Start with the product
There is no single hardwood price. A rough random-width board for furniture, a surfaced oak trim board, a profiled Ipe deck board and a standing walnut tree belong to different markets. Identify the product first. Domestic furniture lumber is commonly quoted per board foot; finished trim and decking may be priced per linear foot, flooring per square foot and individually selected slabs per piece. A price without a billing unit and product specification is incomplete.
Read a dated reference carefully
A supplier price sheet is a useful starting point, not a national average or a delivered offer. The homepage reference table records selected public listings with their source and review date. Those listings retain different grades, drying and surfacing conditions. A missing price, CALL, blank cell or N/A must stay unresolved; none means free material. Confirm the current rate, quantity available, minimum order and delivery scope directly.
Budget the usable result
Build the budget around the finished parts or installed area. Add the material needed for trimming, defects, grain selection and machining, then milling, delivery and applicable taxes. Compare the result with a matching scope from another seller. A higher unit price can produce a lower completed cost when it buys more usable material or eliminates an operation. The worksheet helps with arithmetic; you still need to verify product suitability.
Which product market are you shopping?
| Market | Typical basis | Confirm before comparing |
|---|---|---|
| Rough domestic lumber | $/BF | Species, thickness, grade, drying, tally |
| S4S trim | $/LF or piece | Actual width and thickness, length, finish |
| Decking and siding | $/LF or covered SF | Profile, face, grade, length distribution |
| Slabs and figured boards | Individual piece or BF | Photos, defects, dimensions, figure selection |
| Delivered logs | $/MBF under a named log scale | Region, log grade, diameter, scale, delivery |
| Standing timber | Sale-specific stumpage | Cruise, access, harvest costs, contract terms |
The price drivers buyers can control
Thickness, width and length are economic choices as well as design choices. Thicker rough stock involves more material per surface area and can carry a higher rate per board foot. Wide clear boards and long uninterrupted lengths may require selection from fewer suitable pieces. Ask whether shorter or narrower components would meet the design before paying that premium. Do not substitute a smaller finished section without reviewing the construction requirements.
Grade and appearance are separate questions. A cutting grade does not promise uniform color, a particular grain pattern or clear full-length faces. Rustic material can be excellent value when the visible knots and shorter clear sections suit the design. It may be poor value for a long clear rail. State your required parts and visible faces rather than requesting an expensive grade by habit.
A practical budget worksheet
| Line | How to obtain it |
|---|---|
| Material | Agreed billable quantity × supplier rate |
| Selection and processing | Written premiums, setup, ripping, planing or profiling |
| Delivery and access | Freight quote plus applicable unloading/access services |
| Tax and other charges | Supplier-confirmed treatment and amounts |
| Usable output | Cut list or coverage after a documented allowance |
| Comparable cost | Full scoped total ÷ usable output |
Avoid adding waste twice. A parts-yield calculation may already include trimming and defects. A broad additional allowance on top of that calculation can overstate the order. Keep a written explanation of what each allowance covers.
When a published number is insufficient
For a specialty import, a matched set, exceptional figure, architectural timbers or a strict length schedule, request an itemized offer. Record the exact species or accepted substitution, grade description, actual section, moisture condition, profile drawing, requested tally and destination. An unpriced product should lead to a better specification, not an invented price range.
Start with the dated price reference, then use the quote comparison and pricing request builder. Confirm the current listing and qualifications directly before relying on a price. This site is operated by Ipe Woods USA; third-party examples are independent reference listings, not offers from Ipe Woods USA.
A PURCHASING CALCULATION
A purchasing calculation
A hypothetical 100 BF purchase at $6/BF is $600 before other charges. If only 70 BF becomes usable parts, material alone costs $8.57 per usable BF. Another 100 BF at $7/BF yielding 90 BF costs $7.78 per usable BF. This comparison is useful only if both outputs meet the same specification.
Your review record
0 of 5 questions reviewed
A checked box records your review. It is not a professional approval.
Return to the quote basis
Compare your quotes ↗Hardwood pricing units: board feet, linear feet and square feet ↗