Travis Perkins timber prices depend on species, dimensions, grade, treatment, and whether a quoted UK price includes VAT. As a practical comparison, common softwood boards convert to roughly $2-$18 per piece, while structural or treated timber can cost more; U.S. buyers should also account for the fact that Travis Perkins is a UK merchant and international delivery may be unavailable or uneconomical.
The figures below are indicative converted price ranges, not live store quotes. They use an approximate exchange rate of £1 = $1.27 and describe typical UK retail timber pricing before any U.S. import, freight, or local tax charges.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softwood board, about 25 x 50 mm | $2 | $5 | $10 | Per piece; length and finish affect price |
| Softwood stud, about 38 x 89 mm | $4 | $8 | $16 | Per piece; structural grade costs more |
| Pressure-treated softwood | $5 | $12 | $25 | Per piece; size and treatment class matter |
| Planed hardwood board | $15 | $40 | $100+ | Per piece; species, width, and length drive the range |
| UK delivery charge | $25 | $60 | $150+ | Domestic estimate; load size and location affect fees |
Typical Travis Perkins timber prices by board size
For ordinary construction work, UK softwood is generally the lowest-priced category. A short, rough-sawn board may convert to about $2-$6, while a longer or wider piece often falls around $7-$18. Planed timber, which has smoother faces and more consistent dimensions, commonly adds roughly 15%-40% over comparable rough-sawn stock.
Structural softwood is priced by size, length, and grading. A piece around 38 x 89 mm (roughly 1.5 x 3.5 inches) may cost $4-$16, while larger sections around 47 x 150 mm (about 1.9 x 5.9 inches) can land around $10-$35. These are per-piece comparisons, not per-board-foot prices; UK merchants typically list nominal millimeter dimensions and standard lengths.
For a small project using standard softwood, a useful starting budget is $5-$15 per board before delivery. Hardwood, treated stock, long lengths, and high structural grades can exceed that range substantially.
Assumptions: approximate exchange rate of £1 = $1.27, common UK retail lengths, and no international freight.
What a timber quote includes beyond the boards
A timber quote can include material, cutting, delivery, and VAT, but those items may appear separately. UK prices displayed online or in store may be shown with VAT, while trade accounts or some listings may show a pre-VAT amount. Buyers comparing converted prices should check the tax basis before treating one figure as a final total.
| Quote component | Typical converted range | Pricing basis | What changes it | Check before ordering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softwood material | $2-$35 | Per piece | Dimension, length, grade | Actual finished size |
| Pressure treatment | $1-$8 extra | Per piece | Section size and treatment | Use class and intended exposure |
| Cutting service | $1-$5 | Per cut, where offered | Number and complexity of cuts | Whether cuts are available locally |
| UK delivery | $25-$150+ | Per order | Distance, load, access | Minimum order and unloading rules |
| VAT | Often 20% | On taxable sale | Product and quoted price format | Whether displayed amount includes tax |
Delivery can outweigh the cost of a few low-priced boards. A bulky order may require a vehicle with suitable unloading access, and a restricted street, narrow driveway, or long carry can trigger extra handling or make delivery impractical. Retail terms and charges vary by branch and order, so the final checkout or written quote is more reliable than a general estimate.
Compare the delivered, tax-inclusive total rather than multiplying the shelf price alone.
How timber species, grade, and treatment change the price
Softwood, commonly spruce, pine, or fir, is the usual budget choice for framing, general repairs, and utility projects. Structural grades cost more than ungraded or appearance-grade stock because the timber is selected and marked for load-bearing use. For a small section, the difference may be only a few dollars per piece; across a full roof or floor order, the premium can materially affect the total.
Pressure-treated timber typically costs about 15%-50% more than untreated stock of similar dimensions. The treatment is intended for specific exposure conditions, so the relevant question is not simply whether a board is treated, but whether its use class is suitable for ground contact or above-ground outdoor exposure. Treatment can also change handling requirements and may affect cutting or finishing plans.
Hardwood pricing varies especially widely. Oak, ash, and other hardwoods sold planed for joinery or furniture can cost roughly $15-$100 or more per piece, depending on board width and length. Imported species, clearer appearance grades, and thicker stock push prices higher. Hardwood is a poor direct comparison to ordinary framing softwood because appearance, machining, and species value are different.
Specify the use, grade, and treatment class before comparing prices; matching dimensions alone does not make two boards equivalent. A structural member, garden sleeper, and finished trim board require different specifications even when their cross-sections look similar.
Length, section size, and order quantity shift the total
Length is a major price driver because longer timber uses more material and can require specialized handling. A board around 2.4 m (8 ft) may fit a small repair budget, whereas a 4.8 m (16 ft) length can cost roughly 1.5-2.5 times as much, depending on section and availability. The increase is not always proportional because merchants may stock standard lengths at different price points.
Cross-section also matters: doubling the width or depth does not necessarily double the retail price, but it significantly increases volume and can move the item into a less commonly stocked category. For example, 47 x 100 mm stock may be readily available, while a 100 x 100 mm post may have fewer options and a higher unit price. Ask whether listed dimensions are nominal or finished, especially for planed products.
Quantity can lower the effective per-piece cost when a merchant offers trade pricing or volume discounts, but there is no guarantee that a larger order receives a discount. Ordering a full pack may also create waste if a project needs only a few pieces. A cut list that minimizes offcuts is often more valuable than a discount on excess stock.
Measure the finished requirement and compare the price per meter as well as the price per board. A $12 board that supplies 4.8 m is not directly comparable with a $7 board that supplies 2.4 m.
UK VAT and delivery make the U.S. comparison less direct
Travis Perkins operates in the United Kingdom, so its prices are not automatically U.S. delivered prices. A converted shelf figure leaves out possible international shipping, customs handling, import duties, and U.S. taxes. Timber is bulky relative to its value, which makes cross-border freight especially difficult to justify for common construction lumber.
Within the UK, delivery commonly ranges from about $25-$150 or more after currency conversion, depending on distance, order size, and access. That estimate is not an international freight quote. For a U.S. buyer, the delivered cost of a single order would require a carrier quote and may greatly exceed the material total; some sellers may not offer export delivery at all.
VAT treatment also affects comparisons. A UK consumer price may include 20% VAT, while business quotes may show tax separately. A U.S. buyer should not simply subtract or add VAT without confirming how the sale is structured and whether the merchant can export the goods. The exchange rate also changes, and card issuers may add a foreign transaction fee.
Use Travis Perkins prices as a UK market benchmark, not as a landed U.S. price, unless export shipping is confirmed in writing. For routine framing stock, local U.S. lumberyard pricing is usually the relevant purchase comparison.
Three example baskets for common timber jobs
The following examples illustrate how quantities and specifications affect the converted material budget. They exclude labor, VAT differences, delivery, and international freight. Actual branch stock and checkout pricing may vary.
| Example order | Specification | Material estimate | Approximate rate | Price driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small shelving repair | 6 planed softwood boards, 2.4 m each | $36-$72 | $6-$12 per board | Planed finish and board width |
| Garden frame | 12 treated softwood lengths, 2.4 m | $90-$180 | $7.50-$15 per length | Treatment and section size |
| Structural floor work | 20 graded lengths, 4.8 m | $300-$700 | $15-$35 per length | Long lengths, grading, and size |
A small order is more vulnerable to delivery charges: a $50 material basket with a $60 delivery fee has a delivered cost of $110 before tax considerations. In contrast, a larger order spreads the delivery charge across more pieces, though it can increase the risk of surplus material and storage needs.
Build the estimate from a measured cut list, then add delivery and tax as separate lines. For structural work, the specified grade should be confirmed before selecting the lowest quote.
When U.S. lumber is a better-priced substitute
For U.S. projects, common dimensional lumber from a local yard or home center is usually a more practical substitute than buying from a British merchant. U.S. lumber is sold in familiar nominal sizes such as 2 x 4 and 2 x 6, while UK timber uses millimeter dimensions and may not match U.S. framing conventions exactly. The actual finished dimensions also differ between markets.
Converted Travis Perkins prices can still help compare the broad cost of softwood, treated boards, or hardwood. They are less useful for estimating a U.S. framing project because local species, grading rules, moisture content, available lengths, and building-code requirements differ. A U.S. quote should match species or performance requirements, grade, treatment, and finished dimensions rather than relying on a simple currency conversion.
For non-structural projects, substitutes may include locally stocked pine boards, cedar, composite decking, or plywood, depending on the application. Cedar can cost more than treated pine but may be chosen for appearance or natural decay resistance. Composite materials have a higher initial price in many cases but do not compare directly with structural timber.
Compare equivalent specifications and local availability, not just the converted price per piece. For load-bearing work, substitution should follow the project design and applicable building requirements.
Ways to lower a timber order without sacrificing specification
Reduce waste by planning cuts before buying and grouping pieces by length. If a project needs several short components, a longer stock length may provide multiple cuts at a lower material cost, provided the saw kerf and defects are considered. Avoid buying oversized sections “just in case” when the design specifies a smaller dimension.
Choose rough-sawn timber where a smooth finish is unnecessary, and reserve planed boards for visible surfaces or close-fitting work. Compare untreated and treated stock only after confirming exposure requirements; using untreated timber outdoors to save money may lead to premature replacement. For a large quantity, ask whether a full-pack or trade quote changes the unit rate, and compare it with the cost of likely offcuts.
Check whether collection is available and economical before paying for delivery, but account for vehicle capacity and safe transport of long boards. Combining timber with other building materials in one order may reduce repeated delivery fees. For international purchases, request the complete landed-cost quote before paying; a low converted item price can be erased by freight and handling.
The safest savings come from reducing waste and avoiding unnecessary finish upgrades, not downgrading a structural grade or treatment requirement. Keep the specification fixed when comparing suppliers so that the lower quote represents the same product.