Softwood Structural

#3 Grade

Economy structural grade for non-critical applications

Standard: WWPA, SPIB, NLGARelative price: EconomyRank: 4

What this grade means

#3 grade lumber is an economy structural grade that allows larger and more numerous defects than #2. It is suitable for non-critical structural applications where higher grades are not required by code or engineering.

Defects allowed

Larger knots, moderate wane, some shake, splits to certain limits

Typical uses

Blocking, cripples, temporary bracing, non-load-bearing walls, general utility framing

Grade rules vary by species, region and grading agency. For structural work, use the grade stamp and governing code or an engineer’s specification—not appearance alone.
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