Timber prices per acre: how timber is priced
There is no national price for timber. Asking what an acre is worth is like asking what a house is worth without saying where it is or what condition it is in. This page explains what actually goes into a timber price per acre, so the number you get from a buyer has some context — and so you can tell a fair offer from a low one.
Why there is no single price
Timber is sold where it can be milled, not on a global exchange. The price on your land depends on the products your trees can make, the cost of getting them out, the mills within hauling distance, and what those mills need that week. Change the species mix or the access and the number changes. That is why any site quoting one flat price per acre is guessing.
Stumpage versus delivered price
Two prices get used in the same conversation, and mixing them up is the fastest way to be disappointed.
- Stumpage is the value of the standing timber, before it is cut and trucked. That is what a buyer pays you, and it is the number to focus on.
- Delivered price is what the logs are worth at the mill gate. It is higher because it includes logging, hauling and risk.
If you hear a big delivered number and compare it to your stumpage offer, you are comparing two different things. Ask which one you are being quoted.
The units matter
| Unit | Usually used for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Board feet | Sawtimber, especially hardwoods | The log rule used to scale it |
| Tons | Pulpwood and many softwoods | Whether it is green or dry weight |
| Cords | Firewood and some pulp | Stacked volume versus loose volume |
A quote in one unit and your estimate in another cannot be compared until they match. The timber value calculator lets you choose the unit so the arithmetic lines up.
What moves the price per acre
- Species and grade. The mix of products a stand can make — veneer, sawlogs, ties, pulp — sets the ceiling.
- Volume per acre. More merchantable wood per acre spreads the harvest cost over more value.
- Access and terrain. Steep, wet or distant ground costs more to log, and that comes out of your price.
- Local demand. A mill that needs your species now will pay more than one that does not.
- Tract size and layout. Bigger, cleaner, self-contained tracts are cheaper to work.
- Timing. Markets rise and fall, and so does what a buyer will bid.
If any of those sound like questions about individual trees rather than acres, that is the small-lot case. See what a single tree is worth if you are counting stems in a yard or on a few acres.
Where to check current prices
The honest answer is: from local sources, close to where the wood will be sold.
- Your state forestry agency. Many publish timber market reports and price summaries for their region.
- Cooperative extension. University extension forestry programs often explain local markets and products.
- Mills and buyers. A phone call to a mill within hauling distance gets you a real, current number.
- A consulting forester. Someone who sells timber in your county will know the going rate and the traps.
Use published reports for context and get at least one quote that applies to your actual trees. A report is an average; your tract is not.
Turn a price into a value
Once you have a volume per acre and a price, the rest is multiplication. The timber value calculator does that in the open, using your own numbers, so you can see how the price changes the outcome. Then read how a timber sale works to compare contract types and run a real sale.
The market is what buyers will pay you
A published price is a guide; a bid is real. The surest way to learn what your timber is worth is to put it in front of several buyers at once. Email hello@logmytrees.com or use the form on the home page.
Timber prices: common questions
How much is timber worth per acre?
It varies too much for one number. Per-acre value depends on the species, how much merchantable volume is on the acre, the grade of the logs, access and terrain, and what local mills and buyers are paying at the time. Two neighbouring tracts of the same size can differ sharply.
What is stumpage?
Stumpage is the price of the standing trees before they are cut and moved. A delivered price is what the wood is worth once it reaches the mill, so it includes the cost of logging and hauling. Buyers usually quote you stumpage, and they keep the difference between that and the delivered price as their margin.
Is timber priced by the ton, the board foot or the cord?
It depends on the product. Sawtimber is often scaled in board feet, pulpwood and some softwoods are sold by the ton, and firewood and some pulp are sold by the cord. Make sure a quote and your own estimate use the same unit.
Where can I find current timber prices?
Your state forestry agency, your regional cooperative extension service, and area sawmills and buyers all publish or quote local numbers. A consulting forester who works your county will know the current market best. Treat any single report as a guide, not a guarantee.
Why do two buyers give me different prices?
Because they have different mills, haul distances, equipment, current orders and margins. That is exactly why you should collect more than one bid rather than accept the first offer.
General information only. No prices are quoted here on purpose: timber markets are local and change constantly. Confirm current prices with your state forestry agency, a local mill, or a consulting forester.