What's the price of MDF/Plywood in YOUR area?

[DrewKaree]

I was at HD picking up some MDF for a router cabinet, and the friggen prices were UNBELIEVABLE!  

A 4x8x³/₄" sheet of MDF was $23, while the same size sheet of Pine Plywood was $28.  A weight difference was usually excusable due to the big price difference, but now...$5 isn't enough for me to use MDF.

Even a sheet of Birch Plywood was only $34.  

In my view, it's the MDF that is crazy expensive!

What are prices like in your area?  Similar, or more "normal"?

[shmokes]

Was the ply rough or smooth?  For someone who is planning to paint rather than laminate MDF gives a nice surface for painting?  I'm all about laminate, though.  I'd go with the plywood any day of the week with those minimal price differences.

[DrewKaree]

Was the ply rough or smooth?  For someone who is planning to paint rather than laminate MDF gives a nice surface for painting?  I'm all about laminate, though.  I'd go with the plywood any day of the week with those minimal price differences.

One side sanded, but I've got a belt sander and a R/O sander to take care of the sides that will show, and for my router table, what do I care?  I'm looking to paint it with Hammerite, so it won't matter.  NoBonus would LOVE those fumes!

I DID end up going with the plywood, btw, I just wanted to know if my area of the country is some wierd Bermuda Triangle of wood and wood products.

I'm contemplating going back tomorrow and picking up a few sheets of birch...hopefully going to have time to build the cab over winter  

[Mameotron]

It's a little cheaper where I am - 4x8x3/4" MDF is $21, same size plywood is $26.  Still, I expect that because of the hurricanes it will be a long time before prices go back down.

[DrewKaree]

It's a little cheaper where I am - 4x8x3/4" MDF is $21, same size plywood is $26.  Still, I expect that because of the hurricanes it will be a long time before prices go back down.

Ya, I know the price is up now cuz o dat, but MAN!  It wasn't that long ago that MDF was ~$13-15 for that same sheet!  The plywood price has stayed pretty consistent in that time - shouldn't the plywood be more expensive as well, or is everyone using MDF to board up their windows?

[mozzer]

mdf - $24

ply - $26

osb - $16

[namzep]

Wow, expensive MDF you guys all seem to have.  I think I paid around $17/sheet for it at my local Lowes.

[DrewKaree]

Where are you at, namzep?  I'm in the upper Midwest (WI).  

[SirPoonga]

Yeah, here in WI you can get 4'x8' MDF for $13.  At least that is what is was the last time I lookeds at Menards.

But yeah, I could see how the hurricane would drive prices up.

Drew, tif it was cheap I'd use MDF to board up windows for a hurricane.  Usually it's just temporary, not a constant slew of storms hitting you..

[Mameotron]

Well, after the 2nd hurricane hit Florida there was a shortage of plywood here for about 2 weeks.  That's when the price of MDF jumped up.

[Mr. Dude]

whoa... when I built my cab I only spent $14.00 for a sheet of MDF.

[DrewKaree]

Yeah, here in WI you can get 4'x8' MDF for $13.  At least that is what is was the last time I lookeds at Menards.

But yeah, I could see how the hurricane would drive prices up.

Drew, tif it was cheap I'd use MDF to board up windows for a hurricane.  Usually it's just temporary, not a constant slew of storms hitting you..

SirP, where in WI are you?  I'm in Milwaukee, and unless Menards is competing with HD, I'd guess the Milwaukee Menards is the same price as HD.

I'm headed out in a few hours, though, so I now have a stop to make before I get back home  

And yeah, MrDude, I seemed to remember MDF costing about that much just a few months ago!  That's why I was like "WTF   "

[RacerX]

Wow.  In College Station, TX, I paid $23 for TWO 4x8x5/8 sheets of MDF at Home Depot.

[fredster]

Lowes in TN

8 X 4 X 3/4" - 18.57 a sheet.

Didn't check anything else.

[namzep]

Stillwater, OK.

[fatbasta]

Hey namzep,
I'm in OK too.  I paid $18 for 49 x 97 5/8 mdf at Home Depot.  Lowes doesn't carry 5/8 here.  (off topic) have you found any suppliers of parts in Oklahoma.  I can't find anything local.

[namzep]

I've had to order from elsewhere for everything.  Though, Happ's charges tax in OK so something of their's must be located here.

[DrewKaree]

I've had to order from elsewhere for everything.  Though, Happ's charges tax in OK so something of their's must be located here.

That means Happs has a local rep in your state.  Dunno anymore how you go about finding out where, but when I ordered my stuff, I found that the guy was less than 5 miles from me.  You may be able to purchase from them if you find out where they're at

OK, click HERE for the sales team in your area and why you have to pay OK sales tax.  I DON'T know if they sell directly to you (I read my post...could be misleading...I just noticed the guy was close to me...I didn't actually purchase from him), but give them a call.  Maybe they'll have some stuff hanging around you can pick up for cheap.

[TalkingOctopus]

Yeah, here in WI you can get 4'x8' MDF for $13.  At least that is what is was the last time I lookeds at Menards.

But yeah, I could see how the hurricane would drive prices up.

Drew, tif it was cheap I'd use MDF to board up windows for a hurricane.  Usually it's just temporary, not a constant slew of storms hitting you..

SirP, where in WI are you?  I'm in Milwaukee, and unless Menards is competing with HD, I'd guess the Milwaukee Menards is the same price as HD.

I'm headed out in a few hours, though, so I now have a stop to make before I get back home  

And yeah, MrDude, I seemed to remember MDF costing about that much just a few months ago!  That's why I was like "WTF   "

The price was about $15 at Menards in Madison WI a year and a half ago.  Menards is great for this sort of project.  They are really cheap.  I made too many runs to Mernards when building my cab.

[DrewKaree]

I just stopped @ Menard's about 2 hours ago, and they have the same thing....MDF sheet is $21 there.  Cheaper, but still expensive.

On the PLUS side, they carry something HD DOES NOT!  Birch with an MDF center!  

One thing I don't like about Menard's, though, is how they store stuff outside.  

I DO like that they have stuff that HD doesn't have, like mahogany and walnut boards, and the birch/MDF.  Oh, and their plexi/lexan is usually a bunch cheaper.  By HALF

[Mameotron]

There's a Menards about 45 miles from where I live.  Is it worth the trip out there?  I'm getting frustrated with HD and Lowe's.  They are competing with each other so much that they stock exactly the same things, and of course If one place doesn't have something than neither does the other.

[DrewKaree]

The only reason I don't go there as often is that HD is located in more areas.  If I'm in an area working that has a Menard's, I'll go there, because it's usually cheaper.  

They don't always have the same selection, but if they have it, it will almost ALWAYS be cheaper, and sometimes they have stuff that HD simply won't carry, like the MDF-cored Birch I spoke of.

Some examples:  Retaining wall blocks Home Depot = $1.59.  Menards = $1.14     ³/₄" 4x8 MDF sheet Home Depot = $23  Menards = $21   Plexi sheet (forget the size I had to buy) Home Depot = ~$70  Menards = $26


If you require supplies, Menards is worth the trip.  If you require TOOLS, go to HD or Lowes.  Menards can only equal their prices, and their tool selection is vastly inferior to HD or Lowes (not as many brands, smaller selection, more "off" brands)

[HaRuMaN]

Where I live, here are the prices for MDF at Lowes:


1/2X49X97" MDF     $18.54
   
3/4X49X97" MDF     $20.95

[SirPeale]

Brattleboro, VT Home Depot


MDF - none in stock, but told $25 a sheet

OSB - $29

Birch - $44

Oak - $45

I envy you $14 MDF folk.  Not that I'd buy MDF (I'm a ply guy) but your prices are likely cheaper in that respect, too.