Panel market is pricey but stable

Furniture-grade sheet goods, plywood, and architectural panels continue to perform well, with pricing and availability becoming more stable after disruptions related to tariffs, inflation, and the Russia-Ukraine war, according to suppliers interviewed by Woodshop News.

They note that the wide variety of sheet products and core options currently available offers customers flexibility for a range of projects. In some cases, buyers are opting for lower cabinet-grade panels to cut costs.

Dave Norman of Parkerville Wood Products in Manchester, Connecticut, confirms that sheet goods are in good supply.

"Everything is readily available in all the 5’ x 5’, 4’ x 8’(sizes)," he says, noting that plywood pricing has begun to stabilize despite tariff-related increases.

Norman observes strong demand on both the retail and commercial sides, particularly among higher-end customers.

“We’re seeing everything move. The market is hot right now, especially towards the higher end. The people that don’t have money don’t have money. But there's a lot of money falling off the top end of the economy, so we’re seeing a lot of commercial projects moving forward,” says Norman.

“Certain plywoods like cherry, walnut, white oak, red oak, and maple may go for over $220 a sheet for 3/4” at a retail price, with buyers purchasing one to five sheets. We’re seeing a lot of it move. We carry a lot of marine plywood. That’s moving pretty well, so the boaters are still out there.”

For hardwood plywoods, Norman says white oak, walnut, and prefinished maple are performing well, and Baltic birch remains popular for drawer boxes. Pricing for cabinet-grade sheet goods varies based on species and core construction, with veneer, MDF, and particleboard as the three top core options.

“We sell a lower grade and import a C2 or D1 grade of birch, which means it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing. We move a ton of it, and people can get away with using it for cabinet interiors.

“You could get a shop-grade maple at $70 a sheet, or a rotary maple which has a nice veneer core and a decent rotary face, maybe a B1, for around $160 a sheet. Then there’s the A1 premium, at $220 a sheet. In a kitchen worth 10 sheets, the price range for raw materials is huge with those three categories.”

Clint Dillon of Steve Wall Lumber in Mayodan, North Carolina, says most hardwood sheet goods are used for cabinetry and bookcases, while Baltic birch remains a staple for drawer boxes and laser-cutting applications.

“We do a lot of the 4’x 8’ furniture grade. Our top sellers are usually birch and maple, and a lot of white oak and walnut plywood is moving,” says Dillon. “We still move a lot of Baltic, from 1/8” to 3/4". We have a few laser companies that buy the 1/8” and 1/4" from us. Drawer makers will use 1/2" for the boxes and 1/4" for the bottoms and they’re very sturdy.”

Dillon has also seen rising demand for lower-grade birch panels for paint-grade material or projects intended for a dark stain.

“With plywood prices increasing, many are looking to save on painted projects or small bookcases by choosing shop-grade or natural birch to save a few dollars per sheet,” he says.

Originally published in the September 2026 issue of Woodshop News.