Looking for #3 utility lumber? Browse live listings from suppliers across the US.
Browse ListingsAbout #3 Utility Lumber
#3 Utility covers the bottom of the stamped dimension range: No.3, a structural grade, and Utility, a light-framing grade. Both allow larger knots, knotholes, more wane and longer splits than No.2, within limits set by the agency rules.
The drop from No.2 is real. No.3 carries much lower design values, and Utility is not assigned values for most structural uses. Boards will vary in straightness and may have knotholes through the face.
In packaging, this grade suits parts where soundness matters more than strength per board: blocking, bracing, dunnage, light one-way pallets and crate cleats. Avoid it for stringers or crate members carrying a designed load.
What to Look For When Buying
- A No.3 or Utility stamp; confirm which one the load is
- Knotholes and splits that cross the full board width
- Wane where fasteners need to go
- Warp that would stop the board seating in a jig
Ideal For
- Blocking and bracing in trailers and containers
- Dunnage under loads
- Light one-way pallets
- Crate cleats and spacers
Not Recommended For
- Stringers on reusable pallets
- Crate skids carrying designed loads
Buying Tips
- Ask whether the load is No.3, Utility or mixed
- Keep it out of load-rated stringers and crate skids
- Cut around the worst defects for short blocking pieces
What buyers pay
$2.82estimate 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