How Much Does Plywood Cost?
Last Updated on January 18, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker
Are you looking to start a new woodworking or home improvement project? Before you begin, it’s important to understand plywood prices and how to choose the right plywood for your needs.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through plywood grades, types, sizes, and prices so you can budget appropriately and pick the best plywood for your next DIY adventure.
Plywood is one of the most versatile and commonly used sheet materials for construction and home projects. Learning how much plywood costs per sheet and factors that impact pricing can help you plan your budget.
How Much Does Plywood Cost?
Plywood costs anywhere between $15 and $60 per sheet, depending on factors like its thickness, grade, length, type, and so on. The thickness of plywood makes a big difference in strength, weight, and price per sheet.
Here’s an overview of typical plywood thicknesses and prices:
- 1/4″ plywood – Lightweight and best for projects like drawer boxes, hobby crafts, and cabinet backs. Avoid for structural uses. Approximately $15-$25 per sheet.
- 1/2″ plywood – Common for shelving, cabinet sides, furniture panels, and finishing layers. Still lightweight but cuts must be supported. $20-$35 per sheet is typical.
- 5/8″ plywood – Provides good stiffness for countertops, workbenches, and furniture when joined properly. Expect to pay $25-$40 per standard sheet.
- 3/4″ plywood – The most popular thickness for construction, subfloors, roof decking, and structural furniture. Offers good strength at a reasonable cost of $30-$50 per sheet.
- 1″ plywood – Very stiff panels well suited for workbenches, sturdy shelving, trailer and truck flooring, and heavy-duty usage. The cost per sheet is $35-$60 depending on grade.
The Home Depot offers 1/5-inch sheathing plywood at $29.98 each and 3/4-inch hardwood plywood at $65.65 and $85.58 each (different stock locations).
ApplePly Hardwood Plywood sells White Birch ApplePly 1-inch at $85.35 for a 24″x48″ sheet (not including shipping). The per-part price starts at $128.46 (shipping not included).
Sawinery offers plywood for an average sheet cost of $12 to $55, as follows:
- Thicker plywood sheets: up to $120
- 4×8 sheets with 1/4-inch thickness: $6 to $45
- 4×8 sheets with 11/32-inch thickness: $15 to $120
- 2×2 sheets with 1/4-inch thickness: $5 to $31
- 2×4 sheets with 1/4-inch thickness: $17 to $36
Remember that thinner panels weigh less, require less material, and are cheaper per sheet. But they lack rigidity for spanning and must be braced and supported. Thicker plywood is stronger but will cost more upfront.
Plywood Grades and Prices
One of the biggest variables determining plywood pricing is the grade or quality rating. Higher grades have fewer defects and better construction for demanding applications. The most common plywood grades are:
CDX Plywood
CDX grade (sometimes written as C-D Exposure 1) is the most widely available, economical construction-grade plywood. It has a solid C face side with some knots and splits allowed. The back side has more open defects.
CDX plywood is suitable for roof sheathing, wall sheathing, subfloors, and other housing construction uses. Avoid CDX for exposed decorative projects. A 3/4″ sheet costs $30-$50 depending on the wood species.
BCX Plywood
BCX plywood has a smoother B grade face side that’s sanded and stainable. The back side is a lower C grade. It’s a step up from CDX for projects where the plywood will be visible. It works for cabinets, furniture, shelving, and where appearance is important. 3/4″ BCX plywood ranges from $35-$60 per sheet.
Marine Grade
Marine or marine grade plywood is designed to resist fungal decay and delamination when exposed to moisture. Both sides have the same premium grade, and the core is fully waterproof structural adhesive, making it great as exterior plywood. It’s commonly used for boat building, docks, trailer flooring, and outdoor applications. 3/4″ marine plywood costs $80-$120 per sheet.
Underlayment
Underlayment or sanded plywood has two smooth sanded A grade sides. The solid core makes it resistant to indentations. It’s popular under resilient vinyl, laminate, and hardwood flooring. 1/2″ and 5/8″ underlayment grade plywood costs $35-$50 per sheet.
MDO/MDF Plywood
MDO (medium density overlay) and MDF (medium density fiberboard) have smooth, resin-impregnated fiberboard surfaces. They have excellent screw-holding ability and take paint very well. MDO/MDF plywood costs around $50-$70 per 3/4″ sheet.
Aircraft Grade
Aircraft plywood and osb are exceptionally strong, lightweight birch plywood used for aircraft and aerospace applications. Both sides have an aerospace-grade A face. It’s the highest quality plywood available, with prices starting around $150 per sheet.
This overview of the most common plywood grades gives you an idea of price differences based on quality. Using the right grade for your project can help balance cost and performance.
How Is Plywood Priced?
Plywood sheets are sold in 4×8 foot dimensions, but pricing is usually calculated per sheet based on thickness, grade, wood species, and other attributes. Standard plywood sheets are 4 x 8 feet, but some special order sheets can be as large as 5 x 12 feet.
On average, a 3/4 inch thick sheet of CDX grade plywood costs $30-50 depending on wood species. Thinner plywood is cheaper per sheet, while thicker plywood is more expensive. Specialty plywood grades like marine-grade can cost $80-120 per sheet or more.
The main factors that impact the price per sheet of plywood are:
- Thickness – Thicker plywood is stronger and more rigid, but costs more per sheet. Common thicknesses are 1/4″, 1/2″, 5/8″, 3/4″, and 1″.
- Grade – Grades like CDX and BCX are less expensive than cabinet-grade or marine plywood.
- Wood species – Oak, maple, and birch plywood cost more than pine or fir plywood. Exotic woods can be very expensive.
- Sizing – Standard 4×8 sheets are the cheapest. Special order oversize sheets or custom panel sizes may cost more.
- Certifications – CARB-compliant low VOC plywood is slightly more expensive than standard grades.
Plywood Sheet Size and Dimensions
The standard size for plywood sheets at home centers is:
- 4 feet x 8 feet
- 48 inches x 96 inches
- 1219mm x 2438mm
This 4×8 sheet is convenient for handling and transporting in most vehicles. Many lumber yards and specialty woodworking suppliers also stock:
- 4 feet x 10 feet sheets
- 5 feet x 5 feet sheets
- 60 inch x 60 inch sheets
- 30 inch x 60 inch half sheets
For custom sizing or very large panels, plywood can be ordered in:
- 4 feet x 12 feet
- 5 feet x 8 feet
- 5 feet x 10 feet
- 5 feet x 12 feet
Keep in mind that larger panels will be heavier and harder to handle. Make sure to get help lifting and transporting plywood to avoid injury. Also factor in project measurements and design to optimize full sheet usage and avoid wasting material.
You might also like our articles about the cost of marine plywood, luan plywood, or mahogany wood.
Softwood vs. Hardwood Plywood Price Differences
Softwood plywood is made from evergreen tree wood species like pine, fir, spruce, and cedar. It’s typically less expensive than hardwood plywood. Some common softwood plywood species and prices:
- Pine plywood – $30-45 per 3/4″ sheet for CDX grade
- Fir plywood – $35-50 per 3/4″ CDX sheet
- Cedar plywood – $45-65 per 3/4″ sheet, aromatic and decay resistant
Hardwood plywood uses wood from deciduous broadleaf trees. Hardwood plywood offers more strength but costs more than softwood. Some common hardwood plywood prices:
- Birch plywood – $45-70 per 3/4″ BCX sheet
- Maple plywood – $55-75 per 3/4″ cabinet grade sheet
- Oak plywood – $55-80 per 3/4″ sheet, stain grade
- Poplar plywood – $30-50 per 3/4″ sheet, paint grade
Home centers tend to stock more pine and fir plywood. For a wider hardwood selection, check local plywood suppliers or woodworking specialty stores. Consider your project needs when choosing between softwood and more expensive hardwood plywood.
Factors That Increase Plywood Costs
A few special factors can drive up the price per sheet significantly from standard commodity plywood:
- Low VOC CARB Compliant – Stricter formaldehyde emissions standards for some plywood means the sheets cost 5-15% more. Required for goods sold in California.
- Pre-Sanded Plywood – Smoother plywood with no additional sanding required commands 10-30% higher prices. Popular for fine woodworking decor.
- Exotic Hardwood Species – Unique woods like bamboo, hickory, wenge, purpleheart, and more have limited supply and high demand. Exotic plywood costs 2-5 times more than common species.
- Project Panel Cuts – Pre-cut project panels reduce waste but cost much more than full standard sheets. Consider DIY project panel cutting for savings.
- Local Availability – If a certain plywood type is not locally stocked, special ordering small quantities from distributors adds shipping costs. Buying in bulk can help offset freight expenses.
- Rush Orders – Requesting off-the-shelf plywood outside normal restocking cycles often carries upcharges. Plan ahead to avoid rush fees.
- Special Certifications – Unusual compliance testing, inspection, and quality control steps increase expenses that sellers pass along to buyers.
- Brand Name – Some plywood makers like Columbia Forest Products command 10-50% higher prices for brand recognition and loyalty. Most build quality matches price premiums.
While it’s possible to pay more for plywood with special characteristics, standard sheets usually fit most buyer’s needs at the lowest cost. Carefully evaluate the benefits of premium plywood grades versus their price premium for your particular project.
Tips for Getting the Best Plywood Prices
Follow these tips to find good plywood prices for your next carpentry project:
- Shop local home centers for in-stock commodity panel prices and convenience
- Check lumberyards and hardwood dealers for wider species selection
- Buy full standard sheets instead of precut panels or odd sizes
- Compare per sheet prices across multiple sellers, including delivery fees
- Only use grades and thickness needed for intended use to control costs
- Special order larger volumes directly from wholesalers or mills to save on shipping
- Join woodworking clubs to access member-only group buy discounts
- Use coupon codes and look for seasonal sales around holidays for potential deals
- Consider alternative panel products like OSB for subfloors when plywood prices spike
Final Words
With some smart shopping techniques, you can find the ideal plywood to suit your next carpentry or woodworking project while staying within budget constraints.
Carefully plan measurements and design to avoid wasteful off-cuts. Use the most economical plywood grade that still meets your performance needs. Understanding factors that influence plywood pricing will ensure you get the best value for your dollar.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!