Pricing Millwork

[Frickman]

A question for anyone who can help me. How do you determine pricing for millwork, especially custom millwork? I've been in the green end of the industry for a long time, logging and sawing, so I have a good handle on lumber prices. I have some woodworking equipment around, and was wondering how to charge for some millwork. Do you charge by the hour, by the foot, or a combination of both? This is for the value-added part of the price, not the raw lumber you start with.

[brdmkr]

I have not started yet, but I have a woodmaster.  It is my plan to offer molding at about 80% of the box store price for similar grade.  I don't know how I will price stain grade hardwood molding as the box stores around here don't seem to carry the high end stuff.   I figure if I price it right, I should be able to move it and turn a good profit if I cut the lumber myself.  Of course, I have to get the shop built first!  Let us know how it works out for you.

[ellmoe]

   How much money does your customer have? :D I know people who charge by the lineal foot and by the hour. I usually charge by the board foot and on small runs I add a set-up charge($50). If you are running a small quantity of poorly cut wood and maybe having to run it twice with constant adjustments between boards you should get a much higher price than if your are processing a large volume of well sawned lumber, running at "warp speed". My normal charge for 1-3mbf bd ft of decent wood is about $300/mbf. For a very hard wood (dulls knives quickly) and/or thick and thin lumber , maybe $350/mbf. If you're selling your own wood look at what the competion gets and that will give you a good starting reference.

Good luck,

Mark

[getoverit]

I looked into having some Hickory milled at a local mill. I have 4/4 boards that are 6" wide and I wanted them milled into 2 1/2" tongue and groove flooring. The price I got was 350/mbf, which is pretty much in line with what ellmoe says.

[twoodward15]

If you are supplying the wood and cutting the molding I'd call it about 75 cents for clear stain grade pine (per lineal foot), maybe $1.25 for oak and higher for different woods.

[Frickman]

Thanks for all the help.