Density, thickness, finish, order size and freight — the five variables behind every fibre cement board quotation, and how to check one line by line.
Fiber cement board price is set by density first, then thickness, then surface finish. Boards between 1.0 and 1.4 g/cm³ are the cheapest per m² because that is the volume segment almost every factory runs. Ultra-light boards below 1.0 g/cm³ and high-density boards above 1.4 g/cm³ cost more per m² — less material per sheet, but far more fibre, pressure and process control.
Any fibre cement board quotation you receive — ours or a competitor's — is the sum of these five. If a supplier cannot break a price down this way, the number is not worth comparing.
| Variable | Why it moves the price | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Density | The single largest factor. Low density needs more cellulose fibre and tighter forming control to keep strength; high density needs more cement and higher pressing force. The 1.0–1.4 g/cm³ band is the volume plateau. | 0.65 – 1.75 g/cm³ |
| Thickness | Cost tracks mass per m², so a 12 mm board is not twice a 6 mm board — forming speed drops and curing load rises faster than the thickness ratio. | 4 – 25 mm |
| Surface finish | Raw board, sanded board, factory UV coating and digital-print board are four different production steps. Coating and printing add line time and reject risk, not just paint. | Raw → sanded → coated → printed |
| Order volume | Setup, curing cycle and packing are amortised over the run. Below a full container, per-m² cost rises steeply regardless of factory. | Sample → LCL → FCL → annual contract |
| Packing & freight | Board is heavy and fragile at the edges. Pallet type, corner protection and container loading pattern change the landed cost more than most buyers expect. | Bulk → palletised → crated |
Price is not linear with density. It is a curve with a flat bottom.
| Density | Price position | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 0.65 – 1.0 ultra-light | Highest per m² | Mass is removed with air and fibre, not filler. Holding ≥10 MPa flexural strength at 0.65–0.85 g/cm³ takes higher pulp content, tighter forming tolerance and slower line speed. Few factories run this band at all, so there is no commodity pricing to fall back on. |
| 1.0 – 1.4 medium | Lowest per m² | The volume segment. Many producers, standard formulations, long runs, mature logistics. This is where the “cheap board” every buyer has seen comes from — and where price competition is fiercest. |
| 1.4 – 1.75 high density | Rising with density | More cement, higher pressing force, longer autoclave cycles. Above 1.6 g/cm³ the board is dense enough for direct-print substrates and heavy-duty wet areas, and the process window narrows quickly. |
We run 0.65–1.75 g/cm³ in one plant, so the same sales engineer can quote both ends of the curve — and will tell you when the cheap end is the right answer for your application.
Buyers often compare boards on cost per kilogram because it feels like a pure measure. It is the worst possible measure for this product, because a lighter board is supposed to carry more cost per kilogram.
Take two 8 mm boards at the same price per m². At 0.85 g/cm³ the sheet weighs about 6.7 kg/m²; at 1.45 g/cm³ it weighs about 11.3 kg/m². The lightweight board therefore looks 40% more expensive per kilogram while costing exactly the same per square metre — and covering the same wall.
Compare at equal thickness in cost per m². Compare at equal density in cost per kg. Never compare a low-density sheet against a medium-density sheet on cost per kg, unless you are buying the material as scrap.
There is one case where cost per kg is correct: when the board is bought purely as fire load or as ballast. For walls, ceilings, soffits and facades, the wall is the unit of work — so cost per m² is the only number that maps to your bill of quantities.
| Item | Effect on the quotation |
|---|---|
| Edge profile | Square edge is standard; tapered or rebated edges add a machining step and a second handling pass. |
| Sheet size | 1220 × 2440 mm is the default. 1220 × 3050 mm reduces joint count on tall walls but cuts loading efficiency per container. |
| Tolerance class | Standard thickness tolerance is normal production; tightened tolerance means sorting and rejecting more output, which the price reflects. |
| Moisture content | Extra drying after autoclaving costs energy and time — relevant for coating and printing lines, not for raw board. |
| Colour and batch | Through-pigment and custom RAL runs need dedicated batches; colour consistency across shipments must be reserved in the contract, not assumed. |
| Documentation | CE Declaration of Performance, third-party test reports and country-specific certification add administrative cost — and are the part you cannot skip at customs. |
1. Normalise the unit. Convert every offer to cost per m² at the same thickness and density. A price per sheet is meaningless if sheet sizes differ.
2. Separate product from logistics. Ask for ex-works, packing, inland transport, ocean freight, insurance separately. A single landed figure hides which part is competitive.
3. Add the cost of the system, not the board. Fixing, jointing, finishing and wastage often exceed the board price difference. A board 5% cheaper that needs an extra coat of paint is not cheaper.
4. Confirm what is contractually locked. Density, thickness tolerance, fire class, colour batch and delivery window must be written into the proforma invoice. A price without those specifications cannot be enforced.
Our own quotations follow this structure: density and thickness stated, finish named, packing described, and loading plan attached. If a supplier will not put those five variables on paper, the comparison is theatre.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Density band | 0.65 – 1.75 g/cm³, quoted as a specific band, not a range that shifts after deposit. |
| Thickness | 4 – 25 mm, with tolerance stated per thickness. |
| Sheet size | 1220 × 2440 mm and 1220 × 3050 mm standard; other sizes on request. |
| Fire class | EN 13501-1 A1 or A2, with the CE Declaration of Performance supplied. |
| Minimum order | Standard board from one container; custom density, colour or size from 1,000 sheets. |
| Samples | Free samples, freight on buyer's account. Factory visits welcome. |
| HS code | 6811.82 — sheets of cellulose fibre-cement, not containing asbestos. |
| Response time | Within 24 hours on business days, in English. |
Because price is a function of density and process, not of thickness alone. Two 8 mm boards at 0.85 and 1.45 g/cm³ are different products with different fibre content, pressing force and curing cycles. Suppliers also differ in whether they quote raw, sanded or coated board — always confirm the finish before comparing.
No. Cost per kilogram rewards heavy board. A medium-density commodity sheet will always look cheaper per kilogram than an engineered lightweight sheet, even when both cost the same per square metre. For walls and ceilings, compare cost per m² at equal thickness.
It changes it more than most buyers expect, because setup, curing and packing are fixed costs. A single pallet carries the same setup as a full container. At annual-contract volume, both product and freight can be planned, which is where the real saving sits.
By locking the specification — density band, thickness tolerance, finish, colour batch and packing — in the contract, and by quoting a validity window for the freight component. Board price and freight move for different reasons; combining them into one number is what creates surprises later.
No, and we would be cautious of any fibre cement board factory that does. Density, thickness, finish, packing and destination change the number by multiples, not percentages. Send those five inputs and you get a real quotation rather than a list that cannot be honoured.
Specification detail behind the lines above — written by the people who make the board.
