Rough Sawn Lumber Buying Guide: Grades, Sizes, Pricing, and Where to Find It

What Is Rough Sawn Lumber?

Rough sawn lumber is wood that has been cut at a sawmill but not planed, jointed, or surfaced. The faces show saw marks, the edges are uneven, and the thickness is slightly over the nominal size to allow for surfacing.

For woodworkers and builders willing to do their own milling, rough sawn lumber offers 30-50% savings over pre-surfaced (S4S) boards — plus access to wider boards, unique grain patterns, and species that aren't typically stocked in surfaced form.

This guide covers everything you need to know: the NHLA grading system, the quarter-system thickness notation, how to calculate board footage, fair 2026 pricing by species, and where to find quality rough sawn hardwood.

NHLA Hardwood Grades Explained

NHLA Grade Summary Table

| Grade | Min Board Size | Clear Yield | Best Use |

|---|---|---|---|

| FAS (First & Seconds) | 6" wide × 8' long | 83.3%+ | Fine furniture, cabinetry, visible surfaces |

| FAS One Face (F1F) | 6" wide × 8' long | 83.3% one face | Furniture where one face matters |

| Select | 4" wide × 6' long | 83.3% one face | Similar to F1F but smaller boards |

| #1 Common | 3" wide × 4' long | 66.7%+ | General woodworking, kitchen cabinets, furniture parts |

| #2A Common | 3" wide × 4' long | 50%+ | Rustic furniture, shorter parts, flooring |

| #2B Common | 3" wide × 4' long | 50%+ | Small parts, crafts, utility |

What These Grades Mean in Practice

FAS is the premium grade — you're paying for large, clear boards with minimal knots, splits, or defects. If you're building a dining table top or display cabinet, FAS is worth the premium.

#2 Common is ideal for rustic projects, shorter parts, or applications where knots and character marks add appeal. It's also commonly used for flooring and paneling.

The Quarter System: Thickness Notation

Rough sawn lumber thickness is measured in quarters of an inch. This is the most confusing aspect for newcomers, but it's simple once you understand the system.

Thickness Conversion Table

| Quarter Notation | Rough Thickness | Surfaced (S2S) Thickness | Common Name |

|---|---|---|---|

| 4/4 ("four-quarter") | 1" | 13/16" (0.8125") | One inch |

| 5/4 ("five-quarter") | 1-1/4" | 1-1/16" (1.0625") | Five-quarter |

| 6/4 ("six-quarter") | 1-1/2" | 1-5/16" (1.3125") | Six-quarter |

| 8/4 ("eight-quarter") | 2" | 1-3/4" (1.75") | Two inch |

| 10/4 ("ten-quarter") | 2-1/2" | 2-1/4" (2.25") | Ten-quarter |

| 12/4 ("twelve-quarter") | 3" | 2-3/4" (2.75") | Three inch |

| 16/4 ("sixteen-quarter") | 4" | 3-1/2" (3.5") | Four inch |

Key point: When you buy 4/4 rough sawn lumber, the board is a full 1" thick. After surfacing both faces (S2S), you'll end up with approximately 13/16". Plan your projects accordingly — if you need a finished thickness of 3/4", 4/4 rough sawn gives you enough material with room for flattening and smoothing.

How to Calculate Board Feet

Rough sawn lumber is sold by the board foot (BF), not the linear foot. One board foot equals a volume of 144 cubic inches — equivalent to a board 1" thick × 12" wide × 12" long.

The Formula

Board Feet = (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) ÷ 12

Examples

| Board Dimensions | Calculation | Board Feet |

|---|---|---|

| 4/4 × 6" × 8' | (1 × 6 × 8) ÷ 12 | 4 BF |

| 4/4 × 10" × 10' | (1 × 10 × 10) ÷ 12 | 8.33 BF |

| 8/4 × 8" × 12' | (2 × 8 × 12) ÷ 12 | 16 BF |

| 6/4 × 12" × 8' | (1.5 × 12 × 8) ÷ 12 | 12 BF |

Pro tip: Most dealers round up to the nearest full board foot per board. A board that calculates to 5.3 BF will be charged as 6 BF. Factor this into your cost estimates.

2026 Pricing by Species

Prices vary by region, dealer, and current market conditions. These ranges represent typical retail pricing for kiln-dried rough sawn lumber in 2026.

Domestic Hardwood Pricing (Per Board Foot)

| Species | #1 Common | FAS | Notes |

|---|---|---|---|

| Red Oak | $4.50 – $6.50 | $6.50 – $9.00 | Most widely available hardwood |

| White Oak | $5.50 – $8.00 | $8.00 – $12.00 | Premium for outdoor use; rift/quartersawn commands 30-50% more |

| Hard Maple | $5.00 – $7.00 | $7.00 – $10.00 | Curly/figured commands 2–5× premium |

| Black Walnut | $8.00 – $12.00 | $12.00 – $18.00 | Prices have stabilized after 2024 peak |

| Cherry | $5.00 – $7.50 | $7.50 – $10.00 | Currently a strong value; darkens beautifully with age |

| White Ash | $4.00 – $6.00 | $6.00 – $8.50 | Supply declining due to emerald ash borer |

| Poplar | $2.50 – $4.00 | $4.00 – $5.50 | Excellent utility hardwood; paints well |

| Hickory | $5.00 – $7.00 | $7.00 – $9.50 | Very hard; dramatic grain variation |

| Sapele | $6.00 – $9.00 | $9.00 – $13.00 | Excellent mahogany alternative |

Bulk discounts: Most dealers offer 10–20% discounts on orders over 100 BF, and 15–25% on orders over 500 BF. Always ask.

Where to Buy Rough Sawn Lumber

1. Hardwood Lumber Dealers (Best Overall)

Specialty hardwood dealers are the primary source for most woodworkers. They stock a wide variety of species, grades, and thicknesses — and they let you hand-pick boards.

Advantages: Large selection, consistent quality, kiln-dried, graded lumber, expert staff

Typical pricing: Retail pricing (see table above)

How to find: Search "hardwood lumber dealer" + your city, or use the NHLA dealer locator

2. Local Sawmills (Best Prices)

Small sawmills offer rough sawn lumber at 30-50% below dealer prices, especially for locally harvested species.

Advantages: Lowest prices, unique/local species, custom sawing available

Considerations: Often air-dried (not kiln-dried), may need to plane yourself, inconsistent grading

Typical pricing: 40-60% of retail

3. Online Lumber Retailers

Online dealers ship rough sawn lumber nationwide. Good for species that aren't locally available.

Advantages: Access to exotic and uncommon species, ship to your door

Considerations: Can't hand-pick boards, shipping adds $0.50-$2.00/BF, minimum orders common

4. Estate Sales and Auctions

Occasionally, incredible deals appear at estate sales, shop liquidations, and timber auctions.

Advantages: Below-market pricing (sometimes 50-70% off)

Considerations: Unpredictable availability, may need significant sorting and processing

Inspection Tips: What to Look For

Before buying rough sawn lumber, check for these common issues:

Moisture Content

Air-dried lumber typically stabilizes at 12-18% depending on your climate. You may need to let it acclimate in your shop for 2-4 weeks before milling.

Checking and Cracking

End checks (splits at the board ends) are normal in rough sawn lumber. Budget for trimming 2-4 inches from each end. Surface checks (cracks along the face) are more concerning — minor ones may plane out, but deep checks reduce usable yield.

Warp Types

• Bow: Curve along the length. Moderate bow can be jointed flat.
• Cup: Curve across the width. Can usually be ripped into narrower straight boards.
• Twist: Corner-to-corner wind. Most problematic; significant waste.
• Crook: Edge curve along the length. Similar to bow; can be straightened on the jointer.

Inspect boards by sighting down the length and across the width. Minor bow and cup are normal; reject boards with significant twist.

Sticker Stain

Dark marks where drying stickers contacted the wood. These are typically superficial and plane off easily, but in lighter species (maple, ash) they can penetrate deeper. For visible surfaces, check that sticker stain will fully clean up at your target thickness.

Final Buying Tips

1. Buy 15-20% more than you need to account for defects, waste, and errors

2. Let lumber acclimate in your shop for 1-2 weeks before milling

3. Mill in stages: rough cut oversize, let boards relax overnight, then final dimension

4. Build relationships with your lumber dealer — they'll set aside special boards for regular customers

5. Use our Board Foot Calculator to estimate costs before visiting the dealer