By the Sydney Timber Supply team
Timber decking is priced per linear metre (LM): you pay for the total running length of board, not per piece or per square metre. This guide explains how LM pricing works at Sydney Timber Supply, what random lengths mean in practice, why pine is sold differently, and when it is worth asking for a pack or bulk quote instead of buying loose LM online.
What "per linear metre" means
One linear metre is one metre of board, regardless of its width. A 5.4 m board is 5.4 LM. If your deck needs 250 LM of 86 x 19 mm Spotted Gum, you are buying 250 running metres of that profile, and the price is the LM rate multiplied by 250.
Width still matters, but in a different place: it determines how many linear metres your deck area needs. Divide your area by the board's coverage width (board face plus gap, in metres). For example, 20 m2 of 86 mm boards with a 4 mm gap is 20 / 0.090 = 222.2 LM. Add the recommended 10% waste allowance for cuts and docking, and you have your order quantity. To turn LM into a board count, divide by the board length (for example 5.4 m boards).
Our timber calculator does all of this for you: area in, linear metres, waste allowance and board count out. Gap guidance comes from WoodSolutions deck design guidance, which suggests typical gaps of 3 to 6 mm.
Random lengths: what actually turns up
Hardwood and Merbau decking from Sydney Timber Supply is supplied in random lengths. You order a total LM quantity and the pack that arrives contains a mix of board lengths adding up to that total. This is standard practice for hardwood decking and it keeps the price down, because the supplier can allocate stock efficiently rather than hand-picking lengths.
Random lengths suit most decks, since boards are docked to suit joist layout anyway. If your design genuinely needs specific lengths, for example long single-board runs with no joins, we can arrange preferred lengths by quote. Tell us the lengths you need through the quote form and we will confirm availability and pricing.
Pine is different: set board lengths
Structural pine works the other way. Our MGP10 machine-graded pine, both untreated (90 x 35 mm, 90 x 45 mm) and treated (90 x 45 mm, 140 x 45 mm), is sold in set board lengths. On the product page you pick a length as the variant, and the price is simply that length multiplied by the LM rate. You know exactly which sticks you are getting, which is what framing work requires.
When a pack or bulk quote beats loose LM
Buying loose LM through the website is the right call for small and mid-sized jobs: a single deck, a repair, topping up an order. A quote becomes the better path when:
- Volume is significant. Full packs and pallet quantities are quoted rather than sold at the listed loose rate. See bulk and pallet orders.
- You need preferred lengths. Specific length requirements are always by quote.
- The item is not listed. Anything you cannot see online, for example 140 x 19 mm Merbau or Jambu decking, is quote-only.
- You are pricing a whole project. One quote covering decking, framing and delivery is easier to compare and often sharper than assembling it line by line.
- You are trade. Regular buyers should be on a trade account rather than paying listed rates job by job.
How to request a quote
Use the request-a-quote page and include:
- Species and profile (for example Blackbutt 135 x 19 mm)
- Total LM, or your deck area so we can do the take-off with you
- Any preferred lengths
- Delivery suburb, or whether you will pick up from West Gosford
We come back with availability, pricing and freight. Delivery covers Sydney Metro, the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter, and Wollongong and the Illawarra, with regional and project freight by quote; details are on delivery and pickup.
Trade accounts
If you build decks, pergolas or frames regularly, a trade account puts you on quote-first pricing for packs and bulk, with the ordering handled around how trades actually buy: by the job, in volume, on repeat. Apply through the trade accounts page and we will set you up.
FAQ
Why is decking priced per LM and not per m2?
Because boards come in different widths. LM prices the actual timber; your area converts to LM once you pick a board width and gap. The calculator handles the conversion.
Can I choose my board lengths?
Hardwood and Merbau decking ships in random lengths as standard. Preferred lengths are available by quote. Pine is sold in set board lengths, chosen as the variant on the product page.
How much extra should I order?
We recommend a 10% waste allowance on top of your calculated LM for cuts and docking.
Talk to us
Not sure whether your job is a website order or a quote? Send it through anyway. Pick up from West Gosford or arrange delivery, and for packs, bulk or trade pricing, request a quote or call 0440 137 068.
Technical details drawn from supplier specification sheets; reviewed 19 July 2026.