Why Teak Grading Matters
Teak (Tectona grandis) is the world's most specified hardwood for marine, outdoor, and high-performance architectural applications. Its natural oils, silica content, and dimensional stability make it uniquely resistant to water, rot, insects, and UV degradation — properties that no other commercially available species matches across all categories simultaneously.
However, not all teak is equal. A board of 20-year plantation teak from Central America and a board of 100-year old-growth Burmese teak are the same species but differ dramatically in performance characteristics. Understanding grade designations and origin differences is essential to specifying teak correctly — and avoiding overpaying or underspecifying for your application.
At J. Gibson McIlvain, we've supplied teak to boatyards, architects, and fine woodworkers since the early 1900s. This guide reflects our hands-on grading experience across millions of board feet processed through our Baltimore facility.
The Three Commercial Teak Grades
| Property | FEQ (First European Quality) | Select & Better | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Face Yield | 83%+ on best face | 66-83% on best face | 50-66% on best face |
| Sapwood Allowance | Under 10% of face | Up to 15% of face | Up to 25% of face |
| Knots | None (pin knots only, max 3mm) | Sound knots under 12mm permitted | Sound knots under 25mm permitted |
| Grain | Straight, no interlocking | Straight to slightly irregular | Irregular grain permitted |
| Splits/Checks | None exceeding board width | End checks up to 1x board width | End checks up to 2x board width |
| Minimum Board Width | 6 inches | 4 inches | 3 inches |
| Minimum Board Length | 8 feet | 6 feet | 4 feet |
| Price per BF (4/4, 2026) | $28–$45 | $20–$28 | $14–$20 |
| Typical Applications | Marine, yacht decking, fine furniture, exterior cladding | Architectural millwork, cabinetry, outdoor furniture, doors | Flooring, general construction, framing for teak structures |
| Availability | Limited — 15-20% of production yields FEQ | Moderate — 30-35% of production | Common — 45-50% of production |
FEQ: First European Quality — The Marine Standard
FEQ (First European Quality) is the highest commercial grade for teak lumber. The designation originated during the colonial teak trade when European importers established grading rules for logs shipped from Burma (now Myanmar) and the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Today, FEQ remains the global benchmark for premium teak, governed by standards adapted from the NHLA (National Hardwood Lumber Association) grading rules and traditional export specifications.
FEQ teak must deliver at least 83% clear cuttings on the better face. Boards show straight grain, minimal sapwood (under 10% of face area), no pith, no structural defects, and no knots larger than 3mm. This grade accounts for only 15-20% of total mill production, explaining its premium pricing.
"When a naval architect specifies teak for a $2 million yacht refit, they mean FEQ — nothing less. The 83% clear-face requirement exists because marine applications demand boards that won't develop checking, cupping, or oil-starved zones where water can penetrate. We grade every board by hand for marine orders."
— David McIlvain, President, J. Gibson McIlvain Company
Select & Better: The Architectural Standard
Select & Better teak delivers 66-83% clear face yield, permitting small sound knots (under 12mm), slightly irregular grain, and up to 15% sapwood. This grade represents the sweet spot for architectural millwork, custom cabinetry, exterior doors, and high-end outdoor furniture where visual consistency matters but marine-grade perfection is unnecessary.
At $20-$28 per board foot in 2026, Select & Better offers 70-80% of FEQ's visual quality at 55-70% of the price — making it the most cost-effective grade for interior and semi-exposed exterior applications.
Standard Grade: Structural and General Use
Standard grade teak permits sound knots up to 25mm, irregular grain, up to 25% sapwood, and shorter/narrower boards. At $14-$20 per board foot, it serves applications where teak's durability is needed but appearance is secondary — subflooring, structural framing for teak buildings, garden construction, and applications where surfaces will be painted or clad.
Origin Matters: How Source Affects Quality
Grade tells you about defect allowance. Origin tells you about inherent wood properties — density, oil content, color, and long-term performance. The same FEQ grade from three different origins produces materially different boards.
| Property | Plantation Teak (20-40 years) | Old-Growth Burmese Teak (80-120+ years) | Reclaimed Teak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth Rings per Inch | 3–5 rings | 8–12 rings | 8–12 rings (original growth) |
| Density (air-dried) | 36–40 lbs/ft³ | 42–48 lbs/ft³ | 40–46 lbs/ft³ |
| Natural Oil Content | 2–4% extractives | 5–8% extractives | 3–6% extractives (some loss over time) |
| Silica Content | 0.2–0.8% | 1.0–1.5% | 0.8–1.4% |
| Color | Light golden to honey | Rich golden-brown to dark amber | Deep brown with patina character |
| Dimensional Stability | Good | Exceptional | Excellent (fully seasoned) |
| Price per BF (FEQ, 4/4) | $28–$38 | Not legally available (new) | $35–$55+ |
| Legal Availability (2026) | Yes — Indonesia, Costa Rica, Panama, Africa | No — Myanmar export ban / sanctions | Yes — from demolished structures, old ships |
| FSC Certification | Available from certified plantations | Not available | FSC Recycled certification possible |
Plantation Teak: The Sustainable Standard
Today, approximately 95% of commercially available teak comes from plantations. The largest plantation sources include:
- Indonesia (Java) — Perum Perhutani government plantations, producing since the 1800s. Highest-quality plantation teak due to 40-60 year rotation cycles and favorable growing conditions. Ring counts of 4-6 per inch.
- Costa Rica and Panama — Newer plantations (established 1980s-2000s) with 20-30 year rotations. Good quality but lower density than Indonesian stock. Ring counts of 3-4 per inch.
- Africa (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Tanzania) — Varying quality. Some operations achieve 40+ year rotations with excellent results; others harvest at 15-20 years with significantly lower oil content.
- India (Kerala, Madhya Pradesh) — Limited export availability. Primarily supplies domestic market.
According to the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, plantation teak harvested at 20-25 years shows approximately 40-50% less natural oil content than old-growth timber. This directly impacts weathering resistance and dimensional stability in marine applications, though it remains adequate for most architectural and outdoor furniture uses.
The Myanmar Teak Ban: Context and Impact
Myanmar (formerly Burma) was historically the world's primary source of old-growth teak, supplying logs with 80-150+ year growth from natural forests. This supply is now effectively closed due to multiple legal barriers:
- EU Timber Regulation (2003/2013) — Banned import of Myanmar timber into the European Union due to documented illegal logging and deforestation.
- U.S. Lacey Act enforcement (2008) — Made it a federal crime to import illegally harvested timber, with Myanmar supply chains identified as high-risk by the CITES Secretariat.
- CITES Appendix II listing — Tectona grandis from Myanmar requires export permits under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which the sanctioned military government cannot legitimately issue since the February 2021 coup.
- Comprehensive sanctions (2021-present) — The U.S., EU, UK, and Canada imposed broad sanctions on Myanmar's military regime, explicitly covering timber exports as a revenue source for the junta.
The IUCN Red List classifies Tectona grandis in Myanmar as subject to ongoing illegal harvest pressure, with natural forest cover declining by an estimated 1.2% annually between 2010 and 2020. Any dealer offering "new Burmese teak" in 2026 should be viewed with extreme suspicion regarding legality and chain of custody.
"We stopped purchasing Myanmar-origin teak in 2003 when the EU regulations made clear the direction this market was heading. Today, the only legal path to old-growth teak quality is reclaimed material — from demolished colonial buildings, decommissioned ships, and old railroad infrastructure. We authenticate every reclaimed board's provenance before it enters our supply chain."
— David McIlvain, President, J. Gibson McIlvain Company
Reclaimed Teak: Old-Growth Quality, Legal Supply
Reclaimed teak offers the density, oil content, and tight grain of old-growth timber through legally sourced material salvaged from:
- Colonial-era buildings in Indonesia and Southeast Asia (warehouses, bridges, railway stations built 1880-1950)
- Decommissioned ships — teak hull planking and deck timbers from vessels built pre-1960
- Old railroad ties and infrastructure — often 80-120 year old Burmese teak
- Industrial demolition — factory flooring, water tank staves, and dock structures
Reclaimed teak commands $35-$55+ per board foot due to limited supply, labor-intensive denailing and remilling, and the inherently superior wood properties. Boards are typically available in shorter lengths (4-8 feet) and require careful inspection for embedded metal, nail holes, and structural damage from prior use.
How to Specify Teak for Your Project
A complete teak specification includes five elements. Omitting any one creates ambiguity that can result in receiving inappropriate material:
- Grade: FEQ, Select & Better, or Standard. For marine applications, always specify FEQ. For architectural millwork, Select & Better is typically sufficient.
- Origin: Specify plantation source (Indonesian, Central American, African) or reclaimed. Origin determines density, oil content, and color range.
- Dimensions: Thickness in quarters (4/4 = 1 inch nominal, 5/4 = 1.25 inch, 8/4 = 2 inch). Specify minimum width and length requirements. Note: teak wider than 10 inches or longer than 10 feet carries a 15-30% premium.
- Moisture Content: 8-12% for interior applications, 12-15% for exterior. Request kiln-dried (KD) certification.
- Certification: FSC-certified (Chain of Custody number) if required for LEED credits or sustainability mandates. McIlvain's FSC certificate is FSC-C005402.
"The most expensive mistake in teak purchasing is underspecifying. A builder who orders 'teak lumber' without specifying grade and origin may receive 15-year African plantation Standard grade when their yacht client expects FEQ Indonesian. That misunderstanding costs everyone — time, money, and relationships. Specify completely."
— David McIlvain, President, J. Gibson McIlvain Company
2026 Teak Pricing Summary
| Grade / Origin | Price Range (per BF) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FEQ — Indonesian Plantation | $32–$45 | Highest-quality plantation; 40-60 year rotation |
| FEQ — Central American Plantation | $28–$38 | 20-35 year rotation; lighter color |
| FEQ — African Plantation | $26–$35 | Variable quality by operation |
| Select & Better — All Origins | $20–$28 | Best value for architectural use |
| Standard — All Origins | $14–$20 | Structural and secondary applications |
| Reclaimed Old-Growth | $35–$55+ | Limited supply; short lengths typical |
| Wide Stock (10"+) Premium | +15–25% | Applied to any grade |
| Long Length (10'+) Premium | +15–30% | Applied to any grade |
Market context: Teak prices have increased approximately 8-12% annually since 2020, driven by the permanent loss of Myanmar supply, growing global demand for sustainable hardwoods, and inflation in shipping costs from tropical origins. Indonesian FEQ stock has seen the sharpest increases (15%+ annually) due to fixed plantation rotation timelines that cannot respond to demand spikes.
J. Gibson McIlvain as Your Teak Source
Since 1798, J. Gibson McIlvain has supplied premium hardwoods to America's most demanding buyers. Our teak program offers:
- FSC Chain of Custody Certification (FSC-C005402) — verified at info.fsc.org, ensuring full traceability from plantation to jobsite
- Hand-graded inventory — every teak board is individually evaluated in our Baltimore facility, not bulk-graded at the mill
- Multiple origins in stock — Indonesian, Central American, and African plantation teak, plus authenticated reclaimed old-growth
- Custom milling capabilities — S4S, ship-lap, tongue-and-groove, and custom profiles milled to your specifications
- Marine-specification grading — dedicated selection process for boatyard and naval architecture orders requiring the tightest ring counts and highest oil content
- Sample service — request graded samples before committing to volume orders
We maintain teak inventory in thicknesses from 4/4 through 16/4, widths from 4 to 14 inches, and lengths from 6 to 16 feet. Current inventory availability and exact pricing for your specification are available by calling 410-687-0857 or requesting a quote online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does FEQ mean for teak lumber?
FEQ stands for First European Quality, the highest commercial grade for teak lumber. It requires at least 83% clear cuttings on the better face, straight grain, minimal sapwood (under 10%), and no pith or structural defects. FEQ boards command $28-$45 per board foot in 2026, depending on origin and dimensions. This grade originated in colonial-era European export standards and remains the benchmark for marine, architectural, and fine furniture applications worldwide.
Is plantation teak as good as old-growth Burmese teak?
Plantation teak is not identical to old-growth Burmese teak. Old-growth trees (80-120+ years) develop tighter growth rings (8-12 per inch vs. 3-5 for plantation), higher natural oil content (5-8% vs. 2-4% extractives), greater density (42-48 lbs/ft³ vs. 36-40 lbs/ft³), and richer golden-brown color. However, well-managed plantation teak from Indonesia, Costa Rica, or Panama still provides excellent durability for most applications and is the only legally and sustainably available option since the Myanmar export ban.
Why is Burmese teak banned?
Burmese (Myanmar) teak exports are banned under international sanctions and CITES regulations. The EU banned Myanmar timber imports beginning in 2003, the U.S. strengthened Lacey Act enforcement against illegal timber in 2008, and comprehensive sanctions following the 2021 military coup blocked Myanmar timber exports entirely. CITES Appendix II requires export permits for Tectona grandis from Myanmar, which the sanctioned military government cannot legitimately issue. These restrictions combat illegal logging that funded armed conflict and destroyed irreplaceable old-growth tropical forests.
How much does teak cost per board foot in 2026?
Teak lumber prices in 2026 range from $14 to $55+ per board foot depending on grade and origin. FEQ plantation teak runs $28-$45 per board foot for 4/4 stock (Indonesian commanding the top of the range). Select & Better grade averages $20-$28. Standard grade costs $14-$20. Reclaimed old-growth teak commands $35-$55+ due to superior density and the Myanmar ban eliminating new old-growth supply. Wider boards (10"+) and longer lengths (10'+) carry 15-30% premiums above these base prices.
What is the best teak grade for boat building?
FEQ (First European Quality) is the required grade for marine and boat-building applications. Marine-grade teak must have straight grain, high oil content, no sapwood, no structural defects, and ring counts of 6+ per inch. The natural oil content in FEQ teak provides superior water repellency and dimensional stability critical in marine environments. For yacht decking specifically, look for FEQ Indonesian plantation teak with minimum 5 rings per inch, as this most closely approximates old-growth Burmese performance.
How do you specify teak lumber for a project?
A complete teak specification includes five elements: (1) Grade — FEQ, Select & Better, or Standard; (2) Origin — plantation source (Indonesia, Costa Rica, Panama, Africa) or reclaimed; (3) Dimensions — thickness in quarters (4/4, 5/4, 8/4), minimum width, and minimum length; (4) Moisture content — 8-12% for interior, 12-15% for exterior, kiln-dried; (5) Certification — FSC-certified if required for LEED or sustainability mandates (McIlvain's COC number: FSC-C005402). Always request sample boards before committing to volume orders.
Where does J. Gibson McIlvain source teak?
J. Gibson McIlvain sources teak from FSC-certified plantations in Indonesia (Java — 40-60 year rotations), Costa Rica, Panama, and select African operations. We also maintain inventory of authenticated reclaimed old-growth teak sourced from demolished colonial-era structures in Southeast Asia. All teak entering our supply chain is verified for legal harvest, documented with mill certificates, and traceable under our FSC Chain of Custody certification (FSC-C005402). We do not purchase Myanmar-origin teak.
Sources and Standards Referenced
- NHLA Rules for the Measurement and Inspection of Hardwood and Cypress — National Hardwood Lumber Association grading standards
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory — Wood properties and performance research for Tectona grandis
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) — Appendix II listing for Tectona grandis from Myanmar
- IUCN Red List — Tectona grandis assessment
- EN 350: Durability of Wood and Wood-Based Products (European Standard for natural durability classification)
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) — Chain of Custody Standard, FSC-STD-40-004
- J. Gibson McIlvain Company teak grading records and marine specification archives, 1990-2026
