Introduction
Oak, maple, cherry, walnut, pine, cedar — the species you choose decides the look, the workability, and the price per board foot. But species is only half the material story: whether the stock is rough or surfaced, which grade it carries, and how thickness is quoted (the hardwood quarter system) all change what you actually take home for each board foot you pay for.
This guide profiles the species you’re most likely to buy, explains rough vs. S2S vs. S4S, and decodes hardwood grades — everything that sits between the board-foot tally and the finished project. For the tally itself, use the Board Feet Calculator; for what each board foot costs, see the cost guide.
Softwoods vs. Hardwoods at a Glance
| Softwoods | Hardwoods | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical species | Pine, fir, spruce, cedar, redwood | Oak, maple, cherry, walnut, poplar |
| Common uses | Framing, decking, fencing, trim | Furniture, cabinetry, flooring, millwork |
| How sold | Nominal sizes (2×4, 2×6…), often per piece | Quarter thicknesses (4/4, 8/4…), per board foot |
| Grading | Structural grades + stamp (No. 2, Stud…) | Appearance grades (FAS, #1 Common…) |
| Typical BF price | ~$0.80 – $2.00/BF equivalent | ~$2.50 – $16.00/BF by species |
Species Profiles
Red oak
The default American hardwood: strong, open-grained, stains evenly, and widely stocked — typically $3.50–$5.50/BF for 4/4. A good choice for furniture, flooring, and general millwork where budget matters.
White oak
Denser and more water-resistant than red oak ($5–$8/BF); quarter-sawn white oak with its ray flake is a premium Mission-style staple. The go-to for exterior-tolerant hardwood applications — though it still needs proper finishing outdoors.
Hard maple
Pale, dense, and smooth ($4.50–$6.50/BF). Butcher blocks, workbenches, and painted or clear-finished modern furniture. Burns easily under dull tooling, so sharp cutters matter.
Cherry
Rich reddish-brown that darkens beautifully with age ($7–$11/BF). A cabinetmaker’s favorite for fine furniture; wide boards carry a premium.
Black walnut
The premium domestic cabinet wood ($10–$16/BF): chocolate-brown, stable, and easy to work. Buy it where it shows — backs, drawer sides, and hidden parts can be a secondary species.
Poplar
The paint-grade hardwood ($2.50–$4/BF): soft, stable, takes paint superbly. Ideal for painted built-ins, shop jigs, and secondary parts.
Pine / fir / spruce (SPF & SYP)
Construction softwoods sold by nominal size. Southern yellow pine is strong and economical for framing and decking; SPF (spruce-pine-fir) studs are the wall-framing standard. Priced per piece or linear foot at retail — convert to per-BF to compare suppliers.
Cedar & redwood
Naturally decay-resistant softwoods for exterior work: fencing, siding, decking, pergolas. Cost more than pressure-treated pine per BF but need no chemical treatment. Confirm exterior and ground-contact requirements with your local building authority.
Rough, S2S, and S4S: What You’re Actually Buying
| Form | Meaning | 4/4 actual thickness | BF tally basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rough | Straight off the saw, unsurfaced | ~1 in (25.4 mm) | Rough nominal (1 in) |
| S2S | Surfaced two sides (faces) | ~13/16 in (20.6 mm) | Rough nominal (1 in) |
| S4S | Surfaced four sides (faces + edges) | 3/4 in (19 mm) | Rough nominal (1 in) |
Note the last column: the BF tally always uses the rough nominal thickness. You pay the surfaced per-BF rate on the full rough tally — surfacing is a service baked into the price, not a deduction from the volume. If you don’t own a planer, S2S is usually the sweet spot: flat faces to work from, edges left rough for you to joint straight.
Hardwood Grades and What They Yield
Hardwood grades (NHLA rules) describe the percentage of clear, defect-free cuttings a board yields — not its structural strength:
| Grade | Min. clear yield | Typical use | Relative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAS (Firsts and Seconds) | 83% | Long, wide, clear parts | Highest |
| Select | 83% (one face) | Fine furniture, one show face | High |
| #1 Common | 66% | Medium parts, cabinets | Moderate |
| #2 Common | 50% | Small parts, rustic looks | Budget |
Match the grade to your cutting list: small parts nest efficiently into #1 Common, so paying for FAS is wasted money; long table aprons need FAS or Select. This grade choice flows straight into your waste factor — see the estimating guide — and into the budget in the cost guide.
Moisture Content and Drying
Species and grade mean little if the wood is wet. Lumber is sold air-dried (AD) or kiln-dried (KD), and the moisture content (MC) decides whether your project stays flat:
| Drying | Typical MC | Ready for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air-dried | 12 – 20% | Outdoor projects, further drying | Cheaper; needs acclimation or kiln time |
| Kiln-dried | 6 – 8% | Interior furniture, cabinetry | Stable; verify with a meter anyway |
Always verify with your own moisture meter — test the center of boards, not just the ends, and reject interior stock reading above ~12%. Note that drying also affects the BF equation indirectly: mills saw heavy (oversize) to allow for shrinkage, which is one more reason the nominal tally exceeds the finished wood. Buy KD for anything going indoors, and sticker-stack new stock 1–2 weeks in the shop before milling regardless of what the tag claims.
Buying Channels
- Sawmills: widest selection, rough stock, best per-BF prices; you do the surfacing and drying verification.
- Hardwood dealers/lumberyards: S2S/S4S available, graded stock, higher prices, knowledgeable staff.
- Big-box stores: convenient S4S boards and project packs; highest per-BF cost, limited species.
- Urban lumber / reclaimers: slabs and reclaimed beams; tally slabs with the calculator using average width.
Before you buy, run the buying checklist — moisture meter, tape, and tally sheet — and after the purchase, double-check the invoice against the formula so you pay for exactly what you loaded.
Related Guides
- Complete Board Feet Guide — units, formula, and quick-reference tables.
- Board Feet Cost Guide — species price ranges and budgeting waste.
- Pro Tips for Lumber Buyers — mill-visit tactics and grade strategy.
- Board Feet Estimating Guide — cutting lists and order quantities.
- Board Feet FAQ — quick answers on species and grades.
Get Your Number
Once you’ve chosen your species and form, tally it in the Board Feet Calculator — nominal dimensions in, board feet out, in imperial and metric.
Disclaimer: Calculator results are planning estimates. Species prices and availability vary by region and over time — verify with your supplier. Consult a licensed professional or your local building authority for structural or code-related decisions.
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