Why Log Grades Matter When Buying
If you are buying hardwood logs or lumber, the grade assigned to that wood is the single biggest factor determining what you will pay and what you can do with it. A load of FAS White Oak and a load of #2 Common White Oak come from the same species and often the same forest, but they serve completely different end uses and carry dramatically different price tags. Understanding how grading works gives you a real edge in negotiations, helps you avoid overpaying for material that does not meet your needs, and lets you spot opportunities where lower grades actually deliver better value for your application.
Whether you are a sawmill purchasing logs at the landing, a secondary manufacturer sourcing kiln-dried lumber, or a woodworker buying boards by the unit, this guide breaks down the grading system used across the hardwood industry so you can buy with confidence.
The NHLA Hardwood Lumber Grading System
The National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) sets the standard grades used throughout North America. These grades measure the percentage of a board that can produce clear-face cuttings — pieces free of knots, splits, wane, and other defects. The higher the clear yield, the higher the grade and the higher the price.
Here are the primary grades every buyer should know:
FAS (First and Seconds)
FAS is the highest standard grade. Boards must yield 83.3% or more clear cuttings on both faces. Minimum board size is 6 inches wide and 8 feet long. FAS lumber is used for high-end furniture, cabinetry, architectural millwork, and export markets where appearance is critical. Because of the strict requirements, FAS represents only a small fraction of most production runs, which keeps prices at a premium.
FAS One Face (F1F)
F1F meets FAS requirements on one face and #1 Common on the reverse side. This grade is popular with manufacturers who only need one show face, such as flooring producers and cabinet shops. It typically costs less than full FAS while delivering the same usable yield for many applications. For buyers, F1F often represents the best balance of quality and cost.
#1 Common
#1 Common yields 66.7% or more clear cuttings and is the most popular commercial grade in the hardwood industry. The minimum board size is 3 inches wide and 4 feet long. This grade works well for furniture parts, kitchen cabinets, flooring, and general manufacturing where slightly shorter or narrower clear pieces are acceptable. Most domestic hardwood consumption falls in the #1 Common grade because it offers solid usability at a lower cost than FAS.
#2A Common
#2A Common requires 50% or more clear cuttings with a minimum board size of 3 inches wide and 4 feet long. This grade is well-suited for shorter cuttings used in products like small furniture components, moldings, turnings, and craft woodworking. Buyers focused on shorter clear lengths can find real value here, paying significantly less per board foot than #1 Common while still getting usable material.
#2B Common
#2B Common is the lowest standard grade, with a clear yield below 50%. This grade is commonly used for pallets, blocking, crating, railroad ties, and industrial applications where appearance does not matter. Prices are substantially lower, but the volume can make up for it. Pallet manufacturers and industrial buyers often seek this grade specifically.
| Grade | Min. Clear Yield | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| FAS | 83.3% | Fine furniture, millwork, export |
| F1F | 83.3% (one face) | Flooring, cabinets, one-show-face products |
| #1 Common | 66.7% | Furniture, cabinets, flooring, general manufacturing |
| #2A Common | 50% | Short cuttings, moldings, turnings, crafts |
| #2B Common | <50% | Pallets, blocking, crating, industrial |
Log Grades by Species: Context Matters
While NHLA grades apply to sawn lumber, the logs themselves are also graded and sorted before they reach the mill. Species plays a major role in how logs are valued, because certain end markets drive premium pricing well beyond the standard grading framework.
White Oak: Bourbon Barrel Demand Drives Premiums
White Oak is the king of Appalachian hardwoods, and the bourbon barrel industry is a major reason why. Cooperages require straight-grained, defect-free stave bolts — typically 36 to 42 inches long — that can be split along the grain without leaking. Stave-quality White Oak logs command some of the highest prices in the hardwood market, often significantly more per MBF than the same log graded for sawlogs.
If you are buying White Oak, understand whether the seller has already sorted out the stave wood. A mixed load that includes stave-quality material will be priced differently than a load of pure sawlogs. Buyers who do not need stave quality can sometimes negotiate better pricing by purchasing the remaining sawlog-grade material after stave bolts have been removed.
Walnut: Veneer vs. Lumber Grades
Black Walnut is one of the most valuable domestic hardwoods, but the spread between veneer-grade and lumber-grade Walnut is enormous. A single veneer-quality Walnut log — large diameter, straight, minimal defect, good color — can be worth several times more than the same log graded as a sawlog. Veneer buyers look for logs 16 inches and above in diameter with at least 8 feet of clear length.
As a buyer, knowing the difference helps you avoid paying veneer prices for lumber-grade logs. Conversely, if you spot a high-quality Walnut log being sold as a sawlog, you may have found a deal worth jumping on.
Poplar: Utility Grades Still Valuable
Yellow Poplar (Tulipwood) is the workhorse of Appalachian hardwood production. It grows fast, straight, and abundantly. While Poplar does not command the prices of White Oak or Walnut, it moves in high volume and lower-grade Poplar is still very much in demand. Pallet manufacturers, plywood mills, and industrial users buy large quantities of #2 Common and #3 Common Poplar at prices that make it profitable for loggers to cut.
For buyers, Poplar offers excellent value. Paint-grade furniture, interior trim, and shelving can all use #1 Common or #2A Common Poplar at a fraction of the cost of species like Cherry or Maple, since Poplar machines well and takes paint easily.
How Grading Affects Pricing
Grade is the primary driver of hardwood pricing. To give you a sense of scale, here is how grade differences can affect what you pay:
- FAS White Oak can trade at $900 to $1,200+ per MBF (thousand board feet, Doyle scale), while #2 Common White Oak may sell for $250 to $400 per MBF — that is a 3x to 4x difference for the same species.
- FAS Black Walnut lumber often brings $3,000 to $5,000+ per MBF, whereas #1 Common Walnut might trade at $1,500 to $2,500 per MBF. Veneer-quality logs can exceed these numbers entirely.
- #1 Common Poplar typically ranges from $400 to $600 per MBF, while #2 Common Poplar drops to $200 to $350 per MBF.
These are general market ranges and will vary by region, season, and supply conditions. The key takeaway is that one grade step can mean a 30% to 50% price swing, and sometimes much more. That is why knowing the grade of what you are buying (or selling) is non-negotiable.
Tips for Buyers: What to Look For and How to Negotiate
Whether you are buying logs on the landing or sawn lumber from a mill, these practical tips will help you get better value:
- Always confirm the grade before agreeing on price. Ask the seller what grade they are selling and whether the load has been graded by a certified NHLA inspector or graded by the mill. Third-party grading removes ambiguity.
- Buy the grade you actually need. Do not pay for FAS if your project calls for #1 Common. Many furniture shops and cabinet makers produce excellent products from #1 Common lumber at significant savings.
- Look for mixed-grade lots. Some sellers offer loads that combine grades, often called "run of the mill" or "shop grade." These can be priced between #1 Common and #2A Common and offer good value if you can use shorter cuttings.
- Check the scale method. In Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia, most logs are scaled on the Doyle rule, which underestimates volume on smaller-diameter logs. If you are buying by the MBF, understand which log scale is being used.
- Inspect before you buy. Photos help, but nothing replaces seeing the wood in person. Look at end checks, staining, wane, and overall consistency. A few minutes of inspection can save thousands on a large order.
- Build relationships with consistent sellers. Repeat business earns better pricing. Loggers and mills prefer reliable buyers, and that reliability gets rewarded with first access to premium material and better per-unit pricing over time.
- Use market data to negotiate. Know what current market prices look like for the species and grade you are buying. Browse current listings on JMLogMarket to see what sellers are asking in your region.
Start Buying Smarter on JMLogMarket
Now that you understand how hardwood grades work and what drives pricing, put that knowledge to use. Browse current log and lumber listings on JMLogMarket to find the species and grades you need, with real sellers posting real loads from across Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and the surrounding region.
Looking for something specific? Post a buyer request and let sellers come to you. Describe the species, grade, volume, and location you need, and sellers in your area will reach out with offers. It is free to post and free to browse — JMLogMarket connects buyers and sellers directly with no middleman fees.