Timber & lumber
Part of the Wood & Furniture sector
Timber and lumber are sawn wood products — logs, sawn boards and dimensional stock — supplied to builders, furniture makers and joinery workshops. This hub explains the main types and how to find and compare verified timber suppliers on Digibition.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Overview
Timber and lumber cover wood that has been felled and processed into usable form, from raw logs through to sawn and planed boards cut to standard dimensions. The category divides broadly into softwoods, such as pine, spruce and fir used widely in construction and packaging, and hardwoods, such as oak, beech, walnut and ash favoured for furniture and joinery.
Products are sold rough-sawn or planed, green or kiln-dried, and in a range of grades that describe appearance and the number of knots or defects. Buyers include construction firms, furniture and cabinet makers, flooring and decking producers, pallet and crate manufacturers, and traders supplying regional markets.
On Digibition, sawmills, timber merchants and specialist wood suppliers publish verified profiles, so professional buyers can discover and compare them by species, product type and country.
What to check when sourcing
When you source timber, the fundamentals are species, moisture content, grade and legality. Moisture matters because wood moves as it dries: kiln-dried stock for interior furniture is typically brought to a low moisture content, while construction timber is drier than green sawn wood but not as dry as furniture stock. Ask for the moisture target and how it is measured.
Confirm the grade and how it is defined, the dimensions and tolerances, and whether boards are rough-sawn or planed. Discuss legality and chain-of-custody documentation — certification such as FSC or PEFC is one example buyers may ask for — alongside drying method, treatment against insects or rot, minimum order quantity, and how the wood is bundled, strapped and protected for transport.
Use the directory to shortlist suppliers by species and country, then contact several and compare their responses before you commit.
What to check when sourcing timber and lumber
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Species & grade | The exact species and a defined grade, not just "hardwood" or "pine" |
| Moisture content | A stated target (e.g. kiln-dried for furniture) and how it is measured |
| Dimensions | Sawn sizes, tolerances and whether boards are rough or planed |
| Legality | Chain-of-custody documentation; certification such as FSC or PEFC as one example |
| Treatment | Kiln drying, and any preservative or anti-insect treatment applied |
| Order & packing | Minimum order quantity, bundling, strapping and transport protection |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between timber and lumber?
- The terms overlap and vary by region. "Timber" often refers to wood in larger sections or standing trees and felled logs, while "lumber" commonly means sawn boards cut to standard sizes. In practice many suppliers use the words interchangeably for sawn and processed wood.
- What is the difference between hardwood and softwood?
- The terms describe the tree type, not literal hardness. Softwoods come from conifers such as pine, spruce and fir and are widely used in construction and packaging. Hardwoods come from broadleaved trees such as oak, beech and walnut and are often chosen for furniture and joinery.
- Why does moisture content matter?
- Wood expands and contracts as its moisture content changes, so stock used for furniture is usually kiln-dried to a low moisture content to limit movement, while construction timber is drier than freshly sawn wood but less dry than furniture stock. Ask each supplier for the moisture target and how it is measured.
- How do I find timber suppliers?
- Use the Digibition directory to filter by this specialization and by country, then open each company profile to review its products, certifications and specializations. You can message suppliers directly, or add several to a quote list and request quotes from all of them at once.
- What should I check before placing a large order?
- Confirm species, grade, dimensions and moisture target, agree drying method and any treatment, and clarify the legality and chain-of-custody documentation for your market. Where possible, request samples and agree quality and rejection terms in writing before committing to volume. This is general information, not legal or technical advice.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Important notice
This page is general industry information published by Digibition for educational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, tax, customs, regulatory, or other professional advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. Standards, certifications, duties, taxes, and regulatory requirements differ between countries and markets and change over time; nothing here is guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or current. Verify any requirement independently with a qualified adviser and the relevant competent authority before you act. Digibition is an online company directory and digital-fair platform; it is not a party to any transaction between users and does not endorse, guarantee, or accept responsibility for any third-party company, product, claim, or certification. A company being reviewed or approved for listing refers only to Digibition's internal listing review and is not a warranty of that company's quality, legality, solvency, or performance. Any mention of specific standards or certifications is illustrative and is not an endorsement or a statement of compliance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Digibition accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this page; any reliance is at your own risk.