Dunnage Pricing Guide 2026 - Standard, Heavy, Laminated, Export

Dunnage pricing by grade and cross-section

Dunnage pricing is per linear foot (LF) delivered, with grade-specific premiums. Standard softwood dunnage (2x4, 2x6, 4x4, 4x6) ships at the lowest cost per LF. Heavy timber (6x6, 8x8, 10x10) runs 3-6x standard. Laminated dunnage runs 2-4x heavy timber for the same cross-section.

For a standard 2x4 kiln-dried Southern yellow pine or Douglas fir dunnage delivered in volume (10,000+ linear feet per month standing program), the typical price is $0.65 to $1.10 per LF. For 4x4 at $1.80 to $2.80. For 6x6 heavy timber at $3.60 to $6.20. For 8x8 at $6.50 to $11.00. For 10x10 at $11.00 to $18.00. For laminated blocks ($4x4-$6x6 cross-section) at $7.25 to $12.50 per LF.

ISPM-15 heat-treatment and IPPC stamping adds $0.20 to $0.60 per LF depending on batch size. For export shipments through Jaxport, Port Miami, Port Everglades, Port Tampa, this is required.

What drives dunnage pricing

Cross-section

The dominant cost driver. A 6x6 dunnage piece uses 9x the lumber volume of a 2x4 of the same length. Larger cross-sections also use heavier species (Douglas fir, not SPF) which adds species premium.

Species

Southern yellow pine is standard Southeast (lowest cost). Douglas fir is heavy-timber standard (15-25% premium over SYP). Hemlock and spruce-pine-fir mix is Western / Pacific Northwest standard. Laminated dunnage uses engineered-wood (cross-banded ply-and-glue) which carries a 100-250% premium over equivalent solid timber.

Grade

Dunnage is #2 Common or better - sound, straight, no major knots that would compromise load bearing. #1 Common or Select grades run 15-30% premium but are rarely specified unless the shipper requires appearance-grade.

Volume

Standing weekly programs (10,000+ LF per month) beat spot pricing by 10-20%. Dedicated yard inventory and lane-matched freight optimization further compresses cost on repeat lanes.

ISPM-15

Heat-treatment and IPPC stamping adds $0.20-$0.60 per LF. For international ocean container, breakbulk, and heavy-lift shipping this is required.

How we quote dunnage

Send us: application (truckload bracing, steel coil, appliance between-layer, rail OTL, container stuffing), cross-section needed, species preference, weekly volume (or one-time), ship-to state, and whether ISPM-15 stamping is needed. Standard reply same business day; same-day Florida for in-stock cross-sections.

For standing programs we quote a monthly rate with dedicated yard inventory and scheduled replenishment. For emergency/production-line-shortage dispatch we move same-day from the regional yard.

Price reference ranges (US industry benchmarks, 2026-10-07)

Frequently asked questions

How much does 2x4 dunnage cost per linear foot in 2026?

Standard kiln-dried 2x4 Southern yellow pine or SPF dunnage delivered in volume (standing program, 10,000+ LF/month) runs $0.65 to $1.10 per LF. Spot-order small-lot runs higher per LF. Pricing anchors to CME softwood lumber front-month contract.

What is heavy timber dunnage used for?

Steel coil shipment (6x6 Douglas fir bunks), transformer and generator base support, heavy project cargo, AAR OTL rail freight. The 6x6-and-up cross-section carries 20,000+ lb point loads safely; 2x4 and 4x4 cannot.

Is laminated dunnage worth the premium over heavy timber?

For high-value, moisture-exposed, or long-duration shipments (ocean container, 30-day rail car, Florida humid storage): yes. Laminated dunnage does not warp or split under moisture cycling, carries 20-40% more load per cross-section, and lasts through multiple shipments if returned. For one-way domestic truckload at low moisture, solid timber is more economical.

How does CME lumber futures affect dunnage pricing?

Standard softwood dunnage follows CME softwood lumber front-month contract closely. A 15% CME move translates to 7-10% dunnage pricing within 2-4 weeks. Heavy timber (Douglas fir) is less sensitive to CME softwood futures and more sensitive to West Coast fir supply.

What is the typical lead time for dunnage delivery?

Standard sizes from Florida yards: same-day in 19 same-day counties for orders by 2 PM EST. Heavy timber (6x6+): 1-3 day Central Florida yard. Laminated: 3-7 day on order. For emergency production-line shortages we expedite from the regional yard.

Do you supply ISPM-15 stamped dunnage for Jaxport export?

Yes - APHIS-registered facility stamps IPPC on at least two faces per piece. Standard batch 1-2 business day lead time. For Jaxport breakbulk and ro-ro project cargo we supply bilingual documentation on request.

Can I return dunnage in a standing program?

Standard softwood dunnage is typically one-way (cost of recovery exceeds material value). Heavy timber and laminated dunnage are often reused in closed-loop OEM-to-customer programs. For high-value laminated dunnage we quote return-and-reuse program economics.

What is AAR OTL and does my shipment need it?

AAR Open Top Loading Rules apply to any open-top rail freight (flatcars, gondolas, specialty open-top). For published load classes (steel coils, lumber bundles, pipe, heavy machinery) OTL dunnage spec is pre-published. For custom cargo the shipper submits engineered-drawing bracing to the railroad engineer. We supply dunnage to OTL spec on request.

What is the minimum order for dunnage?

For spot orders, our commercial-buyer minimum is 500 linear feet. For standing weekly programs the minimum is 10,000 LF per month. Programs get better pricing per LF.

Do you quote by linear foot or by piece?

By linear foot in random lengths (8-20 feet standard). We can also quote cut-to-length (specific length pieces) for 10,000+ LF orders - cut-to-length adds roughly $0.10-$0.25 per LF for the cutting labor.

Updated 2026-10-07