on clay to hold it intended weight (7 200lbs). marks the separation between supported load areas as you move outwards When connecting two 4x4s together for vertical use, there are different ways to cut and fasten the ends together to ensure even distribution of stress forces.

Well also look at posts for deck stairs and deck railings. it can bear, the deck will start to sink. Therefore, if the footing was twice The manufactured connectors must be the appropriate size for the post and beam. A little manipulation of the deck blocks placement will be required to relieve the middle block and prevent it from being overloaded and sinking. Area C is 6x3.5 or 21 sqft. Wear quality protective gear and start with the basics. WebIf your deck is built to code, then it is designed to hold a minimum of 50 pounds per square foot, of which of that total is the live load.

Now, this is the go-to deck support for a floating deck and rightfully so. WebAnswer (1 of 3): certainly the weight of one human, and the swing, assuming your structure is stable, and the bottoms of the posts cant move ! It is unlikely that soil conditions would be a major concern in this deck building project. Its 10 (250mm) footprint can hold 1380 lbs, roughly 30 sq of deck. If that is the case, you could have the strongest deck frame in the world, but bad soil will cause your deck to sink under loads that the frame of your deck is designed to support. The choice of 44 vs 66 deck post depends on the local codes, deck dimensions, and aesthetics. Lets say the tributary load of our footing beneath the hot tub is 3000 pounds. A healthy diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains can provide the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients needed for urinary system function. structure. If your deck was built to code and the appropriate permits were pulled and signed off on, then it is entirely likely your deck holds a minimum of 50 pounds per square foot. which may be entirely unnecessary and cost you more money. For keeners, worth the read. Locate the balance system on either side of the window frame. each footing were 1 sqft then all the weight of the given area would Calculated as 20% being dead weight, the mass of the deck itself. or envision an 8,000 lb hot tub on the deck this could increase the Calculating a tributary load is fairly simple if you have a standard rectangular deck attached to your house. From contributor A: A 6 x 8 will span 12' for flooring. Only 10 (250mm) for a 66 deck post. For our purposes, well assume our deck is 12 feet long and 10 feet wide. over a given area by using a larger footing size and distributing that Area A is confined between the midpoints of its two adjacent support WOODWEB is a registered trademark of Woodweb.com. What is under the deck, supporting the deck? All cut ends, notches and bored holes should also be coated with wood preservatives to prevent rot. And a 10-foot-long 26 pressure treated board will We express this load value as lbs per lineal foot. A floating deck designed by code can hold a minimum of 50 lbs per square foot. Soil type, footing type, lumber size, and hardware used all factor into how strong your deck is and how much weight it can hold. joists. WebA 28 will support a dead load of 20psf and a live load of 40psf resulting in a total load of 60psf. SYP lumber can span 10 2 more than the other species. To properly support the deck, the support and load must be spread out. It will simply ensure that the deck does not sink into the ground. distance of 8. To These are general calculations based on averages with assumed values. Add that to the typical 50 a deck is built for, and youve got a deck that needs to hold 120 pounds per square foot. The WebUse 2x4s sistered together. Run 2x6 or 2x8 on edge like a header to join your legs. The capacity of a 12' tall 6x6 post varies greatly as described above. The tributary area equals half the length of the span of the beam between posts multiplied by half the length of the joists between supports plus any cantilever length. It will undoubtedly sag over time. If a particular species of wood can support 1,000 psi, then an 8x8 post can hold 64,000 pounds!

This structure is For my money, Ill use a 66. In theory, using deck blocks with a one-foot base, you will only need four to support the decks weight. Another There are four tributary areas on this deck: A, B, C and D.Tributary Making a lot of assumptioins here, ie, your gate weighs about 500 lbs, is 7 ft wide, and the chain will anchor to the top of the post, about 6 ft high and pull on an angle of 45 degs, I would estimate a line tension of about But If your deck is built on bedrock, gravel, or even sand, then youll have a higher and potentially even a much higher soil bearing capacity. 12 inches. A Red Seal carpenter, passionate about building decks to be enjoyed. Question two posts is 1.75. As always, your comments and suggestions are appreciated. Luckily, we now know how to calculate those loads since we did it a few paragraphs above. Youll also have to know the type of lumber used in this case it is SPF since we are up north. Again, knowing your deck lumber species can allow you to see if your deck is overbuilt. How Much Weight Can A 24 Hold? The beam cantilevers 1-6` past the How much weight can a 66 post hold horizontally? However, there are Code requirements that must be adhered to for attaching a beam to a support post. The Tributary Area is determined by the joist span between supports and beam span between posts. That means that the overall structure can support a load of people, or stuff, of at least 40 pounds per square foot on top of your deck. A 44 post may be used to provide support up to 14-feet. This is a simple deck to make Suitable for smaller decks, but not for a large floating deck. A 28 will support a dead load of 20psf and a live load of 40psf resulting in a total load of 60psf. to also handle this 1050 lbs load - engineer up to the highest common It would be difficult to verify every last detail of your deck structure to ensure it is up to code, particularly the thickness of concrete footings and soil type. WebFat people can skateboard but be carefull when youre over 350 LBS.

A great way to extend the outdoor living space of a 44 post again... Span 10 2 more than 1/2 to 1 in supports and beam on each end the! Your deck can hold 6000 pounds, including the structure that your deck footings combined with any knowledge we have! Steel ) spacing for slabs can be notched by up to 14-feet our beneath. Footprint, significantly increasing how much weight can a 66 pressure treated board will we express load! Others but these are general calculations based on averages with assumed values 12... More common to `` standard residential '' needs their deck for load distribution the He is passionately interested in improvement. Per your geographic region a snow load of our footing beneath the hot tub is 3000 pounds steel tubing see... Little about the structure of your friends for your next deck party entire post Best Composite Decking square steel to! If it is unlikely that soil conditions would be a metal or plastic piece with a base! These are general calculations based on averages with assumed values we express this load as! A major concern in this deck building project Seal carpenter, passionate about building to. Designed with snow load plus live/dead loads interested in home improvement, renovation and woodworking load be... 2 more than the other species floating deck designed by code can 6000... When designing a deck is a simple deck to make Suitable for smaller decks, but not for 3-inch!, then an 8x8 post can hold general calculations based on averages assumed... Placement will be required to relieve the middle block and prevent it from how much weight can a 8x8 post hold overloaded and sinking footings and/or dimensional. Though, our focus is primarily on the Length loads since we did it a paragraphs! 18 feet rules of load distribution the He is also an active product developer patent! One-Foot base, you will only need four to support the decks weight a of! Office - 253.835.3344 1010 South 336th Street # 210 Federal way, WA 98003-7394 Canadian office - 253.835.3344 1010 336th... To 160sq.ft span between posts 1/2 to 1 in withstand concentric compression and eccentric loads Best Composite Decking, ledger!: Finds required Stirrup ( web steel ) spacing for reinforced concrete beams or T-beams carefull youre... Approved timber and pressure-treated or resistant to decay ( cedar ) your friends for your next deck party your.. Yet again R507.3 identifies Tributary Areas of 159sq.ft illustrating the concept.It PODS does not sink into the ground for! 64,000 pounds is one I receive often from visitors asking how much weight will they impose directly on deck! As lbs per lineal foot Composite Decking one I receive often from visitors asking how much should. Floating deck support illustrating the concept.It PODS does not sink into the ground a particular of... Ends, notches and bored holes should also be approved timber and pressure-treated resistant. Only as strong as you wish capacity is one I receive often from asking! Metal or plastic piece with a one-foot base, you will only need four to support decks... Based on averages with assumed values basic rules of load distribution the He is also an product... Rules of load distribution the He is passionately interested in home improvement renovation... Structure is for my money, Ill use a 66 pressure treated post hold?. Improvement, renovation and woodworking but as mentioned above an overbuilt footing still depends on a deck of 120 feet. How much weight can a 66 and bending due to its smaller dimensions and! Attaching a beam to a support post must withstand concentric compression and eccentric loads bolts have... Rabbet into the connecting ends decks, but not for a large deck... 120 square feet multiplied by 50 shows that your deck inspectors may demand that deck... And suggestions are appreciated what the average snow load chart helps long and 10 feet.. And/Or larger dimensional lumber, 12 o.c how strong it is unlikely that soil conditions would be a major in... Large footprint, significantly increasing how much weight the deck does not list any interior dimensions of people on deck. Of 159sq.ft cut stringer must be spread out about the structure to determine 4500. Allowable height of a compression load ledger board, and the beam are more common to `` standard ''... Draining away water, preserving the post and beam span between supports and beam mentioned above overbuilt. The appropriate size for the maximum spans identified support Tributary Areas of 159sq.ft should! Will allow you to determine that 4500 lbs is the go-to deck support WA. Not sink into the ground the house and Through bolts must have a washer under the deck and much... This case it is roughly 4,300 lbs for the maximum spans identified support Tributary Areas of 20 to.... Or plastic piece with a one-foot base, you will only need to! Stirrup ( web steel ) spacing for slabs can be found here requirements that must be adhered for. Of 40psf resulting in a total load of 40psf resulting in a total of. First midpoint is 4 from the house when youre over 350 lbs region a snow load plus live/dead loads from. A 66 post hold horizontally four to support the deck being carried by a.... Balance system and gently pull it out of the deck being carried by a post can be before the was. ) for the entire post grip the balance system and gently pull it of... Wa 98003-7394 Canadian office - 253.835.3344 1010 South 336th Street # 210 Federal way, WA Canadian... The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has an average snow load plus live/dead loads edition to your deck is.. Thick beam ; however, you should know that Best Composite Decking for a 66 deck post depends on local. Support 1,000 psi, then an 8x8 post can hold a minimum of 50 lbs per lineal.... Rightfully so around the entire deck and how much weight should they design their for... It from being overloaded and sinking the structure is roughly 4,300 lbs for the spans! ' tall 6x6 post varies greatly as described above a 12 ' for flooring varies... Take some measurements cantilevers 1-6 ` past the how much weight can a 66 pressure board! Sizes of square steel tubing to see how strong it is stamped stud! ) Holds 3-4 rooms of furniture and boxes and how much weight should they design their deck for simply way... Is unlikely that soil conditions would be a metal or plastic piece with cord... 6000 pounds, including the structure CJ, ShareASale, and other sites (. It out of the dirt while enjoying a few drinks together tub 3000! Standard sizes of square steel tubing to see if your deck metal or plastic piece with cord... We express this load value as lbs per lineal foot building decks to be enjoyed 2x12 to 18 feet 1... Of 159sq.ft strong as it is unlikely that soil conditions would be a major concern in this deck building.. Major concern in this case it is stamped `` stud '' it will be required to relieve middle. Your friends for your next deck party based on averages with assumed values soil below their. Major concern in this case it is roughly 4,300 lbs for the maximum identified. A cut stringer must be supported every 6-feet and a live load of 20psf and a solid every... Be approved timber and pressure-treated or resistant to decay ( cedar ) square... Spring attached little manipulation of the window frame strong enough to 160sq.ft its 10 ( 250mm ) for the deck! Mentioned, there is simply no way an 8x8 is going to carry 20 ', even carrying its weight. While making a stable base to support the decks weight overbuilt footing still on! 26 pressure treated board will we express this load value as lbs per lineal foot, significantly increasing how weight... General calculations based on averages with assumed values can a floating deck support post smaller decks, but for! To see how strong it is the beam stringer must be adhered to for attaching beam. Supporting the deck entirely unnecessary and cost you more money support a load! Pyramid stand in the corner of the deck and fasten to the sides of the easiest methods is cut. While making a how much weight can a 8x8 post hold base to support the decks weight in home improvement, renovation and woodworking above. Drinks together visitors asking how much weight can a 66 pressure treated hold! Are general calculations based on averages with assumed values you should know Best. Full Sun deck and how it works carried by a post tub on a deck snow plus. Is unlikely that soil conditions would be a metal or plastic piece with a base! ', even carrying its own weight ground.Go ahead and build the frame as strong you! Deck > deck load capacity is one I receive often from visitors asking how much weight will they directly... Reinforced concrete beams or T-beams could support several thousand pounds and beam with wood preservatives to prevent.! Calculator: Finds required Stirrup ( web steel ) spacing for slabs can be notched by up to to. Its own weight 11 x 3.7 on either side of the frame as strong as it is safe to two! 18 feet beam cantilevers 1-6 ` past the how much weight will they impose directly on axial. 210 Federal way, WA 98003-7394 Canadian office - 253.835.3344 1010 South 336th Street # 210 Federal way WA. Carpenter, passionate about building decks to be enjoyed how much weight can a 8x8 post hold chart helps how. Deck being carried by a post dimensional lumber, 12 o.c protective gear and start the. Post may look better than a narrower post, or vice-versa, especially if the deck it.

Eugene has been a DIY enthusiast for most of his life and loves being creative while inspiring creativity in others. Assume strong axis buckling. An older calculator that only computes required bar area and rebar spacing for slabs can be found here. It is roughly 4,300 LBS for the entire post.

1 Dense No. Web1/2" 4x8 Fire Retardant Ply 46.4#/SHEET 1450#/MSF 5/8" 4x8 Fire Retardant Ply 57.6#/SHEET 1800#/MSF 3/4" 4x8 Fire Retardant Ply 70.4#/SHEET 2200#/MSF IMPORTANT NOTE: Lumber & plywood weights can vary widely depending on the time of year the material was produced and the location of the producing mill. It will be a metal or plastic piece with a cord or spring attached. A very bad thing. Note: The 2018 IRC Table R507.3 identifies Tributary Areas of 20 to 160sq.ft. Raise it no more than 1/2 to 1 in. That means the total width of the first supported Paint the cut ends with waterproof sealer and then cover the post top end grain with self-adhesive water-proof tape to further reduce the risk of rot too. Since a hot tub will more than likely fall into the area of just one, or maybe two, footings, we need to know that one footing can handle the weight of a hot tub. Only invite9 of your friends for your next deck party. Most any time we have tried to work large structural members into a project where any building department is involved, those elements are quickly phased out of the project due to cost. It can be notched by up to 2-inches to sit on the deck and fasten to the rim board. The support posts should also be approved timber and pressure-treated or resistant to decay (cedar). these calculations with and is very helpful at illustrating the concept.It PODS does not list any interior dimensions. When a deck is built to code, the code only requires that the deck can hold a minimum of 50 pounds per square foot. members, the ledger board, and the beam. If that is more than you what to do, these are some quick calculations to give you an idea of how much weight your deck can hold. Assuming a 6ft length of 4x4 that actually measures 3.5 inches square, and plugging these numbers into the formula, we get: 10,200 psi * (2 * 3.5in * 3.5in^2) / (3 * 72in) = 4049.306 pounds. size of our footings combined with any knowledge we may have about the It may not display this or other websites correctly. distributed around the entire deck and onto the soil below. denominator. The use of structural, hex-head wood screws is a better choice, as they have a much higher shear capacity compared to standard 16d nails used in deck construction.

However, one rule of thumb to keep in mind while answering the question is that the answer commonly is that if a deck is properly designed, its built to hold 50 lbs. Now you have an area for each footing. Such an ideal deck location Hi! marks the separation between supported load areas as you move outwards Allowing for buckling, allowable compressive stress is roughly 475 psi, Area is 30 sq in, so the allowable force in the post is 14,300 lb. This is a critical number to know as a deck owner, particularly if you ever plan on putting something very heavy on your deck, such as a hot tub or gazebo. Job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, Dust Collection, Safety and Plant Operation, Hinge Fastening for Big, Heavy Entry Doors, Machinery and Methods for Creating Complex Stair Rail Shapes, Circular Stairway-Side Children's Slide Conundrum. Aesthetically, a larger post may look better than a narrower post, or vice-versa, especially if the deck is small. Lets look at a couple of standard sizes of square steel tubing to see how strong it is. But how much weight can a floating deck support? The gravel draining away water, preserving the post while making a stable base to support the beam. Therefore, a deck of 120 square feet multiplied by 50 shows that your deck can hold 6000 pounds, including the structure. Concrete is only as strong as it is thick. If not, youll have to get dirty and go underneath your deck to take some measurements. There are other forces that frequently come into play when designing a deck snow load, wind load, earthquake stresses. A real no, no! I hope it has helped you learn a little about the structure of your deck and how it works.

from the house. 10 Sgt_carbonero 3 yr. ago A 66 will work as a railing post too but is over-kill unless there are other aesthetic or structural reasons for the heavier posts. E 3 Construction Ltd is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Reinforced Concrete Stirrup Spacing Calculator: Finds required stirrup (web steel) spacing for reinforced concrete beams or T-beams. Therefore, a deck of 120 square feet multiplied by 50 shows that your deck can hold 6000 pounds, including the structure. This is likely due to how much the The type of wood, beam, and joist spans, plus the footing dimensions all impact the height the post may reach. soil below.

example the unsupported section from the ledger board to the beam is a Have a look underneath your deck. But as mentioned above an overbuilt footing still depends on a properly constructed deck frame. But what does that mean? The strength or bending value (Fb) of the lumber based on duration and the stiffness or elasticity value (E) help identify load rating, which is a shared value between structural components. weight over the larger area.We could build a square footing that Before we breakdown the best floating footings and arrangements, lets go over a few more details to consider about the deck. concrete tubular forms. The large footprint, significantly increasing how much weight the deck can hold. Example: A 10ft x10ft deck with 10-foot joists spanning ~8-feet between supports and a 1.5-foot cantilever on a beam supported at the ends and in the middle would have a tributary area of: (5ft + 1.5ft) x 2.5ft = 16.25sqft for the end support posts and (5ft + 1.5ft) x 5 = 32.5sqft for the center support post. If it is stamped "stud" it will be strong enough. Home > Building a Deck > Deck Load Capacity. 4,700 lbs. There are others but these are more common to "standard residential" needs. Model # Y280810-GC. Office - 253.835.3344 1010 South 336th Street #210 Federal Way, WA 98003-7394 Canadian Office - 604.732.1782 P.O. Based upon the current posts in place, I agree with homebild, that your cirmcumstances will not provide for this large of a span. Like the rest of your body, your bladder and urinary system require nutrients from food to function properly. Basic rules of load distribution The He is passionately interested in home improvement, renovation and woodworking.

The sagulator says borderline sag began at about 12,500 pounds, but that was beyond their stated target sag of 0.02" / ft. load or more appropriately, the design load, is comprised of the dead Above, we calculated the tributary load of a deck, which tells us how much weight each footing can sustain. The 2018 IRC altered the allowable height of a 44 post yet again. That So, for posts 3-feet and shorter, its a matter of preference, above 3-feet use 66. The racks dimensions are 23 x 11 x 3.7.