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This is a visual guide to all the truss types supported by the Calcs.com Truss Analysis Calculator. In each of the truss diagrams, the total truss height is marked with an ‘h’ and the total truss width is marked with a ‘w’.
  1. Flat Trusses
  2. Roof Trusses
  3. Scissors Trusses
  4. Mono Trusses
  5. Other (Gambrel Truss, Hip Truss)

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1. Flat Trusses

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2. Roof Trusses

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3. Scissors Trusses

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4. Mono Trusses

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5. Other

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Deciding Which Truss to Use

King Post and Queen Post trusses are commonly used in small to medium-sized buildings, while Scissor, Attic, Fink, and Mono trusses are used in larger and more complex buildings and are typically more expensive. Hip, Gable, and Flat trusses are used to meet architectural requirements for the shape of the roof. Additionally, engineers must consider procurement times and ease of installation. Prefabricated trusses are typically better quality (constructed by professionals), cheaper (reduction in onsite labor costs), and easier to install (fewer onsite connections) but procurement times can often be 1-6 months. If the lead times in your area for prefabricated trusses are too long, structural engineers can design trusses to be stick-built on-site. This involves cutting timber and assembling the necessary components on-site, using nail-plated connections. Stick-building trusses can be a time-consuming process, but they can be a cost-effective solution for smaller projects or projects with unique design requirements. You can read more about the advantages and disadvantages to each in our blog post here!