Plywood vs OSB for Roofs

Cost, Strength, Moisture & Code Compared

This in-depth comparison covers every dimension of choosing between plywood and OSB for roof sheathing: installed cost (OSB is 10-15% cheaper), strength under load (similar), moisture behavior (plywood dries faster, OSB swells at edges), nail-holding (plywood slightly better), weight (plywood is lighter per sheet), and code approval (both APA-rated). Includes recommendations by climate zone and project type, plus links to our Plywood Calculator and OSB vs Plywood for Roof page.