PAR Timber Explained: What It Is and When to Use It

Aug 17

3 min read

TL;DR: PAR (Planed All Round) is timber machined smooth on every face, ready for visible joinery, shelving and furniture with minimal finishing. It costs more than sawn and always measures smaller than the size on the label - the trade-off for a clean, ready-to-use surface.

If you've stood in a timber aisle wondering why there's a "sawn" version and a "PAR" version of what looks like the same piece of wood: one's rough, one's finished, and which you need depends on whether anyone's ever going to see it.

Close-up of a light-colored wooden beam with visible grain and end rings, isolated on a white background.

What does PAR mean?

PAR stands for Planed All Round - timber that's been machined smooth on every face, rather than left with the rough, slightly splintery surface you get straight off the saw. All four sides are planed, so what you're holding is smooth, square, and close to true size, ready to use with minimal extra work.

PAR vs PSE vs sawn - is there a difference?

You'll also see PSE - Planed Square Edge - used for what's effectively the same product; the two terms are used interchangeably across the UK timber trade, though PSE technically refers to timber with square edges rather than every face being machined all round.

Sawn timber, by contrast, is exactly what it sounds like - cut straight from the log and left rough. It's cheaper, and it's the right choice for anything that gets covered up or doesn't need a clean finish: studwork, carcassing, anything structural that disappears behind plasterboard or cladding.

Close-up of a rough-cut wooden plank on a white background, showing grain, knots, and a squared end.

What's PAR timber used for?

PAR is used anywhere the timber is going to be seen or handled: skirting and architrave, shelving, furniture, worktop edging, internal joinery, staircase parts. It requires far less finishing than sawn - usually just a light sand before painting or staining - because the rough surface has already been machined away.

Which should you choose?

Choose sawn if it's going to be covered, painted over structurally, or hidden inside a build — studwork, carcassing, fence rails.
Choose PAR if it's staying visible, needs to look and feel finished, or you want less prep work before painting or staining - shelving, skirting, furniture, joinery.

Need something cut or moulded to size?

If you need PAR in a size we don't stock, or a specific moulding profile, our Dymchurch branch offers a standard cutting service for straightforward jobs, and our sawmill at Biddenden can thickness, plane and machine bespoke profiles and mouldings in both hardwood and joinery-grade softwood - including matching an existing moulding.

What does PAR stand for in timber?

Planed All Round - timber machined smooth on every face rather than left rough from the saw.

Is PAR the same as PSE timber?

Effectively yes - the two terms are used interchangeably in the UK timber trade, though PSE technically means planed square edge rather than planed on every face. You'll see the same product listed as PSE Timber on our online shop.

Why is my PAR timber smaller than the size I ordered?

The size on the label is the nominal, pre-planed size. Planing removes a few millimetres from each face, so the finished piece is always slightly smaller - check the actual finished dimension if exact size matters for your job.

Get PAR timber advice at Youngs

We stock a wide range of PAR timber across all three branches, with popular sizes available to order online through Plane & Simple. Need a size or profile we don't have on the shelf? Pop into Dymchurch for standard cutting, or ask about a bespoke run through our Biddenden sawmill.