Looking for #2 prime lumber? Browse live listings from suppliers across the US.
Browse ListingsAbout #2 Prime Lumber
#2 Prime is No.2 dimension lumber, usually Southern Yellow Pine, that the mill sorts to tighter appearance limits than plain No.2, chiefly less wane and fewer large knots. The stamp still shows the No.2 grade, and design values are those of No.2.
Compared with #2 Standard, the difference is edges and faces: a Prime board is more likely to have full corners and hold a nail near its edge without breaking out. Compared with #1 Premium, knots are larger and more frequent.
For pallet and crate builders, Prime is a common choice for stringers and crate framing where full edges improve nailing and fit, without paying for a higher structural grade the design does not need.
What to Look For When Buying
- A No.2 stamp with full edges and little visible wane
- Knots within No.2 limits and none at the nailing edge
- Straightness along the full length
- Moisture mark (KD or S-DRY) matching your spec
Ideal For
- Pallet stringers and crate framing
- Nailed joints close to board edges
- Heavy-duty pallets built from SYP
- Skids and runners for machinery
Buying Tips
- Confirm the load is a mill Prime sort, not plain No.2
- Check the corners of a sample board for wane
- Specify SYP when the design depends on its density
What buyers pay
$4.80estimate per unit
Estimate: fewer than 5 listings of this grade, so this figure is modeled from the producer price index, not read from listings. Lumber prices by grade and state