What is my tree worth?
If you own a few acres, or just a few big trees, you are not really asking about timber by the ton. You are asking about trees — the walnut by the fence, the oaks along the drive, the pines at the back. This page is for the 1 to 40 acre owner who wants to know whether those trees are an asset, a job, or both.
How much is a walnut tree worth?
Walnut gets the question because a good one can be valuable. It is a high-value hardwood, and the best logs — straight, clear, large, and free of metal or rot — can go to veneer, which is a different market from ordinary sawlogs. But that is the top of the range, not the rule. A yard tree that is forked, hollow, or full of nails may be worth little or nothing.
What actually sets the number: the diameter at chest height, the length of clean log below the first major branch, the form of the stem, the grade a buyer assigns, how close a truck and a skidder can get, and how many other good trees you have at the same time.
How much is an oak tree worth?
Oak is the workhorse hardwood. It is graded, and the grade — not just the size — decides much of the price. White oak and red oak are sold as different products, so identify which you have. A single large oak is usually a small job on its own; a few good oaks together start to be worth a buyer's time.
How much is a pine tree worth?
Pine is often measured by weight and sold as sawtimber or pulpwood. Diameter and the product class decide which market the tree is in. Pine markets are local: the mill within trucking distance matters as much as the species.
What changes the value of one tree
- Species. A veneer walnut and a pulpwood pine are different products entirely.
- Size. The diameter and merchantable log length, not the height in the yard.
- Form and grade. Straight, clear, sound stems are worth more than forked, knotty or hollow ones.
- Defects. Metal, rot, lightning damage and old fences can take a tree out of the running.
- Access. A tree beside a driveway is cheaper to harvest than one on a steep, wet slope.
- Quantity and timing. Several good trees in one visit beat one tree, and buyers pay more when they need wood.
Is my tree even sellable?
Before you get too far, check the basics. A sellable tree usually has a sound, straight lower log of usable length, enough diameter for the product, and a way to get it to a truck without wrecking the property. Trees with power lines, buildings, or septic fields in the drop zone can cost more to remove than the wood is worth.
If you have more than a handful of trees, or you want a value across the whole tract, move from counting trees to measuring acres with the timber value calculator. It uses the same species and volume logic, applied to acreage.
Selling the wood, or just needing the tree gone?
This is the fork in the road for a small-lot owner.
- Sell the wood. If the trees are merchantable, the goal is to get competing bids and be paid for the standing trees. Start on the bid request page and read how a timber sale works before you sign.
- Get them taken down. If the trees are in the way, unsafe, or not worth harvesting, that is a removal job, not a sale. Our sister site loggingcompanies.com is where to start.
A tree can be both. Sometimes a buyer will remove a tree and pay you little or nothing because the wood covers the work. Sometimes you pay the difference. Ask more than one buyer and compare what each will actually do, not just the headline price.
What to have ready before you ask for bids
- Count and describe the trees. Species, approximate size, and how many.
- Note the access. Where a truck can park, and how the trees would come out.
- Take a few photos. Wide shots of the trees and the access help a buyer respond.
- Check current prices. The timber prices per acre guide explains what moves the number.
- Ask several buyers. Use the bid request to get more than one number.
Get a real number, not a guess
Tell us your species, roughly how many trees you have, and where you are. We will pass your request to local buyers so you can compare offers. Email hello@logmytrees.com.
What your tree is worth: common questions
How much is a walnut tree worth?
It depends on the tree, not just the species. Diameter at chest height, clear log length, form, whether the log is veneer grade or sawlog grade, how close a truck can get, and what local buyers are paying all change the answer. A big, straight, clear walnut can be worth a lot; a forked yard tree often is not. Get a local quote before you count on a number.
How much is an oak tree worth?
Oak is a mainstream hardwood, so its value is driven by volume, grade and your local mill demand. White oak and red oak are different products. A single tree is rarely worth a special trip unless it is large and high grade, so several good stems together are what make a small-lot sale work.
How much is a pine tree worth?
Pine is often sold by weight or as sawtimber, and mill demand is local. Diameter and product class decide whether a tree goes to sawtimber or pulpwood. A handful of pines is usually a small job; a stand of them can be a real sale.
Do loggers pay for trees on a small lot?
Sometimes. If the trees are merchantable, close enough to a road, and there are enough of them to make the trip worthwhile, a buyer may pay for the wood. If the trees are low value, small, or hard to reach, the cost of removal can be more than the wood is worth, and you may pay instead.
What is the difference between selling a tree and having it removed?
Selling means a buyer pays you for the standing tree and harvests it. Removal means you want the tree gone and you arrange and usually pay for the work. Some trees sit in the middle: a buyer will take them for free, or pay a little, because the wood covers the cost.
How many trees do I need for a sale to make sense?
There is no fixed number. A buyer looks at the total value and the cost to get it out. A few large, high-grade hardwoods can be worth a trip; many small or low-grade trees may not be. The only way to know is to ask more than one buyer.
General information only — not legal, tax, forestry or financial advice. Tree and log values vary widely. Confirm with a consulting forester or a licensed timber buyer before you sell or remove anything.