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A lumber grade stamp identifies how a board was classified when it was graded: it can show the inspection agency, mill, grade, species or species group, and seasoning condition. It does not tell you the board’s current moisture or prove that it is suitable for every structural use. Read the stamp alongside the board’s dimensions, intended use, and present condition—not as a substitute for them.
How to read a lumber grade stamp
Look for the fields below, but do not expect them in a fixed order. Marks and layouts vary by grading agency and product. The Western Wood Products Association’s overview and the Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau’s stamp guide describe common stamp elements.
- Agency or certification mark: Identifies the grading or inspection agency whose supervision the stamp represents. If a mark or abbreviation is unfamiliar, the agency named on it is the place to ask for an interpretation.
- Mill identification: A mill name, brand, or assigned number identifies the manufacturer.
- Grade designation: A grade name, number, or abbreviation records the classification assigned under the applicable rules. It is not a universal strength rating by itself.
- Species or species group: The stamp may name a species or use a group abbreviation. A group such as SPF denotes a species combination, not one exact tree species. Grouped species should not be assumed to have identical properties for every design purpose. The American Wood Council recommends asking the inspection agency when species notation is unclear.
- Seasoning or moisture condition: Indicates the lumber’s classification when it was surfaced or manufactured. It is not a reading of the board’s moisture today.
Canadian dimension-lumber stamps may also identify the grading authority and, where applicable, the grading rule, as described by the Canadian Wood Council. Ontario guidance describes Canadian stamps that can include phytosanitary-treatment information; that detail is jurisdiction-specific, not a feature to expect on every stamp (Ontario government guidance).
What common seasoning and treatment marks mean
PLIB publishes these meanings and thresholds for common marks. The percentages describe the classification at surfacing, not the moisture content you will necessarily measure after transport or storage.
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| Mark | Meaning |
|---|---|
| S-DRY / KD | Surfaced at a maximum moisture content of 19%, according to PLIB. |
| MC15 / KD15 | Surfaced at a maximum moisture content of 15%, according to PLIB. |
| S-GRN | Surfaced green, or unseasoned; WWPA describes this category as over 19% moisture (WWPA). |
| HT | Heat treated, according to PLIB. It may appear with a seasoning code or alone. It is not itself a seasoning designation and does not establish that the wood received chemical preservative treatment. |
If your question is whether a board is chemically treated, do not infer the answer from HT alone. Use product documentation or ask the supplier what treatment, if any, was applied.
Why grade and species matter more than price alone
A shelf price does not tell you a board’s species, grade, or grading program. Those details matter when comparing lumber because species can affect structural properties, and the same grade number does not automatically mean the same capacity across species. The Structural Building Components Association’s U.S. stamp explainer gives the example of Douglas Fir–Larch and Eastern Hemlock joists: the same size and grade need not have the same capacity.
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For a meaningful comparison, check the species or group, grade, dimensional product, intended use, seasoning classification, grading agency or rule, and the board’s present physical condition. Structural decisions require the applicable design values and code context; a stamp alone is not a load calculation or approval for a particular application.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What a stamp cannot tell you
The stamp records a classification made at the mill. It cannot show whether the piece later became cracked, decayed, damaged, or wet in storage. The USDA Forest Service’s Wood Condition Assessment Manual explains that grade can help determine design values when a member remains undamaged and undecayed; when it does not, further judgment is needed.
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Building rules are also context-specific. For example, ICC 400’s log-structure standard lists agency, manufacturer, species, grade, and moisture at grading as grade-mark or certificate information, and sets a specific rule for design calculations when moisture is absent. That provision should not be generalized to every building type or jurisdiction.
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How to check an unfamiliar stamp—or the board’s moisture now
- Photograph the complete mark clearly, including any logo and surrounding text, then contact the inspection agency shown. The AWC specifically directs species and species-combination questions to the inspection agency.
- If the mark is from a Canadian grading program, consult the relevant grading authority and rule. The NLGA publications page lists supplements to its 2025 Standard Grading Rules effective May 1, 2026, including revisions to moisture-content definitions and other clarifications. This is a Canadian reference update, not a blanket change to all North American grading systems.
- If you need the board’s moisture content today, use an appropriate wood moisture meter. A meter measures current moisture; it does not read a grade stamp, identify species, or certify grade.
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