Lumber prices / Sitka Spruce
Sitka Spruce Price per Board Foot
Sitka spruce has the best stiffness-to-weight ratio of any common softwood, which is why it went into early aircraft and still goes into guitar tops. Instrument-grade billets sell for many times the price of construction stock.
Typical price per board foot$4 – $9
TypeSoftwood (Domestic)
Density (12% MC)27 lb/ft³
Weight per board foot2.3 lb
Janka hardness510 lbf
Common usesGuitar and piano soundboards, aircraft, oars, spars
What common boards cost
Board feet times the price per board foot. These use the $4 to $9 range above.
| Board | Board feet | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 x 6 x 8 ft | 4.00 | $16 – $36 |
| 1 x 8 x 8 ft | 5.33 | $21 – $48 |
| 2 x 4 x 8 ft | 5.33 | $21 – $48 |
To price a full order, put $7 (or your dealer's number) into the board foot calculator and add every board to the tally.
Softwoods with similar hardness
Sitka Spruce rates 510 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 |
| Eastern Hemlock | 500 lbf | $3 – $5 |
| Ponderosa Pine | 460 lbf | $3 – $5 |
| Redwood | 450 lbf | $6 – $12 |
| Douglas Fir | 620 lbf | $3 – $6 |
| Southern Yellow Pine | 690 lbf | $2 – $4 |
| Eastern Red Cedar | 900 lbf | $4 – $9 |
Full range on the lumber prices page, and weight per board foot if shipping or floor load matters.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does sitka spruce cost per board foot?
- Sitka Spruce commonly runs about $4 to $9 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 sitka spruce weigh?
- About 2.3 pounds per board foot kiln-dried, based on an average density of 27 lb/ft³ at 12% moisture content. Green stock weighs more.
- Is sitka spruce a hardwood or a softwood?
- Sitka Spruce is a softwood (domestic), with a Janka hardness of 510 lbf.