A ledger strip is a small strip of lumber attached to the side of a beam or girder, creating a shelf that supports the ends of joists framing into that beam, an alternative to using joist hangers or simply resting joists directly on top of the beam.
This technique reduces the overall floor system’s depth compared to joists resting entirely on top of a beam, since the joists nest partially alongside it rather than adding their full height on top.
While joist hangers have become more common in modern construction, ledger strips remain a valid and sometimes preferred technique, particularly in certain regional building traditions or specific framing situations.
What Does a Ledger Strip Involve?
- A narrow strip of lumber attached to the beam’s side
- A shelf supporting the joist ends
- Nailing both to the beam and to each joist resting on it
- A reduction in overall floor system depth
Why Are Ledger Strips Important?
By allowing joists to nest partially alongside a beam rather than resting entirely on top of it, a ledger strip can reduce overall floor depth, sometimes providing valuable extra ceiling height in a basement or crawl space where headroom is at a premium. This technique offers a genuine practical benefit in situations where every inch of vertical clearance matters.
Compared to modern joist hangers, ledger strips rely more on the quality of the nailing connection alone, which is why many contractors today prefer engineered hanger hardware for its more consistent, tested connection strength, even though ledger strips remain a legitimate technique when properly executed.
Ledger Strip vs. Ledger Board
A ledger strip is a small support piece for individual joists resting alongside a beam. A ledger board is a much more substantial structural member bolted to an existing structure to support significant loads, like an entire deck framing into it.