Complete guide to picking out quality lumber for your projects. Learn what to look for when buying wood, how to spot defects, understand lumber grades, and choose the right species for any application.
Selecting good lumber is one of the most important skills for any DIYer or woodworker. The quality of your materials directly affects the success of your project—warped boards cause frustration, hidden defects waste money, and the wrong species can fail prematurely.
This guide covers everything you need to know to confidently pick out lumber at the home center, lumberyard, or hardwood dealer. You'll learn to spot defects, understand grading systems, compare species characteristics, and ensure you're getting the right wood for your project.
Key Inspection Points:
Warping Types
Surface Defects
Cracks and Splits
Staining and Damage
1. Sight Down the Length
Hold the board at eye level and look down its length. Check for bow (face curve), crook (edge curve), and twist (one end higher than other). Rotate the board to check from multiple angles.
2. Check Both Faces
Examine both wide faces for cupping, knots, staining, pitch pockets, and surface damage. Look for raised grain that indicates improper milling or storage.
3. Inspect All Four Edges
Check edges for wane (missing wood/bark), splits, checking, and straightness. Look for sapwood if working with species where heartwood matters for rot resistance.
4. Examine End Grain
Check both ends for checking (drying cracks), splits, growth ring pattern, and pith (center of tree). End grain often reveals defects not visible on faces.
5. Read the Stamps
Look for grade stamps indicating species, grade, moisture content (KD, S-DRY, S-GRN), and treating information. Stamps help verify you're getting what you're paying for.
6. Feel for Issues
Run your hand along the surface. Feel for raised grain, rough spots, wetness, or debris. Weight can indicate moisture content—wet boards are noticeably heavier.
Dimensional Softwood Grades (Framing Lumber)
| Grade | Quality | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Select Structural | Highest quality, minimal defects | Engineered applications, exposed beams |
| #1 | Minor defects, high strength | Load-bearing, structural framing |
| #2 | Moderate defects, good strength | General framing, most DIY projects |
| #3 / Construction | More defects, adequate strength | Wall studs, non-critical framing |
| Stud | Sized for wall framing | Wall studs specifically |
| Utility | Economy grade, significant defects | Temporary bracing, non-structural |
Hardwood Grades (NHLA System)
| Grade | Clear Cuttings | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| FAS (First & Seconds) | 83%+ clear | Fine furniture, long clear pieces |
| FAS One Face (F1F) | One FAS face, one #1 Common | Projects visible from one side |
| Select | One FAS face, one #1 Common | Similar to F1F, smaller boards |
| #1 Common | 66%+ clear | Cabinets, shorter clear pieces |
| #2A Common | 50%+ clear | Small parts, character pieces |
| #2B Common | 33%+ clear | Rustic projects, cutting boards |
Appearance Grades (Finish Lumber)
| Species | Characteristics | Rot Resistance | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPF (Spruce-Pine-Fir) | Light, easy to work, affordable | Poor | Interior framing, shelving |
| Douglas Fir | Strong, straight grain, harder | Moderate | Structural, beams, posts |
| Western Red Cedar | Lightweight, stable, aromatic | Excellent | Decks, fences, siding, outdoor |
| Southern Yellow Pine | Dense, strong, accepts treatment | Poor (Good treated) | Decks, outdoor (when treated) |
| Pressure-Treated Pine | Chemically preserved, green tint | Excellent | Ground contact, decks, posts |
| Redwood | Beautiful, stable, soft | Excellent (heartwood) | Decks, siding, outdoor furniture |
| White Pine | Soft, easy to work, paints well | Poor | Trim, shelving, interior projects |
| Species | Hardness (Janka) | Characteristics | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | 1,290 | Strong, pronounced grain, porous | Flooring, cabinets, furniture |
| White Oak | 1,360 | Water resistant, tight grain | Outdoor furniture, boats, barrels |
| Hard Maple | 1,450 | Very hard, fine grain, light color | Cutting boards, flooring, cabinets |
| Soft Maple | 950 | Easier to work, takes stain well | Furniture, millwork, turnings |
| Cherry | 950 | Warm reddish tone, ages beautifully | Fine furniture, cabinets, instruments |
| Black Walnut | 1,010 | Dark brown, beautiful grain | Fine furniture, gunstocks, accents |
| Poplar | 540 | Soft hardwood, paints very well | Painted furniture, trim, drawers |
| Ash | 1,320 | Flexible, shock resistant | Tool handles, sports equipment |
| Hickory | 1,820 | Extremely hard and tough | Tool handles, flooring, smoking wood |
| Mahogany | 800-900 | Stable, workable, rich color | Fine furniture, boats, instruments |
Understanding Moisture Content (MC)
Moisture content is critical for project success. Wood shrinks as it dries and expands as it absorbs moisture. Using wood with inappropriate MC leads to warping, cracking, joint failure, and finishing problems. Always match MC to your project's final environment.
| Designation | Moisture Content | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Kiln-Dried (KD) | 6-8% | Furniture, cabinets, interior trim |
| S-DRY (Surfaced Dry) | 19% or less | General framing, covered projects |
| Air-Dried | 12-19% | Outdoor projects, construction |
| S-GRN (Surfaced Green) | Over 19% | Temporary use, will shrink significantly |
| Green/Wet | 30%+ | Green woodworking, turning, steam bending |
Target Moisture Content by Use
Pro Tip
Acclimate lumber to its final environment for 1-2 weeks before use. Stack boards with stickers (spacers) between them to allow air circulation on all surfaces. This minimizes movement after installation.
Dimensional lumber is sold by "nominal" size, but actual dimensions are smaller after drying and surfacing. Always plan projects using actual sizes.
| Nominal Size | Actual Size (Dry) | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 1×2 | 3/4" × 1-1/2" | Trim, furring, spacers |
| 1×4 | 3/4" × 3-1/2" | Trim, shelving, craft projects |
| 1×6 | 3/4" × 5-1/2" | Shelving, fence boards, trim |
| 1×8 | 3/4" × 7-1/4" | Shelving, paneling |
| 1×12 | 3/4" × 11-1/4" | Shelving, cabinet sides |
| 2×4 | 1-1/2" × 3-1/2" | Framing, studs, general |
| 2×6 | 1-1/2" × 5-1/2" | Floor joists, deck boards |
| 2×8 | 1-1/2" × 7-1/4" | Floor joists, rafters |
| 2×10 | 1-1/2" × 9-1/4" | Floor joists, headers |
| 2×12 | 1-1/2" × 11-1/4" | Headers, stair stringers |
| 4×4 | 3-1/2" × 3-1/2" | Posts, furniture legs |
| 6×6 | 5-1/2" × 5-1/2" | Posts, beams, timber work |
Interior Furniture
Use kiln-dried hardwood (6-8% MC). Popular choices: Oak for traditional, Maple for contemporary, Cherry for warmth, Walnut for elegance. Poplar is economical for painted pieces.
Outdoor Projects
Use naturally rot-resistant species (Cedar, Redwood, White Oak) or pressure-treated lumber. Cedar and Redwood weather to gray naturally. Treat cut ends of PT lumber.
Ground Contact
Use pressure-treated lumber rated for ground contact (UC4A or higher). Regular PT lumber is only rated for above-ground use. Set posts in gravel, not concrete, for drainage.
Cabinets & Built-ins
Plywood for cases (more stable than solid wood), hardwood for face frames and doors. Use 3/4" cabinet-grade plywood with hardwood veneer matching your solid wood choice.
Framing & Structure
Douglas Fir or Southern Yellow Pine for strength. SPF acceptable for non-critical framing. Use #2 or better for load-bearing applications. Always check local codes.
This comprehensive lumber buying guide helps DIYers and woodworkers select the best wood for their projects. Whether you're picking up framing lumber at the home center, selecting hardwoods at a specialty dealer, or choosing pressure-treated boards for a deck, knowing what to look for ensures project success.
Poor lumber selection is one of the most common sources of project frustration. Warped boards fight you at every step, wet lumber shrinks and cracks after installation, and the wrong species fails prematurely. By learning to identify defects, understand grading, and match species to applications, you'll get better results with less waste.
This guide covers the complete lumber selection process: visual inspection techniques, grading systems for both softwood and hardwood, moisture content requirements, species characteristics, and guidelines for matching wood to specific projects.
Selecting quality lumber is a skill that improves with knowledge and practice. This guide provides the reference information you need to make confident decisions at the lumberyard or home center.