How Much Does Teak Wood Cost? 2026 Board Foot Prices

Teak lumber listings we checked on October 7, 2026 ran from $15 to about $42 per board foot, and most plantation teak landed between $18 and $30. The same species varies nearly threefold because length, width, quantity and grade set the price, not just the name on the label.

Older guides quote “$20 to $100+” with no retailer attached. This page replaces that with prices from named suppliers, shows what a real project costs in board feet, and covers the sourcing and sustainability questions that come with buying teak. For the general board-foot method and a multi-species chart, see our guides on how to calculate wood price and what wood costs per board foot; this page stays on teak.

Teak Lumber Prices Per Board Foot (Checked October 7, 2026)

The table below lists supplier pages we opened on October 7, 2026. Prices are for kiln-dried or air-dried plantation teak sold as rough or lightly surfaced boards, before shipping. They change, so treat them as a snapshot and confirm on the supplier page before you order.

Two more figures turned up in search-result listings that we could not open (the pages blocked our request): Woodworkers Source at about $69.99 per board foot for 4/4 teak, and Buck Woodcraft at about $35 per board foot for rough-sawn 4/4. Those are reported here per search results, not confirmed on the retailer pages, and the $69.99 figure may reflect a different grade or a small-quantity pack.

We also left out old-growth Burmese pricing. We found no US supplier page with a verifiable price, and Wood Vendors states that Burmese teak graded FEQ is not currently being imported into the USA. If you see a “$100+” Burmese figure elsewhere, ask for the listing it came from.

Why the Same Teak Spans $15 to $42

Read the table sideways and the pattern is clear. Four things move the price more than the species does:

• Board length and width. Wood Vendors charges $37.25 for 3-5.5 ft boards and $40.00 for 6 ft and longer at the same quantity, and more again for wide boards. Short, narrow stock is the cheapest way into teak if your project is small.
• Quantity breaks. Bell Forest drops 4/4 teak from $25.00 to $18.75 per board foot between its smallest and 100+ board-foot tiers, a 25 percent cut. A group order with a friend can save real money.
• Defects allowed. The lowest listing ($15.00) says outright that boards may have knots or small defects, and the Mexico sawmill listing warns of sapwood, checks and twist. A lower price often buys more cutting waste.
• Seller type. Specialty hardwood dealers that sort and ship long clear boards price well above sawmill-direct random lots.

Myth check: thick teak is not much more expensive per board foot. A common claim is that thicker boards cost far more per board foot. At Bell Forest, 8/4 teak is $27.00 against $25.00 for 4/4 in the smallest tier, only 8 percent more, and the gap is the same 8 percent in the 100-499 tier ($20.25 against $18.75). If you need thick stock for legs or a chunky top, the premium is smaller than the headline suggests, though it does buy twice the thickness to mill.

What Teak Projects Cost in Board Feet

A board foot is 144 cubic inches: thickness in inches times width in inches times length in inches, divided by 144. For 4/4 boards (roughly 1 inch thick rough), board feet equal square feet of surface, so a 3 by 6 ft table top is 18 board feet before waste. Our board foot guide covers the formula in more depth.

The estimates below assume 25 percent extra for cutting waste and defects, which is a planning assumption rather than a measured figure; the right number depends on how clear your boards are. The three price points are illustrative picks from the range we saw: $15 (lowest listing), $25 (typical specialty retail) and $40 (long boards at a specialty dealer).

Quantity tiers can beat the flat rate. At Bell Forest, the table top’s 22.5 board feet falls in the 10-99 tier at $22.50, which works out to about $506 before shipping. Shipping matters because teak is heavy: Wood Vendors puts kiln-dried teak at roughly 4.5 to 5.0 pounds per board foot, so 22.5 board feet weighs around 100 to 113 pounds.

One more detail changes the math. Rough 4/4 is sold as nominal 1-inch stock and planing reduces it, which Exotic Wood Zone notes on its listing. If you need a true 1-inch finished top, buy 5/4. Teh Woods lists 4/4 to 5/4 together at one price, so you can ask for the thicker boards.

Hidden Costs of Working Teak

The Wood Database lists teak at 1,070 lbf Janka hardness and about 655 kg per cubic meter, so it is moderately hard and easy to work in most respects. Two traits add cost, though:

• Silica dulls tools. The Wood Database reports silica content up to 1.4 percent, which causes pronounced tool dulling. Budget for extra sharpening or carbide blades.
• Oils fight glue and finish. The same source notes the natural oils make gluing difficult and suggests wiping the surface with solvent before gluing or finishing. Plan your joinery and finish steps accordingly.

If you buy for outdoor use, the payoff is decay resistance: the Wood Database rates the heartwood as very durable and calls teak the gold standard for decay resistance. Our guide on whether teak is water resistant explains how that holds up in practice, and can you paint teak covers what to do if you want a different look. If you are comparing species before you spend, see teak vs. mahogany.

Plantation Teak, CITES and Sustainability

Every supplier above sells plantation-grown teak. Listings name Costa Rica (Diamond Tropical Hardwoods), Mexico (Teh Woods) and Thailand (Wood Vendors), and Exotic Wood Zone describes its stock as grown in managed plantations across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

On the legal side, the Wood Database states that teak (Tectona grandis) is not listed in the CITES appendices or on the IUCN Red List. It does flag a different issue: Myanmar teak imports face sanctions since the military takeover, which ties some sales to human-rights concerns. Whether a given import is legal for you is a question for your supplier and local rules; ask for origin documentation if the seller will not say where the boards came from.

For an independent check, look for FSC chain-of-custody certification, which the Forest Stewardship Council administers, and ask the supplier for the certificate number. For wider context on tropical hardwood sourcing, see is ebony wood sustainable.

How to Buy Teak Without Overpaying

• Price by board foot, then add shipping. A low per-foot price with heavy freight can lose to a higher listed price with included delivery.
• Ask about the defect policy and the heartwood share. Sapwood is paler and less durable, and a board that is mostly sapwood is poor value outdoors.
• Match length to the project. Short boards cost less per board foot, so buy 3 ft stock for small pieces rather than 8 ft boards you will cut up.
• Verify it is teak. Our guide on how to tell if wood is teak covers the visual and smell checks.
• Check moisture on arrival. Kiln-dried boards should be stable before you mill them; see the pick near the top of this page.
• Know where to look. See where to find teak wood easily for local and online sources.

Frequently Asked Questions About Teak Wood Cost

How much does teak wood cost per board foot?

Listings we checked on October 7, 2026 ran from $15 to about $42 per board foot for plantation teak, with most between $18 and $30. Price depends on board length, width, quantity and how many defects the seller allows.

Why is teak wood so expensive?

The Wood Database describes teak as very expensive and rates its heartwood as the gold standard for decay resistance, which keeps demand high for boats, decking and outdoor furniture. Dealer markups for long, clear boards add to the price.

Can you buy teak for less than $20 per board foot?

Yes. Exotic Wood Zone listed 4/4 Select and Better plantation teak at $15.00 per board foot on October 7, 2026, but in 3-6 ft lengths and with possible knots or small defects. Bell Forest also drops to $18.75 per board foot for 100 board feet or more of 4/4.

Is teak wood endangered or restricted by CITES?

The Wood Database states that Tectona grandis is not listed in the CITES appendices or on the IUCN Red List. It notes that Myanmar teak imports face sanctions, so ask your supplier for origin documentation.

How many board feet are in a teak table top?

Multiply thickness, width and length in inches and divide by 144. A 36 by 72 inch top cut from 4/4 stock is about 18 board feet, or about 22.5 board feet if you add 25 percent for waste.