Tolerances tables

In Build 156 Tolerances tables, we outlined some of the allowable construction tolerances for a quality result. We have now revisited this information and added some more for plasterboard and fibrous plaster, an area that can cause disagreements between contractors and clients.

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Tolerances tables
By
Bruce Sedcole Bruce Sedcole
Last updated 19 May 2026
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A construction tolerance is an allowable variation in something that can be measured. This may be:

  • the permitted variation from a given dimension or quantity
  • the range of variation permitted in maintaining a specified dimension
  • a permitted variation from location or alignment.

While these tolerances are a permitted deviation from perfect, the aim is always to be accurate when constructing and finishing a building. Taking everything to the outer tolerance limit may make achieving quality difficult for following trades.

References to MBIE in the tables refer to the MBIE Guide to tolerances, materials and workmanship in new residential construction 2015.

Table 1

SITUATION

ACCURATE TO WITHIN:

REFERENCE

BUILDING SET-OUT  

Location on site

15 mm of the specified location on a site plan

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

Deviation from vertical

15 mm per 2-storey height (5 mm per 2.4 m)

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

CONCRETE SLAB ON GROUND  

Deviation from prescribed finished floor level

±5 mm from finished floor level

NZS 3109 Table 5.2

Surface level

±3 mm in any 3 m of length

NZS 3114 Table 3

Table 2

ELEMENT

SITUATION

ACCURATE TO WITHIN:

REFERENCE

SUSPENDED FLOORS   

Piles

Concrete piles verticality

13 mm per m of height (i.e. 1:75)

BRANZ

 

Timber piles verticality

10 mm of vertical in the first m above ground and within 20 mm of vertical over their total length

BRANZ

 

Driven timber piles

15 mm of vertical for every m of length

NZS 3604 section 6.6.6.3

Framing

Floor plane levelness

A slope of no more than 1:200 

MBIE

 

Suspended floor deflection

1/300th of span under service loads

NZS 1170.0

 

1/360th of span maximum (where floors are tiled)

BRANZ

 

Table 3

SITUATION

ACCURATE TO WITHIN:

REFERENCE

TIMBER QUALITY  

Bow

15 mm in a 2.4 m length of 50 mm thick framing (35 mm for a 3.6 m long member)

NZS 3631 Table 2

Crook

10 mm in a 2.4 m length of 100 mm wide framing (15 mm for a 3.6 m long member)

NZS 3631 Table 3

Twist

5 mm per 100 mm of width in a 2.4 m length of 50 mm thick framing (10 mm for a 3.6 m long member)

NZS 3631 Table 5

TIMBER ROOF FRAMING  

Vertical elements

Deviation of 5 mm for every 2.4 m rise in height

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

Horizontal elements

Deviation of 5 mm in lengths up to 10 m; 10 mm in total for any length over 10 m

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

TIMBER WALL FRAMING  

Deviation from:

 

 

  • position on plan

15 mm maximum

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

  • line in plan

5 mm for lengths up to 10 m; 10 mm in total for lengths over 10 m

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

  • horizontal

5 mm for lengths up to 10 m; 10 mm in total for lengths over 10 m

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

  • a flat plane across face of wall

≤6 mm gradual bow at mid-height under 3 m long horizontal straight edge

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

Inter-storey relative displacement of loadbearing walls

5 mm for vertical alignment

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

Permitted bow in studs at right angle corners

2 mm in 2.4 m in both studs

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

Permitted bow in studs

≤6 mm gradual bow in 2.4 m

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

Verticality of frames

5 mm for every 2.4 m rise in height

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

Alignment of wall framing

1.5 mm for every 1.3 m or 6 mm over 3 m using horizontal straight edge at mid-height

NZS 3604 Table 2.1

TIMBER FLOORING  

Finished floor

Slope no more than 1:200

MBIE

 

5 mm maximum deviation from level in any 10 m length; 10 mm in total for lengths over 10 m

MBIE

Flooring – individual sheets or boards

Flat and straight to within ±6 mm for every 3 m of length

MBIE

Table 4 Plasterboard or fibrous plaster

SITUATION

ACCEPTABLE

REFERENCE

FIXINGS

Popping visible from normal viewing at handover (level 4 or 5 finishes)

No

MBIE

Popping that breaks the surface

No

MBIE

Popping of fixings (outline visible under the finish) occurring over a period of time after handover but not visible from normal viewing position

Yes

MBIE

FINISH  

Blistering or peeling of compounds to substrate or between coats

 No

MBIE

Finish of flush-stopped lining does not meet level of finish specified (level 4 is the default level of finish unless otherwise specified in the contract)

 No

MBIE 

CRACKS

Cracks visible from normal viewing position (level 4 and 5 finishes)

No

MBIE

Fine cracks ≤0.5 mm not visible from normal viewing position (fine cracks may be expected within the first 12 months)

Yes 

MBIE 

Unrepaired cracks >0.5 mm, (for example where stair stringer abuts wall lining)

No 

MBIE 

JOINTS  

Joints between wall and ceiling and between ceiling linings – not the same level of quality as surrounding surfaces

No

MBIE

Joints between sheets clearly visible from normal viewing position at handover in flush-stopped wall or ceilings of level 4 or higher finishes

No 

MBIE 

Note: The normal viewing point for painted non-concrete wall surfaces is standing at a distance of ≥2 m (see MBIE’s Guide to tolerances, materials and workmanship in new residential construction 2015).