Most lumber in the country is sold under a grading system developed by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA). The primary focus of the grading system is to establish the area of clear face cutting in each board.

The best grade is FAS (First and Seconds) which yields the largest percent of clear wood. F1F (FAS-one face) and selects are graded for each side of the board, with one side FAS quality and the other No.1 Comon. Lower grades are No.2A & No.2B Common, which yield half clear wood; No.3A Common which yields one third clear wood and No.3B Common, which yields one quarter clear wood.

The NHLA also set the rules for measurement and tally. Most lumber is sold by the board foot, which is system of volume measurement based on a piece of wood that is 1’ wide, 1’ long and 1" thick. However, some specialty items and milled stock are sold per linear foot, a system that doesn’t figure in the width and thickness. Hardwood thicknesses are expressed in quarters rather than inches. For example 1" thick lumber is called 4/4, 1 ½" is called 6/4 and 2" thick stock is 8/4.