If you've ever shopped for hardwood lumber and seen terms like "FAS", "SEL & BTR", or "#1 Common" on a price tag, you're looking at the hardwood grading system. Understanding grades helps you buy the right lumber for your project — and avoid overpaying for quality you don't need.
Who Sets the Grades?
Hardwood lumber grades in the U.S. are set by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA). The grades are based on the percentage of clear, defect-free wood you can cut from a board — not on appearance alone.
The Main Grades, Explained
FAS (Firsts and Seconds)
The highest grade. Boards must be at least 6" wide and 8' long, with 83–100% clear cuttings. FAS is ideal for large furniture pieces where you need long, wide, defect-free sections. It's also the most expensive grade.
SEL & BTR (Select and Better)
A combination grade that includes FAS and Select boards. Select boards are similar to FAS but allow one face to have more character. "SEL & BTR" means you'll get a mix of FAS and Select — excellent quality at a slightly better value than pure FAS. This is the grade we carry for most of our species.
👉 4/4 Walnut SEL & BTR | 4/4 Cherry SEL & BTR | 4/4 Soft Maple SEL & BTR
#1 Common
Allows more knots, mineral streaks, and character marks. Boards yield 66–83% clear cuttings. Great for smaller projects like cutting boards, boxes, and decorative items where shorter clear sections are fine — and often more affordable.
#2 Common
More character and defects, with 50–66% clear cuttings. Used for rustic projects, painted work, or when the natural character of the wood is part of the design.
SLR: What Does That Mean?
SLR (Straight Line Ripped) means one edge of the board has been ripped straight on a saw, giving you one clean reference edge to work from. This saves you a jointing step in the shop. You'll see this on our White Oak boards.
👉 4/4 White Oak SLR | 8/4 White Oak Rough SLR
Rough vs. S2S vs. S4S
- Rough: Straight from the sawmill. Needs jointing and planing before use. Lowest cost per board foot.
- S2S (Surfaced Two Sides): Both faces have been planed flat. You still need to joint the edges. Most common for DIY hardwood purchases.
- S4S (Surfaced Four Sides): All four sides are smooth and square. Ready to use with minimal prep. Common at big-box stores but less common at specialty lumber yards.
Which Grade Should You Buy?
- Cutting boards & charcuterie boards: SEL & BTR or #1 Common — you're cutting into strips anyway, so small defects are easy to work around.
- Furniture tabletops & panels: FAS or SEL & BTR for the show faces; #1 Common for secondary parts.
- Rustic or painted projects: #2 Common works great and saves money.
Shop Our Hardwood Lumber
All of our lumber is sold by the board foot and available for local pickup. We carry SEL & BTR and SLR grades across our top species.