How Much Does Superwood Cost?

Published on October 15, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Educational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources.

Superwood is an engineered timber from InventWood that undergoes chemical treatment and compression to radically boost performance. In peer-reviewed work from the University of Maryland, densified wood reached tensile strengths in the 500–600 MPa range, many times higher than natural wood, while retaining toughness and stability in humidity tests.

Commercial Superwood builds on that science and is marketed with a strength-to-weight ratio reported at roughly ten times steel by weight. These claims shape price and value debates because they move the conversation from commodity board-foot pricing to performance per pound.

As of mid-2025, public reporting indicates that early Superwood pricing sits well above commodity metals on a simple per-pound basis, though the company positions it as competitive with high-end tropical hardwoods and advanced hybrid woods.

Independent coverage pegs initial quotes in a premium tier and emphasizes building-product uses like facade, decking, and roofing as the first commercial focus. Production is launching in Maryland with government support for scale-up, which matters because cost curves tend to fall as factories ramp (TechCrunch; ARPA-E).

Article Highlights

• Public reporting places Superwood around $12.50–$25 per pound in early commercialization, far above steel by mass but aimed at high-performance uses (Fast Company).
• Industrial steel often equates to about $0.40 per pound; small-quantity retail often $1–$2 per pound (steel plate cost overview).
• Comparable premium woods show visible board prices near $8–$12 per lineal foot, and composites average $10–$27 per square foot for bundled materials (e.g., Accoya decking and Kebony cladding).
• A 550 square foot facade example totaled $25,545 with midrange assumptions, driven mainly by the material line.
• DOE support and first-plant ramp in Maryland suggest scale could improve unit economics over time.
• Hidden costs include shop drawings $500–$1,500, mockups $1,000–$5,000, and freight $300–$1,100.

How Much Does Superwood Cost?

In public write-ups, the most consistent figure for Superwood is $12.50–$25 per pound, which is many multiples of typical industrial steel coil on a per-pound basis but in line with specialty materials. Fast Company reported both the Superwood range and a steel baseline of $1–$2 per pound for small-quantity retail steel, a number that aligns with what many fabricators charge end buyers. For industrial context, steel hot-rolled coil quoted by mills translates to roughly $0.40 per pound when market indexes show about $40 per hundredweight. Both reference points help you scenario-plan, since some projects buy retail pieces and others purchase by ton.

For buyers considering cladding and decking alternatives, premium modified woods provide useful benchmarks. Current retail listings show Accoya decking boards around $8–$10.82 per lineal foot for common 1×6 profiles, and Kebony cladding boards listed near $12 per lineal foot at one U.S. distributor. Composite systems such as Trex publish estimators that place bundled material averages in the $10–$27 per square foot range, including substructure and hardware. These reference prices frame where Superwood might land on a per-area basis once suppliers quote by panel, not by mass.

Comparison at a glance
(reference numbers, actual quotes vary by spec and quantity)

This table is designed to anchor conversations with clients and estimators. It is not a contract. Quotes vary.

According to CNN, the price of Superwood in the US is currently considered premium but has not been explicitly disclosed as a retail price per board or cubic meter. The material is still in the scaling phase, with production costs decreasing as manufacturing processes improve.

InventWood indicates that the initial pricing for Superwood will be “premium” and comparable to top-tier tropical hardwoods and composite materials, with cost potentially around $12.50 to $25 per pound based on its strength-to-weight ratio and manufacturing scale. Customers can reserve their orders with a refundable $200 deposit.

In China, Made-in-China listings show wholesale prices for “super-wood” planks around $479 per cubic meter, but this refers to specific products from Chinese manufacturers that may differ from US-engineered Superwood.

Additionally, Gulf News highlights that as manufacturing scales, the cost of Superwood is expected to become more competitive, potentially reaching a price range of $10 to $20 per square foot for exterior panels.

Real-life cost examples

Residential facade pilot
A Maryland homeowner receives a distributor quote for 800 pounds of Superwood facade boards at $18 per pound, material subtotal $14,400. The installer adds rainscreen battens and stainless fasteners, $2,100, plus labor at $12 per square foot for 550 square feet, $6,600, with a modest design shop fee $900 for details and shop drawings. Shipping and liftgate delivery land at $520. The first-order bill hits $24,520 before tax.

The homeowner compares to Accoya at $10 per lineal foot for a similar look and finds the material delta is the largest driver, not labor. Accoya boards in the same footprint price around $6,500–$7,500 at current retail listings.

Also read our articles on the costs of bamboo flooring, plywood, and marine-grade plywood.

Commercial canopy refit
A regional retailer in Phoenix prices 300 pounds of Superwood for a shade canopy at $15 per pound, $4,500 in material, plus a CNC package $1,200 for slotting and hidden fastener cuts. Aluminum subframing remains, so the Superwood replaces decorative planks only.

The GC treats the surface with a clear sealer and UV additive, $3 per square foot, $450 on 150 square feet. Install labor quotes at $10 per square foot, $1,500, with a two-day schedule. Total project spend lands around $7,650. If aluminum planks were used instead, the materials would have been lower per pound, but the acoustics and tactile warmth would not match.

Furniture maker trial run
A studio in Seattle orders 80 pounds of thin Superwood panels to prototype seating, quoted at $20 per pound, $1,600 material plus $185 freight. Waste is low because of stability and predictable machining, so offcut loss is only 5 percent for this run. The designer compares to carbon fiber shells at $10–$20 per pound and prefers Superwood’s finish, then keeps a small supply for future commissions (Allied Market Research).

Regional electricity, humidity, and UV exposure change maintenance intervals and lifetime finishing costs, which is why two identical quantities can carry different total cost of ownership between Phoenix, Seattle, and Miami.

Cost breakdown

Base material
Current reporting points to Superwood falling in a premium tier at $12.50–$25 per pound. That line item usually dominates first-order spend in small projects because the weight of architecturally scaled boards adds up fast and minimum order quantities apply when lines are still ramping. Company statements also flag a Class A fire rating and outdoor stabilization options, which may influence which SKU you are quoted and, in turn, your unit price.

Fabrication and finishing
Expect optional CNC cuts, edge treatments, and prefinishing to add $2–$6 per square foot on cladding-type profiles. If you choose site finishing, plan for clear or pigmented topcoats and UV additives. Many buyers budget $3–$5 per square foot for a high-quality system on exterior surfaces during installation, then a lighter $1–$2 per square foot refresh on longer intervals.

Hardware and subframing
Hidden fasteners, stainless screws, and rainscreen battens often total $3–$6 per square foot. If you switch from steel subframing to aluminum to reduce thermal bridging, the subframe may move by $1–$2 per square foot either way depending on availability.

Labor
Experienced carpentry crews typically quote $8–$15 per square foot for rainscreen cladding and $10–$20 per square foot for decking, in line with composite and premium-wood installs that require care with expansion gaps and drainage. Composite vendors’ public estimators are a helpful proxy for how subs scope these tasks because the detailing is similar (see Trex cost estimator).

Freight and logistics
Palletized shipments in the lower 48 states often land between $300–$1,100 per order, with liftgate and residential surcharges pushing toward the top of the range. Long pieces, multi-pallet orders, and remote sites will move the needle.

Hidden costs to watch
Building-product pilots sometimes require third-party testing and mockups. Allow $1,000–$5,000 for a weather mockup and adherence checks on a commercial facade. Small custom projects can see shop drawing packages at $500–$1,500. Idle-time and re-mobilization can cost more than materials if site sequencing slips. Plan for overruns.

Here is a simple first-year picture for a 550 square foot facade using the residential example above. Material $14,400, hardware and battens $2,100, labor $6,600, finish system $1,925, freight $520. Total $25,545. If you swapped in Accoya at today’s listed board prices for the same area, material would drop by roughly $7,000–$8,000, bringing the total closer to $17,500–$18,500 with the same labor, hardware, and freight.

Factors influencing the cost

Material and process
Superwood’s cost reflects chemical delignification and hot pressing, which are more complex than thermal modification, pressure treatment, or simple lamination. Peer-reviewed results underpin the performance claims that drive demand among early adopters, and research history is a key part of the premium narrative.

Scale and policy
Factory scale matters. InventWood received U.S. Department of Energy support to ramp manufacturing, and its first commercial facility in Maryland is scaling with fresh private capital. As capacity rises and yield improves, unit economics can shift. Public agencies backing lower-carbon materials also create pull, which can smooth certifications and speed adoption.

Comparators and substitution
When teams compare to steel, they should price on performance and lifecycle, not just mass. Industrial hot-rolled coil pricing at roughly $0.40 per pound makes steel look far cheaper at purchase, yet Superwood’s strength-to-weight and corrosion immunity can reduce substructure needs and finishing cycles for certain use cases, which is why total cost can converge in targeted applications even if the material line item is higher.

Market and supply chain
Carbon fiber and advanced composites offer overlapping benefits, with industrial-grade prices commonly cited between $7 and $20 per pound. If carbon fiber is tight or volatile, Superwood can win on availability and tooling familiarity because crews work it with conventional woodworking gear, and that operational fit lowers project risk even when the price per pound is higher.

Every job is local. Quote timing, regional demand, and permit schedules move pricing windows, and a single factory’s backlog can stretch lead times, which is a cost in its own right because delays ripple across other trades and push you into less favorable seasons for install.

Alternative products or services

Structural steel
On mass-based pricing steel wins, with mill benchmarks translating to roughly $0.40 per pound and small-quantity retail often $1–$2 per pound. It remains unmatched in long-span primary structure and commodity availability. For decorative rainscreens or premium interiors, however, steel needs coatings and careful detailing to avoid corrosion or print-through, which adds labor and maintenance over time.

Cross-laminated timber and glulam
Mass timber sits between commodity lumber and Superwood. CLT producers in Europe reported price pressure around €500 per cubic meter in 2025 updates, which pencils materially lower than early Superwood on a per-volume basis. CLT is great for floors and walls with rapid install cycles and low site noise. It does not match Superwood’s reported strength-to-weight or surface hardness at similar thickness, so it is a different design choice rather than a direct swap (Timber-Online report).

Modified woods such as Accoya and Kebony
Accoya decking and Kebony cladding have strong track records, with retail board prices visible at U.S. distributors near $8–$12 per lineal foot depending on profile. They are ideal for decks and exterior skins where movement control and rot resistance matter, and they install with standard carpentry. They do not claim steel-like strength, so heavy structural replacement is not the goal.

Carbon fiber and hybrid composites
Industrial-grade carbon fiber often shows $7–$20 per pound ranges in public market briefs, though aerospace grades can be far higher. Carbon beats most materials on stiffness-to-weight, but tooling, layup, and cure cycles make shop time expensive, and field repair is specialized. Superwood’s shop familiarity can keep total bills competitive in architectural scopes where both could work.

Ways to spend less

Time your buy. Early-stage materials price sharply by quantity, and batch scheduling saves money. Group orders with a neighboring project to share a pallet and split freight, which can shave $150–$400. Keep pieces within standard lengths to avoid surcharge cuts. Work with vendors on prefinished options when shop rates are lower than site labor.

Use a mixed assembly. A thin Superwood skin on an aluminum or timber subframe can deliver most of the aesthetic and durability benefits without pushing mass too high. In cladding, prioritize high-impact elevations and corners for Superwood and use modified wood elsewhere.

Design for installation speed. Hidden fastener systems usually install faster than face-screw layouts in premium boards. If your crew can cut a day off install, you save $600–$1,200 on a small facade job. Simple details that allow repeatable jigs also reduce errant cuts, protecting your material budget.

Finally, bid against comparable high-end woods rather than commodity lumber. Accoya and Kebony price-lists, along with composite estimators, give you credible alternates for value-engineering discussions.

Expert insights and tips

Peer-reviewed science matters because it underwrites specs and insurance approvals. Nature-published work helps owners and inspectors understand that densified wood is not a marketing label; it’s a measurable change in microstructure with predictable behavior. When you present a bid, attach a one-page technical brief and cite the journal article and DOE SCALEUP page. This builds confidence and can shorten approval cycles.

For buyers, the best value tier is often the midrange quote per pound tied to a standard profile. Avoid custom thicknesses on first projects unless there is a true structural need. Push distributors for CNC services when shop rates are lower than local site labor, since fewer field cuts mean tighter yields and cleaner edges.

Answers to Common Questions

Is Superwood actually stronger than steel by weight?

Peer-reviewed research on densified wood and early-stage reporting indicate higher tensile strength than many steels and a strength-to-weight ratio about ten times steel by weight, with Class A fire rating and rot resistance for specific SKUs.

What projects will see the best value first?

Facade cladding, decking skins, fencing, and impact-resistant doors are early targets because they reward strength-to-weight and surface hardness while avoiding very long spans that still favor steel.

How do I get a reliable price per square foot?

Ask distributors to price your exact profile and finish and include the product’s weight on the quote so you can map their $ per pound to $ per square foot without guessing.

Will costs drop as production scales?

DOE-backed scale-up and private investment point that way, though timing depends on yields, certification milestones, and demand consistency at the new facility.

What should I bring to a value engineering meeting?

Print the material table above, bring Accoya and Kebony line-item prices as comparators, and show a midrange Superwood quote with a mixed assembly option to anchor savings paths.