Where to Buy Lumber Near Me

Where are the best places to buy hardwood lumber near me? If you’ve ever tried hunting down the perfect board for a project, you know that not all lumber is created equal—and not all stores carry what you need. Whether you're building a dining table or turning a custom pen, finding the right wood is half the battle. But don’t worry — we’re here to help you source quality wood like a pro.

Rockler has increased the variety and quantity of hardwood that is stocked online and at Rockler retail stores including domestic lumber, exotic lumber, wood veneer, turning blanks and more. In this guide, we’ll give you a tour of a Rockler retail store lumber department, show you the lumber you can order online, and share some alternative lumber source options.

S2S and S3S Lumber

The difference between S2S and S3S lumber refers to how many surfaces of the board have been milled (surfaced smooth) at the lumberyard or mill.

S2S (Surfaced Two Sides) - Only the top and bottom faces of the board are planed smooth. The edges (the narrow sides) are left rough. S2S lumber is good if you want to joint or rip the edges yourself for a custom width or want more control over final dimensions.

S3S (Surfaced Three Sides) - The top and bottom faces, plus one edge of the board, are planed smooth. One edge is straight and usable, while the opposite edge is still rough. S3S lumber saves time if you need a clean reference edge for ripping or joining and is popular for semi-finished projects of those without a jointer.

You’ll find a wide variety of domestic and exotic hardwood species at all Rockler retail locations. Domestic lumber is typically milled S3S (surfaced three sides). Exotic lumber is typically milled S2S (surfaced two sides). All boards are available in a variety of widths and lengths. If you need shorter boards for transport, most locations also offer cut-to-length board cutting service.

Rockler retail locations also offer a large supply of shorter boards and thin thicknesses in multiple domestic and exotic species - perfect for small projects. Most of these smaller stock pieces are also available to order online

Rockler also stocks a variety of one-of-a-kind live-edge slabs in both the retail locations and online. Slabs that are available for shipping are photographed on a measured grid to give you an accurate idea of their size and shape. Every piece is unique in size and shape, so if you see something you like, it’s best to grab it or you’ll risk loosing it to another lucky woodworker.

Other Sources for Hardwood Lumber

Local Specialty Lumberyards
Specialty lumberyards typically stock domestic hardwood and softwood lumber that is suited for building furniture and cabinets. These are the supplies that contractors often use to supply the larger quantities they need for commercial projects. Many also carry a selection of exotic woods, one-of-a-kind figured and slab lumber. These yards can be a little intimidating initially because they sometimes don't feature the same fixtures and directions that you'll find at a retail store, but they are the are usually open to the general public and can be a great resource for hardwood lumber.

Home Centers
Many new woodworker's first attempt to shop for hardwood is at a home center or “big box” store. Home centers are a great source for construction-grade lumber for building decks or framing a building, but there are better options for finding the best hardwood lumber.

Classified Ads
Ads on Craigslist, Marketplace and other similar listing sources can put you in touch with local sawyers who cut, dry and sell lumber on a smaller scale. Want ads are also a great option for buying caches of boards stored in barns, sheds and home shops. Often, families of deceased woodworkers are willing to sell off inventories of lumber for very modest prices, particularly to buyers who will put a loved one’s precious boards to good use.

Backyard Lumber
Finding lumber in your backyard might seem implausible, but there’s no reason your storm-downed maple or overgrown oak tree couldn’t become excellent lumber if you can process the log. Here again, classified ads can help. Find an enterprising sawyer with a portable band saw mill who can come and slice the log into green lumber. You’ll need to air-dry the material for at least a year, or have it kiln-dried, but the sawyer may have suggestions for who could take care of that part of the process, too.