Buy Box Beams

Buying box beams from Tar River Timber Works delivers hand-crafted ceiling character and architectural focal points using three-sided timber construction in Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, or Tar River Teak. Each beam supports clean wrap-around detailing in sizes from 3-1/2" to 11-1/4" with band-sawn, sanded, or hand-hewn textures. Our collection includes pre-fabricated hollow box beams for interior ceiling spans and accent wraps.
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Box Beams - 5-1/2"x11-1/4" - W. Red Cedar - 144"
$765.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x11-1/4" - W. Red Cedar - 168"
$865.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x11-1/4" - W. Red Cedar - 192"
$970.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x11-1/4" - W. Red Cedar - 48"
$405.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x11-1/4" - W. Red Cedar - 60"
$445.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x11-1/4" - W. Red Cedar - 72"
$490.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x11-1/4" - W. Red Cedar - 96"
$580.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - Douglas Fir - 120"
$645.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - Douglas Fir - 144"
$735.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - Douglas Fir - 168"
$830.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - Douglas Fir - 192"
$925.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - Douglas Fir - 48"
$395.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - Douglas Fir - 60"
$435.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - Douglas Fir - 72"
$475.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - Douglas Fir - 96"
$560.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - W. Red Cedar - 120"
$680.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - W. Red Cedar - 144"
$780.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - W. Red Cedar - 168"
$880.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - W. Red Cedar - 192"
$985.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - W. Red Cedar - 48"
$405.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - W. Red Cedar - 60"
$450.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - W. Red Cedar - 72"
$495.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x5-1/2" - W. Red Cedar - 96"
$590.00
Box Beams - 5-1/2"x7-1/4" - Douglas Fir - 120"
$565.00

Buy Box Beams Built for Real Rooms, Real Ceilings, Real Spans

Buying box beams from Tar River Timber Works gives you 175 ready-to-order sizes in Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar, milled in Oxford, North Carolina and shipped across the United States. Every beam ships as a three-sided U-channel that slips over existing rafters, joists, or steel turning a flat ceiling into an authentic timber-framed room without the weight or freight cost of solid timber. Filter the product grid above by species, width, height, and length, or contact our shop for a custom quote.

Why Do Designers and Builders Buy Tar River Box Beams?

Designers and builders buy Tar River box beams because our craftsmen mill every beam from kiln-dried, premium-grade lumber and hand-select each board for color, grain, and stability before assembly. Our craftsmen hand-miters every corner, conceals all fasteners, and preps each beam to accept your stain, paint, or natural finish on site. Our beams read as solid timber from any viewing angle while staying light enough for two-person installation. Tar River supplies architects, designers, builders, and homeowners across all 50 states from one USA-based shop.

What Sizes of Box Beams Does Tar River Offer?

Tar River offers 11 cross-section profiles ranging from 3-1/2" × 5-1/2" up to 7-1/4" × 11-1/4", and 8 stock lengths from 48" (4 ft) to 192" (16 ft). Our 5-1/2" × 7-1/4" beams at 144" and 7-1/4" × 9-1/4" beams at 168" suit standard 8-ft and 9-ft ceilings. Our 192" beams span great rooms in a single piece without seam joints. You use the filters above to narrow by species, width, height, and length, then add your selection directly to cart.

What Cross-Section Profiles Does Tar River Stock? (Width × Height)

  • Our 3-1/2" beams ship in four heights: 5-1/2", 7-1/4", 9-1/4", and 11-1/4".
  • Our 5-1/2" beams ship in four heights: 5-1/2", 7-1/4", 9-1/4", and 11-1/4".
  • Our 7-1/4" beams ship in three heights: 7-1/4", 9-1/4", and 11-1/4".

What Stock Lengths Does Tar River Offer?

Tar River offers eight stock lengths — 48", 60", 72", 96", 120", 144", 168", and 192"  covering 4-foot accents through 16-foot uninterrupted ceiling spans.

Which Wood Species Should You Choose: Douglas Fir or Western Red Cedar?

Your project's location and aesthetic determine whether Douglas Fir or Western Red Cedar fits best. Our Douglas Fir beams deliver a warm amber-to-honey tone, tight straight grain, and the dense structural look most clients associate with classic interior timber framing — and suit great rooms, kitchens, and hallway ceilings. Our Western Red Cedar beams weigh less per linear foot, resist moisture and insects naturally, and carry a softer reddish-brown grain — and perform best on covered porches, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, and humid bathroom ceilings.

How Are Tar River Box Beams Used in Home and Commercial Design?

Designers install box beams to add architectural depth, conceal structural elements, and define open-plan rooms without adding meaningful load. Common applications include:

  • Ceiling beams: exposed, coffered, cathedral, and tray ceilings in living rooms and primary suites.
  • Faux structural wraps: covering steel I-beams, LVLs, glulams, and load-bearing posts so the engineering disappears behind real wood.
  • Kitchen accent beams: running across islands or above range hoods to anchor the room.
  • Outdoor living: pergolas, covered patios, and outdoor kitchens (cedar recommended for exterior exposure).
  • Commercial interiors: restaurants, breweries, hotels, lodges, and retail builds that need warmth without solid-timber freight costs.

How To Install a Tar River Box Beam?

You can install a Tar River box beam by fastening a 2× ledger or cleat to the ceiling, sliding the three-sided U-channel over the ledger, and locking it in place with finish nails or trim screws driven through the side faces. Two carpenters complete most runs in a few hours. Our spec sheets, fastener recommendations, and care-and-maintenance guides live in the site footer for review before installation.

What Do Tar River Box Beams Cost?

Tar River box beams in this collection cost between $285 and the $1,000+ range, depending on profile, length, and species. Pricing starts at $285 for a 3-1/2" × 5-1/2" Douglas Fir beam at 48" and scales into the $1,000+ range for the largest cedar profiles at full 192" lengths. Each price reflects raw lumber grade, finish quality, and the labor required to hand-miter every corner. You click any product card above for exact pricing, current inventory, and ship-by dates.

How to Order a Custom Box Beam From Tar River?

You order a custom box beam by submitting your dimensions, species, and finish requirements to our team for a same-week quote. Tar River's shop builds non-stock sizes, specialty species like reclaimed oak or white oak, and pre-applied stain, paint, or distress patterns alongside our production runs. Most custom orders ship within 4–6 weeks. Start a custom box beam request →

What Timber Accents Pair with Tar River Box Beams?

Tar River box beams pair with matching corbels, mantels, post wraps, headers, and brackets from the same shop for a unified timber-frame aesthetic. Our Corbels mount beneath beam ends, our Mantels anchor fireplace surrounds, our Post Wraps enclose vertical columns, our Headers span doorways and openings, and our Brackets accent intersections and corners.

What Questions Do Buyers Ask About Tar River Box Beams?

What are Tar River Box Beams Made From?

Tar River builds every box beam from solid Douglas Fir or Western Red Cedar lumber — never veneer, MDF, or polyurethane foam.

When Does a Box Beam Require a Structural Engineer?

A Tar River box beam requires no structural engineer because the beam installs as a decorative wrap over existing structure and adds minimal weight to the assembly.

How Can I Finish a Tar River Box Beam?

You can finish a Tar River box beam with oil-based stain, water-based stain, paint, or clear sealer applied on site, or you can request our pre-finished option to receive the beam ready to install.

How Long Does Box Beam Shipping Take?

Tar River ships stock orders within 5–10 business days from Oxford, NC via LTL freight, and ships custom orders within 4–6 weeks. Each product page lists current ship-by estimates at checkout.

What is the Difference Between a Box Beam and a Solid Beam?

A box beam wraps three sides as a hollow U-channel — lighter, easier to install, and lower cost while our Solid Beams are milled from one piece of timber for a fully structural look. Both deliver the same exterior appearance once installed.

Where Does the Tar River Ship Box Beams?

Tar River Timber Works ships USA-made box beams to all 50 states from its Oxford, North Carolina shop, and partners with trade accounts on commercial and residential projects nationwide.

Ready to order box beams? Filter the grid above by species, width, height, and length to view stock pricing or you request a custom quote for project-specific sizing, species, or finish.