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Compare the same panel, work and delivery scope
Compare plywood offers in three steps: align the panel specification and supplied work, convert prices to one unit, then calculate the cost of the usable sheets or finished parts you need. Keep each alternative construction on its own line.
CUZI product prices use USD/m³, FOB Qingdao / Lianyungang. A comparable offer also identifies quantity, packing, processing, validity and payment terms. International freight is quoted for the destination.
Request a comparable quotationPrepare a mixed-container item list
How do you compare plywood prices quoted in different units?
Price per m³ = price per sheet ÷ the sheet’s net volume. For a per-m² price, divide by thickness in metres. Retain the original price, currency and invoicing dimensions alongside the converted amount.
For a 2440 × 1220 × 18 mm sheet, net volume is 0.0535824 m³ and area is 2.9768 m². An illustrative price of 50 calculation units gives 933.14 units/m³ or 16.80 units/m². The amounts explain the calculation; use the supplier’s actual offer for a purchase.
Calculate net sheet volume and whole-sheet quantities. The quotation comparison below uses those quantities to compare money and included work.
Normalize different formats before comparing the original sheet prices
At the same 18 mm quantity basis, compare a 1220 × 2440 mm sheet at 50 calculation units with a 1250 × 2500 mm sheet at 52. Convert before judging the higher sheet price.
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| Item | Chosen calculation / record | Buying decision |
|---|---|---|
| 1220 × 2440 × 18 mm | Area 2.9768 m²; volume 0.0535824 m³. 50 ÷ 2.9768 = 16.80 units/m²; 50 ÷ 0.0535824 = 933.14 units/net m³. | Keep the original 50-unit sheet price and its dimension basis beside the converted values. |
| 1250 × 2500 × 18 mm | Area 3.1250 m²; volume 0.0562500 m³. 52 ÷ 3.125 = 16.64 units/m²; 52 ÷ 0.05625 = 924.44 units/net m³. | The chosen sheet price is 4% higher, while the normalized area/volume price is approximately 0.93% lower. |
Put two offers beside one item specification
Fill the required specification before comparing Offer A and B. A changed core, face grade, thickness or supplied finish is a separately priced alternative. Keep those differences visible even when both prices use USD/m³.
Choose the applicable commercial, birch or decorative plywood construction. The table below is the comparison record for the selected item.
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| Field | Required basis | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product and appearance | Item/revision, application, actual face/back species and grade pair, grading basis, visible surfaces and physical reference. | Record proposed face/back, repairs and sample reference; identify differences. | Use the same fields and viewing reference; keep any different surface as an alternative. |
| Construction and performance | Core/lay-up, required bond and emission test basis, proposed model and relevant product documents. | Identify actual core/layers and required data. | Compare the offered construction and applicable data on the same basis. |
| Dimensions and output | Thickness, sheet format, measurement/tolerance basis, part list and required accepted output. | State quoted dimensions, sheet quantity and reviewed output assumptions. | Keep dimensions visible beside the price; explain any different sheet requirement. |
| Processing and surface | Raw sheet or cut/routed/edged/finished part; grain direction, reverse, finish and component acceptance. | List each included operation and remaining workshop work. | List the same operations; mark included, excluded or to be confirmed. |
| Price and quantity | Currency, per-sheet/m²/m³/part unit, quantity by item, calculation dimensions and exchange-rate date if used. | Retain original unit price and the converted common unit. | Use the same dated conversion; show quantity-based conditions. |
| Packing and delivery | Bundle/item labels, protection, receiving constraints, chosen rule/edition and named port or place. | Record pack and delivery inclusions, exclusions and item allocation. | Use the same destination boundary; resolve unpriced route charges. |
| Dates and commercial conditions | Quote validity, payment conditions, production start/dispatch timing, freight basis and required receiving date. | Record the dated offer and confirmed schedule. | Keep validity and shipping assumptions visible; request changes in writing. |
Use the specification your business needs
Compare the quoted panel, then compare its cost.
The ECQA all-birch record below illustrates the dimensions and shipment facts to keep beside a quote. The tables connect those facts to cost questions; they do not establish the contents or loading capacity of a new shipment.
Use package geometry and gross mass for the loading plan, and ordered, available and shipped quantities for item balances. The sample-to-production guide connects the selected construction to the trial.
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| Nominal panel | Calculated net volume / sheet | Recorded sheet weight | Recorded pack gross weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 mm · 1250 × 2500 mm | 0.065625 m³ | 46.5 / 46.6 kg | 1773 kg |
| 24 mm · 1250 × 2500 mm | 0.075000 m³ | 50.0 kg | 1706 kg |
| 30 mm · 1250 × 2500 mm | 0.093750 m³ | 63.5 / 63.6 kg | 1711 kg |
Close the cost differences that a sheet price can hide.
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| Cost field | Use the report record | Complete the comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Material and working output | 100% birch construction and CP appearance basis; 80 workmanship checks and PASS conclusion. | Keep the requested face/back grade, full lay-up and finished component trial with each offer. Calculate machining yield from the actual cutting and workshop results. |
| Handling and shipment mass | The recorded sheet weights and pack gross weights are different measures. | Ask for actual sheets per pack, pack contents, net/tare/gross weight and receiving equipment limits. Retain the forwarder’s charging basis and item-specific handling costs. |
| Quantity ready for dispatch | The 24 mm record shows 1376 ordered / 1375 available; 30 mm shows 2548 ordered / 2547 available. | Keep ordered, available, inspected and shipped quantities separate. Agree the outstanding balance, final packing list and any later dispatch in the quote/order file. |
| Supplied work and route | Recorded pack dimensions are 251 × 127 cm, with heights of 92 / 97 / 91 cm for 21 / 24 / 30 mm. | Compare protection, labelling and packing inclusions, named FOB/CIF port, remaining workshop operations and dated transport charges at the same boundary. |
Read the ECQA panel and packing report · View the recorded package dimensions
Compare the same selected item in the next quotation.
| Selected item | Next buying step |
|---|---|
| 21 mm all-birch · 1250 × 2500 mm | Compare my 21 mm all-birch offer |
| 24 mm all-birch · 1250 × 2500 mm | Request the 24 mm comparison piece |
| 30 mm all-birch · 1250 × 2500 mm | Request the 30 mm cost-comparison file |
| 18 mm commercial · birch face / poplar core / BB/CC | Compare my commercial output quote |
Compare the proposed boards before committing to the price
Keep the accepted working sample with the quoted item. A cheaper construction needs its own trial and material documents. Use the sample-to-production record and destination-document guide for those decisions.
Compare a commercial plywood sampleCompare a birch construction sampleCompare a decorative component sample
Calculate cost per usable sheet or completed part
Cost per accepted part = included material, remaining processing and delivery costs ÷ accepted completed parts. Use the same part mix, finish and receiving point for both offers. Include cutting, routing, edging, finishing and rework only where they remain outside the quoted scope.
Use a reviewed cutting layout and actual workshop results for yield. Credit offcuts only when they have a defined use and value. Keep an unpriced service as an open amount; entering zero would make an incomplete offer look cheaper.
For assemblies, count complete sets from the limiting component before dividing the cost. The cost example below shows how a lower sheet price can still cost more per usable part.
Example: two offers with different processing scopes
Chosen material-and-cutting comparison using calculation units and an assumed 40-part output.
Both offers are assumed to meet the same selected board specification and produce the same mix of 40 accepted parts. The workshop budgets different sheet requirements and cutting charges. Those output assumptions must be checked against the real cutting and processing trial.
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| Item | Calculation | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Offer A | 10 sheets × 50 units = 500 units; cutting = 100 units. Subtotal = 600 units. | 600 ÷ 40 = 15.00 units per accepted part. |
| Offer B | 12 sheets × 45 units = 540 units; cutting = 120 units. Subtotal = 660 units. | 660 ÷ 40 = 16.50 units per accepted part. |
| Meaning of the difference | Offer B’s sheet price is 10% lower, but this assumed material-and-cutting subtotal is 60 units higher. | The subtotal per part is 1.50 units higher. Resolve the actual sheet requirement and processing scope. |
| One extra sheet in A | 600 + 50 = 650 units before any additional cutting charge; output remains assumed at 40 accepted parts. | 650 ÷ 40 = 16.25 units per part. Only 10 units separate this subtotal from B; small yield changes can affect the decision. |
| Open items | Packing and delivery are excluded from both example totals. Any extra processing is also unpriced. | These are material-and-cutting subtotals. Add the same resolved cost groups to compare warehouse or finished-output cost. |
What this means for the order
In this example, B costs less per sheet but more per usable part. A small yield change narrows the gap. Use your construction, cutting layout, processing time and quotation costs to compare the two options.
Find the output change that reverses the cost comparison
Hold the material-and-cutting subtotals at 600 units for A and 660 for B. B produces 40 accepted parts at 16.50 units each. A’s result crosses that cost between 36 and 37 accepted parts, as shown below.
600 ÷ 16.50 = 36.36 parts. Recalculate the subtotal if lower output also adds repair, replacement or processing costs. Use complete matched sets when individual parts cannot be sold or installed independently.
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| Item | Chosen calculation / record | Buying decision |
|---|---|---|
| B at 40 accepted parts | 660 ÷ 40 = 16.50 units per accepted part. | Use this stated subtotal/output pair as the comparison basis. |
| A at 37 accepted parts | 600 ÷ 37 = 16.22 units per accepted part, rounded. | This chosen output remains below B’s 16.50 at the same cost boundary. |
| A at 36 accepted parts | 600 ÷ 36 = 16.67 units per accepted part, rounded. | This chosen output is above B’s 16.50; review the actual observations and additional costs. |
Compare what each FOB or CIF quotation includes
CUZI commonly quotes FOB or CIF. State the rule and edition, the named shipment port for FOB or destination port for CIF, and the required route. For an FOB-to-CIF comparison, obtain the relevant carriage and insurance costs before comparing the same port boundary. For warehouse cost, add the remaining destination and inland scope item by item.
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| Cost group | Keep beside the quotation | Resolve before comparing |
|---|---|---|
| Panel | Construction, face/back and grade basis, dimensions, item quantity, currency and original price unit. | Keep alternative constructions separate; reconcile sheet/m²/m³ units using the same dimensions. |
| Processing | Cutting, routing, edging, finish, labelling, accepted output and remaining workshop work. | Assign each included or buyer-completed operation once, with its charge basis and actual yield assumption. |
| Packing and origin scope | Required pack protection, bundle sizes/counts, gross weights, labels, origin handling and quoted shipment scope. | Identify what the offer includes and any separate charges. Compare the same receiving and item-allocation requirements. |
| Main carriage and insurance | Named ports, route, carriage validity and insurance scope where applicable. | Under CIF, seller-arranged carriage and insurance reach the named destination port. Identify the policy coverage and any extra cover you require. |
| Destination and inland route | Discharge/terminal/clearance charges, duties/taxes and treatment, inland transport, unloading and warehouse receiving. | Confirm inclusions and remaining amounts with the relevant forwarder/broker. CIF does not by itself define an all-in warehouse price. |
| Shared shipment allocation | Mixed items, net panel volume, actual weight, pack space and the chosen allocation method. | Allocate shared costs consistently, explain the method and keep the whole shipment total reconcilable. |
Keep paid transport and risk transfer distinct
Under CIF Incoterms® 2020, risk normally transfers when the goods are on board at shipment, even though the seller arranges carriage and insurance to the destination port. The default CIF insurance is limited cover; agree any higher cover needed. ICC Academy explains the CIF carriage, risk and insurance distinction.
Check unloading and terminal charges against the delivery terms. Mark each cost as included, excluded or awaiting a price, and count freight already included in a CIF offer only once.
Agree the handover point for your container
FOB and CIF are sea/inland-waterway rules. If the agreed handover is at a carrier’s terminal or the journey is multimodal, discuss a rule that matches that handover, such as FCA or CIP, with the parties and forwarder. The ICC selection checklist helps distinguish these arrangements. CUZI’s usual FOB/CIF quotation choices should still describe the actual shipment agreed.
Keep production and receiving dates separate
CUZI’s regular production period is 7–15 days. Put its agreed start and ready date beside booking, sailing, clearance and inland delivery. Keep quote and freight validity with the schedule. Use the repeat-order guide when construction, finish or supplied processing changes.
For a US shipment, continue with the US import scope and landed-cost worksheet. It separates customs value, item-specific duties and deposits from common freight and warehouse-delivery charges.
Send the specification, item quantities and port
Start with the lines you know and mark choices you want compared. A structured first inquiry helps CUZI quote the right product and identify missing decisions, without turning the request into a long form.
Quotation / item-list revision: Product / SKU / intended use: Face and back species / grade basis / physical reference: Core / full construction / bond and emission methods or documents: Thickness / format / finished tolerances / quantity and unit: Raw sheet or supplied cutting / routing / edge / finish / packing: Required completed parts and reviewed yield, if applicable: Separate alternative to compare, with sample or drawing reference: Currency / FOB shipment port or CIF destination port / rule edition: Receiving date / unloading and bundle constraints: Please show item prices, inclusions, exclusions, validity and production/dispatch schedule.
- Keep one common specification and required accepted-part quantity.
- Record reviewed yield and sheet quantity for each offer.
- Separate included processing, remaining operations and any alternative construction.
- Keep currency, delivery basis, packing and unresolved cost items with the dated quote.
Review the relevant product guide and prepare your inquiry files. The complete RFQ checklist helps organise a drawing or specification that needs more detail.
Quote the required plywood item
Request a quote for the finished quantity you need
Send the part list, panel specification and sample or drawing references. Ask suppliers to show price units, included processing, delivery terms and any alternatives. Add the workshop work still required to compare finished-part costs.
Ask for a mixed-container quotation by item
CUZI’s minimum order is one container, with mixed plywood and MDF loads available. Price each SKU separately and allocate common shipment charges once. Build the item list in the mixed-order SKU guide; use the fields below to request prices for that list.
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| Item route | Specify the line | Ask the quotation to show |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial or birch plywood | Face/back and physical grade reference, full core construction, bond/emission basis, thickness, sheet format and quantity. | Matching model/item, price and unit, packing, supplied processing and separately priced construction alternatives. |
| Decorative plywood | Veneer identity, face/reverse gauges, matching/viewing group, finish/edge scope, sheet or part dimensions and quantity. | Actual appearance range/sample, supplied surfaces and matching/cutting/finish charges by the same required output. |
| MDF in the same shipment | Plain/MR/FR/faced board item, grade/emission basis, gauge, format, finish/reverse and quantity. | Separate MDF item prices/units, processing scope and the same order-level transport/packing allocation. Review wholesale MDF options. |
| Common shipment | Loading/destination port, selected quotation basis, receiving date, unloading/pack constraints and proposed item quantities. | Total item values, shipment inclusions/exclusions, pack/count/weight plan, confirmed loading mix and dated schedule. |
Send your SKU list and named portInclude MDF in the quotation
Make the material and cost decision reviewable on one item
Before choosing an offer, resolve four points: selected construction, common cost scope, open amounts and the dated supply schedule. Keep the selected quote revision with the purchase item.
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| Item | Chosen calculation / record | Buying decision |
|---|---|---|
| Required item and alternative | Same drawing/part mix, full model/construction, dimensions/stage/limits, relevant material files and actual component trial; changed fields identified. | Select the construction and processing scope that meets the agreed requirement. |
| Cost and quantity basis | Original currency/unit, quantity/dimension conversion, included processing, remaining work, actual accepted output and allocated/shared scope. | Compare per required completed item/set at the same cost and receiving boundary. |
| Open values and sensitivity | Unpriced or uncertain charges/yield/time, responsible source, dated assumption and the range or crossover being tested. | Keep the unresolved result visible until the amount or observed output is established. |
| Selected version and delivery | Chosen offer/item revision, inclusions/exclusions, port/rule edition, quotation validity and actual production/dispatch/receiving stages. | Carry the selected material, quantities and scope into the order and pack/inspection records. |
Plywood quotation questions buyers ask
Should the lowest cost per part always win?
No. First select offers that meet the material, appearance, fit and delivery requirements. Compare their accepted output and remaining costs at the same receiving point. A lower cost for an unsuitable part is not a saving.
What if the cutting yield is uncertain?
Show it as an assumption and ask the workshop to review the drawing, grain direction, layout and actual trial. Recalculate with one extra sheet or a measured rework change. Keep the accepted part mix the same so the result remains meaningful.
Does a price per m³ make two boards comparable?
No. A common price unit does not make different constructions equivalent. It aligns the quantity unit. Face/back, full core construction, thickness, finish, bond/emission requirements and supplied processing still need to match the required item. Retain the original sheet dimensions and unit price beside the conversion.
How do I compare an FOB offer with a CIF offer?
Bring both to the same named cost boundary with the relevant freight and insurance information. Keep each included or remaining charge visible and avoid adding included freight twice. Confirm the actual handover, rule/edition and destination charges with the quotation and transport terms.
Does CIF include delivery to my warehouse?
No. CIF to a named port does not include warehouse delivery unless that service is separately agreed. The named CIF destination is a port. Review the actual offer and carriage terms for unloading and port charges, then identify clearance, duty/tax treatment, inland transport and receiving costs with your route providers. An all-in warehouse comparison needs that remaining scope.
Can I compare a cheaper core or lower face grade?
Yes, as a separate proposed alternative. Keep its actual construction and physical appearance reference clear, and trial the component and relevant data for your use. Move it into the chosen specification only after resolving those buying requirements.
Is the 7–15-day lead time the arrival date?
No. CUZI’s 7–15 days cover production. Booking, sailing, clearance and inland delivery are additional. Keep the agreed production start, ready date and receiving target with the dated offer.
Can plywood and MDF be priced in one mixed container?
Mixed loads are available with a minimum of one container. Send a separate specification, quantity and unit for each plywood or MDF line, with a common port and receiving plan. Ask for item prices, a packing/loading proposal and a clear allocation of shared shipment costs.
Can a higher sheet price be lower per square metre?
Yes, when the compared sheet format changes. Keep the original price and dimensional basis, normalize consistently, then compare the full construction and actual completed output for the project.
How do I find the accepted-output crossover?
Divide the fixed subtotal by the other offer’s cost per accepted part. In the example, 600 ÷ 16.50 = 36.36, so 37 accepted parts cost less per part and 36 cost more. Recalculate if processing or replacement costs change.
Does allocating a shared cost change the shipment total?
No. Allocating the same shared cost among items does not change the shipment total. A fully reconciled allocation preserves that total while changing the shares assigned to individual lines. Retain the documented method and separate item-specific costs.
How should a cost still awaiting a quotation be shown?
Show it as an open amount with the service and provider named. Do not enter zero. Compare the effect of a realistic range, then replace that range with the dated quote before choosing the complete offer.
Can the inspection sheet weight help compare a quotation?
It helps describe the reported panel and prepare the handling discussion. Keep it separate from pack gross mass and the forwarder’s chargeable quantity. Ask the current offer for pack contents and actual weights, then compare the same receiving and cost scope.
How do I compare price per sheet for 21, 24 and 30 mm plywood?
Keep the gauge and construction identifiable. At 1250 × 2500 mm, each nominal sheet has 3.125 m² of area; nominal net volumes are 0.065625, 0.075000 and 0.093750 m³ respectively. Divide the actual sheet price by the relevant quantity basis, then compare the required finished output and included operations.
