Lumber Grading Guide

Understanding Lumber Grades

Lumber grades determine quality, appearance, structural capacity, and price. Knowing the difference between FAS and #1 Common — or between Select Structural and Stud Grade — helps you buy exactly what your project needs without overspending.

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Why Grades Matter

The Right Grade Saves Money and Headaches

Buying FAS hardwood for a project that only requires #1 Common wastes money. Using #3 Common where you need FAS wastes time and material when half the boards get culled. Specifying Stud Grade for a 20-foot beam span is a structural failure waiting to happen. Grades exist to match material to application — and understanding them is one of the most practical skills any builder or woodworker can develop.

Below we cover three grading systems: NHLA hardwood grades (the national standard for hardwood lumber), softwood appearance and structural grades (used for framing lumber, boards, and dimension stock), and Boise Lumber's reclaimed lumber grades (our own system developed specifically for salvaged wood).

Hardwood Grades

NHLA Hardwood Grading System

The National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) sets the standard for hardwood grading in North America. Grades are based on the percentage of a board that can be cut into clear (defect-free) pieces of a minimum size — not the overall appearance of the board.

FAS (First and Seconds)

The highest standard NHLA grade. FAS boards yield long, wide, clear cuttings with minimal defects. This is the grade for premium furniture, architectural millwork, high-end cabinetry, and any project where appearance is paramount.

Best for: Fine furniture, architectural millwork, visible cabinetry, premium flooring

Minimum Board Size

6" wide, 8' long

Clear Cutting Yield

83.3% (10/12ths)

Relative Price

Highest

FAS One Face (F1F)

One face meets FAS standards while the reverse face meets #1 Common. An economical choice when only one face will be visible — cabinet sides, paneling applied to walls, table tops with an attached apron.

Best for: Cabinet components, wall paneling, tabletops, single-face millwork

Minimum Board Size

6" wide, 8' long

Clear Cutting Yield

83.3% one face / 66.7% reverse

Relative Price

High

Select

Similar to F1F but available in narrower and shorter boards. The better face meets FAS standards. Select is popular for furniture and cabinet shops that can work with smaller board sizes efficiently.

Best for: Furniture parts, cabinet doors, small craft projects, trim work

Minimum Board Size

4" wide, 6' long

Clear Cutting Yield

83.3% one face / 66.7% reverse

Relative Price

High

#1 Common

The standard "cabinet grade" — the most widely used hardwood grade in the furniture and cabinet industry. Two-thirds of each board yields clear cuttings. Boards may contain knots, mineral streaks, and other character marks in the remaining third.

Best for: Cabinetry, furniture, flooring, general woodworking, interior trim

Minimum Board Size

3" wide, 4' long

Clear Cutting Yield

66.7% (8/12ths)

Relative Price

Moderate

#2A Common

Half of each board yields clear cuttings. More character, more knots, and shorter clear sections than #1 Common. A good value grade for rustic furniture, shorter components, and projects that embrace natural character.

Best for: Rustic furniture, short components, economy cabinetry, craft projects

Minimum Board Size

3" wide, 4' long

Clear Cutting Yield

50% (6/12ths)

Relative Price

Moderate-Low

#3A Common

One-third clear yield. Heavy character, frequent knots, possible wane and staining. Primarily used for crating, pallets, and industrial applications — but increasingly popular for intentionally rustic design work.

Best for: Rustic accent walls, crating, industrial projects, pallet wood aesthetic

Minimum Board Size

3" wide, 4' long

Clear Cutting Yield

33.3% (4/12ths)

Relative Price

Low

Softwood Grades

Softwood Appearance Grades

Softwood lumber (pine, fir, spruce, cedar) is graded differently from hardwood. Appearance grades evaluate knots, staining, wane, and overall visual quality. These grades apply to boards, trim, paneling, and non-structural dimension stock.

C Select (or C & Better)

Highest appearance grade for softwood. Nearly clear with minimal imperfections. Suitable for natural or stain finish applications. Used for premium trim, moulding, paneling, and visible structural elements.

Typical Defects Allowed

Very few — minor pin knots, light stain allowed

D Select

Slightly more character than C Select — small, tight knots and minor blemishes that are easily covered with paint. The standard grade for painted trim and moulding.

Typical Defects Allowed

Small tight knots, minor stain, light pitch streaks

#1 Shop / Superior

Good overall appearance with some natural characteristics. Suitable for paneling, shelving, and applications where light character is acceptable or desired.

Typical Defects Allowed

Sound knots up to 1.5", light stain, minor checks

#2 Common (Sterling)

The most widely available softwood grade. Sound knots, some wane, and natural character marks. Good structural integrity. The standard grade for shelving, sheathing, and utility applications.

Typical Defects Allowed

Knots up to 2", stain, wane, occasional splits

#3 Common (Standard)

Functional but with more pronounced defects. Suitable for sheathing, subflooring, concrete forms, and non-appearance applications where structural performance matters more than looks.

Typical Defects Allowed

Large knots, wane, stain, holes, splits allowed

#4 Common (Utility)

Economy grade with significant defects. Used for temporary construction, bracing, crating, and applications where appearance and long-term durability are not concerns.

Typical Defects Allowed

Any defect that does not destroy strength

Structural Grades

Structural Lumber Grades

Structural grades determine the load-bearing capacity of framing lumber. These grades are assigned by certified graders and are required by building codes for all structural applications. Grading is based on knot size, grain slope, and other strength-reducing characteristics.

Grade	Bending Strength	Stiffness (MOE)	Description
Select Structural	Highest	Highest	The highest structural grade. Tight knots, straight grain, high strength values. Used for engineered applications, exposed beams, and situations where maximum load-bearing capacity is required.
#1 Structural	High	High	High-quality structural grade suitable for most load-bearing applications. Permits slightly larger knots and minor deviations from straight grain compared to Select Structural.
#2 Structural	Moderate-High	Moderate-High	The most commonly specified structural grade for residential and light commercial framing. Meets code requirements for studs, joists, rafters, and headers in most applications.
#3 Structural	Moderate	Moderate	Suitable for light framing, non-load-bearing walls, and applications with reduced structural demands. Lower design values require wider spacing or smaller spans.
Stud Grade	Moderate	Moderate	Specifically graded for vertical load-bearing as wall studs. Limited to 10 feet or shorter. Suitable for load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls.

Reclaimed Grades

Boise Lumber Reclaimed Grading System

Standard NHLA and softwood grading systems were designed for new lumber. Reclaimed lumber has unique characteristics — patina, nail holes, checking, weathering — that do not fit neatly into conventional grades. We developed our own four-tier system to give customers clear expectations about what they are buying.

Premium Reclaimed

The finest reclaimed lumber in our inventory. Structurally sound, minimal checking, no rot, no pest damage. Deep patina and consistent character. Suitable for furniture, visible architectural elements, and premium installations where both appearance and integrity matter.

Grading Criteria

No rot, no active pest damage, no structural compromise
Moisture content below 12% (kiln-dried)
All nails and metal removed, holes filled or left as character
Consistent color and patina across the board
Straight, flat, and dimensionally stable

Select Reclaimed

High-quality reclaimed lumber with moderate character. May have nail holes, light checking, minor surface weathering, and patina variation. Structurally sound for most applications. The most popular grade for accent walls, flooring, and furniture.

Grading Criteria

Structurally sound — no rot, no active pest damage
Light to moderate checking, nail holes, and surface marks
May have patina variation and minor color inconsistency
Kiln-dried to below 15% moisture content
De-nailed and surface-cleaned

Character Reclaimed

Heavy character with pronounced weathering, checking, nail holes, saw marks, and color variation. Structurally adequate for non-load-bearing applications. Perfect for rustic accent walls, decorative elements, and projects where the story of the wood is part of the design.

Grading Criteria

May have moderate checking, splits (stabilized), and surface damage
Heavy nail holes, saw marks, and surface character
Significant color and patina variation
Structurally adequate for non-load-bearing applications
De-nailed; may have residual staining or paint traces

Structural Reclaimed

Reclaimed timbers and dimensional lumber specifically evaluated for structural use. Graded by a qualified inspector for bending strength, compression, and connection capacity. Used for post-and-beam construction, timber framing, and load-bearing renovation work.

Grading Criteria

Inspected for structural integrity by qualified grader
Load-bearing capacity verified for intended application
Free of rot, significant cross-grain, and structural compromise
May have cosmetic defects that do not affect strength
Suitable for post-and-beam, timber frame, and structural renovation

Practical Guidance

Which Grade Should You Choose?

Fine Furniture

FAS or Select hardwood; Premium Reclaimed

You need long, clear boards with consistent color for tabletops, panels, and visible surfaces. The higher upfront cost saves time and reduces waste.

Kitchen Cabinets

#1 Common hardwood; Select Reclaimed

Cabinet parts are cut to relatively short lengths, so you can get excellent yield from #1 Common. Saves 20-30% over FAS with minimal waste increase.

Accent Walls & Paneling

#2A Common; Character or Select Reclaimed

Character and variation enhance the visual interest of wall installations. Lower grades provide this naturally, and the savings can be significant at large square footages.

Residential Framing

#2 Structural softwood

Meets code requirements for studs, joists, rafters, and headers in standard residential construction. The most cost-effective structural grade for typical spans and loads.

Timber Frame / Post & Beam

Select Structural; Structural Reclaimed

Exposed structural members need both strength and appearance. Select Structural or our Structural Reclaimed timbers provide both. Always verify engineering requirements.

Decking & Outdoor Projects

#2 Common cedar or redwood; Select Reclaimed

Outdoor applications need natural decay resistance. #2 Common in a durable species provides the best balance of appearance, performance, and value for decks, fences, and pergolas.

Still Not Sure Which Grade You Need?

Tell us about your project and our team will recommend the right grade, species, and quantity. We have helped spec materials for everything from backyard pergolas to commercial timber-frame buildings.

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