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Where to Buy Hardwood Lumber In California

Updated: December 11, 2022
Finding hardwood at a reasonable price is hard. Box stores charge a high markup, and local sources take a lot of research. Use this guide to help find quality hardwood lumber near you.
Hardwood Lumber in California Best Lumber Stores
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Where to Buy Hardwood Lumber In California

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  › WOODCRAFT domestic and exotics (local, online)

  › ROCKLER domestic and exotics (local, online)

  › FOREST 2 HOME for domestics up to 72″ (Amazon)

Finding hardwood lumber in California is easier than in most states. And while that would be expected for shipped in exotic wood, domestic hardwoods are equally easy to access and there are dozens of major suppliers within a few hours drive of most woodworkers.

With that, this directory has eleven lumber stores that offer a good selection of hardwood from domestic to exotics and live edge slab. 

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1. Valencia Lumber and Panel

There aren’t too many lumber stores that impress woodworkers. But, Valencia Lumber and Panel is one of them. With by FAR the best product catalog I’ve seen in my woodworking journeys, their supply is vast and full of high quality hardwoods. And more.

Price List: No

Online Shopping: No

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

2. San Marcos Hardwoods Lumber Co

San Marcos is a southern California supplier of just about every hardwood, softwood and exotic you’ll need for your projects. And as a twist for a larger supplier, they also offer locally sourced kiln dried lumber.

Price List: No

Online Shopping: No

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

3. Aura Hardwoods

As a chain of six stores in Modesto, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Fresno and Rancho Cordova Aura Hardwoods stock a great supply of hardwoods. And, they feature a unique line of weathered woods they call “Trestlewood”.

Price List: No

Online Shopping: No

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

4. Bohnhoff Lumber Co

The top five hardwood dealers in California could all easily be the #1 dealer in your area. Which is the case with Bohnhoff who offers up a full selection of hardwood, milling services, choose your own boards and delivery in Southern California.

Price List: No

Online Shopping: No

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

5. Global Wood Source

Overview

From standard hardwoods to Luthier materials and a variety of other unique woodworking supplies Global Wood Source is a unique wood supplier located in the southern suburbs of San Jose. 

Price List: No

Online Shopping: Yes

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

6. House of Hardwood

Another Los Angeles supplier, House of Hardwood has a full line of hardwoods and all the supplies you’ll need. And, they have custom cutting, edge banding and even an online store for instant pricing of tabletops and other custom pieces.

Price List: No

Online Shopping: Yes

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

7. Frost Hardwoods

If you’re looking for a classic choose-your-own board supplier with racks and racks of vertically sorted hardwood then Frost Hardwoods is your kind of store. And, if you’re in need of hardwood plywood or milling services they have that on hand too.

Price List: No

Online Shopping: No

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

8. MacBeath Hardwood

With an Indiana milling and kiln facility and two retail warehouses in California (Berkeley and Stockton) MacBeath has a solid collection of domestic and exotic hardwoods. Plus, if you’re looking to build or buy wood countertops they have either the lumber of ability to custom fabricate your counter. 

Price List: No

Online Shopping: No

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

9. Tropical Exotic Hardwoods

Every hardwood list deserves a specialist in exotic woods, and in California one of the top suppliers is Tropical Exotic Hardwoods. And, they feature an online store that is INCREDIBLE with a deep inventory, exotic cutoffs, and other supplies.

Price List: Yes

Online Shopping: Yes

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

10. Austin Hardwoods & Hardware

Austin Hardwoods & Hardware that has a complete line of hardwood, exotics, and hardware to complete your project.

Price List: No

Online Shopping: Yes

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

11. Commercial Forest Products

While Commercial Forest Products specializes in commercial sourcing and distribution you can check out their EBay store and a few other online sources for tough to find hardwoods and exotics.

Price List: No

Online Shopping: Yes

Wood Selection

Services & Supplies

Resources

From San Diego to San Francisco and north there are a string of top notch hardwood suppliers in California. And, as a bonus, a few of them on this list feature online stores that are well ahead of the market. 

And while this directory features some of the most complete suppliers, there are dozens more to be found near you.

California Woodworking Clubs

Wood Buying References

Hardwood Lumber in California Border States

  • About the Author
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( Woodworker )

Eric has been a professional woodworker for over thirty years and has worked in small cabinet shops making everything from kitchen cabinets to hand-made furniture. Now working from a home woodworking shop Eric is sharing his passion for woodworking, tool advice and how-to knowledge from his Minnesota-based woodshop.

6 thoughts on “Where to Buy Hardwood Lumber In California”

  1. Hi Eric – We have a niche exotic hardwood lumber company serving musical instrument and millwork manufactures in Fontana, CA and would love to be included on your list, if you think we’re a fit.

    Commercial Forest Products
    11251 Buena Vista Drive
    Fontana, CA 92337
    909-256-4583

    Thanks for your consideration!

  2. Thank you for this list! Very helpful. You might want to note that there’s a Macbeath Hardwood store in Stockton, CA, as well.

  3. Stephen – okay, first of all, I travel a lot in California and searching through Yelp or Google for hardwood lumber sources is tough. Your list is a godsend! Some thoughts for you to add:

    Conejo Hardwoods in Westlake Village is solid. They come up as a flooring store, so will often be missed but great selection of hard to find woods like Teak as well as many others.

    My go to store in SoCal: Hudson and West, in Torrance. The best I have found in all of California for variety, quality, price and other woodworking products. Besides an exceptional variety and pricing on hardwood species, they have a great selection of high quality furniture quality plywood.

  4. Almquist Lumber Company in Arcata (Humboldt County) is the source for a large selection of hardwoods and exotics, slabs and repurposed lumber. Very helpful staff. The only source on the North Coast.

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