Lumber prices / Eastern Hemlock
Eastern Hemlock Price per Board Foot
Eastern hemlock is a rough-and-ready construction softwood: cheap, reasonably strong, and widely available in the Northeast. It splinters badly and does not take a finish well, so it stays in the frame rather than on the surface.
What common boards cost
Board feet times the price per board foot. These use the $3 to $5 range above.
| Board | Board feet | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 x 6 x 8 ft | 4.00 | $12 – $20 |
| 1 x 8 x 8 ft | 5.33 | $16 – $27 |
| 2 x 4 x 8 ft | 5.33 | $16 – $27 |
To price a full order, put $4 (or your dealer's number) into the board foot calculator and add every board to the tally.
Softwoods with similar hardness
Eastern Hemlock rates 500 lbf on the Janka scale. These sit closest to it, so they take similar wear and usually swap in without changing how the piece holds up. Price is often the deciding factor.
| Species | Janka | Per board foot |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Cypress | 510 lbf | $4 – $8 |
| Sitka Spruce | 510 lbf | $4 – $9 |
| Ponderosa Pine | 460 lbf | $3 – $5 |
| Redwood | 450 lbf | $6 – $12 |
| Eastern White Pine | 380 lbf | $3 – $6 |
| Douglas Fir | 620 lbf | $3 – $6 |
| Western Red Cedar | 350 lbf | $5 – $9 |
| Southern Yellow Pine | 690 lbf | $2 – $4 |
Full range on the lumber prices page, and weight per board foot if shipping or floor load matters.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does eastern hemlock cost per board foot?
- Eastern Hemlock commonly runs about $3 to $5 per board foot at retail, with wide, thick, or figured boards costing more. This is a planning range, not a quote, so confirm with your dealer.
- How much does eastern hemlock weigh?
- About 2.3 pounds per board foot kiln-dried, based on an average density of 28 lb/ft³ at 12% moisture content. Green stock weighs more.
- Is eastern hemlock a hardwood or a softwood?
- Eastern Hemlock is a softwood (domestic), with a Janka hardness of 500 lbf.