A Monte Carlo simulation method was used to determine the effects of variation in moisture content between different boards, moisture content variation within each board, and meter error on the accuracy of moisture content determination in lumber consignments by standard electronic moisture meters. The industrial practice of a single moisture content measurement per board provided a good estimate of average moisture content of a group of boards only when the sample size was large. It was estimated that 45 moisture content measurements per board are necessary to determine average board moisture content. -- AATA