White Ash Logs
for Sale & Wanted
Fraxinus americana — White Ash
The Emerald Ash Borer has devastated Ash populations across the eastern US, creating an urgent salvage window for timber that would otherwise be lost. Standing dead and recently killed Ash can still yield excellent lumber — but the window to harvest marketable wood closes fast.
📈 Market Insight — White Ash 2026
Ash is in a complex market due to the Emerald Ash Borer. Live or recently felled Ash commands normal pricing and sells well to flooring mills, tool handle manufacturers (axes, hammers, shovels), and baseball bat makers. Its strength-to-weight ratio is exceptional — better than any other domestic hardwood for impact tools and athletic equipment.
EAB-killed Ash can still yield usable lumber if harvested within 1–2 years of death, but blue-stain fungus discolors the wood as the tree stands. Some buyers will accept stained Ash at a discount; others won't. If you have standing dead Ash, get it on the ground and to a mill before decay sets in. Every month of delay reduces value significantly.
White Ash vs. Green Ash
Ash is one of the most important North American hardwoods, prized for its strength, flexibility, and shock resistance. The two most commercially significant species are White Ash and Green Ash.
White Ash
- White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
- Janka hardness: 1,320 lbf
- Light cream/brown color
- Baseball bats specialty
- Premium tool handles
- Higher prices
Green Ash
- Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
- Janka hardness: 1,200 lbf
- Similar appearance
- More common species
- Tool handles and flooring
- Affected by EAB
Both species share excellent shock resistance and bending properties, but White Ash is preferred for professional baseball bats and premium applications.
Baseball Bats
Major league standard
Tool Handles
Axes, hammers, shovels
Hardwood Flooring
Durable, attractive grain
Furniture
Tables, chairs, cabinets
Ash Grading & Pricing
Ash prices reflect strong demand for quality logs, especially as Emerald Ash Borer reduces supply:
| Type/Grade | Min. Diameter | Typical Use | Price Range* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ash - Veneer | 16"+ | Figured veneer | $600-1,200/MBF |
| Ash - Prime | 14"+ | Bats, handles, flooring | $300-700/MBF |
| Ash - #1 | 12"+ | General lumber | $200-500/MBF |
| Ash - #2/Pallet | 10"+ | Pallets, crates | $120-300/MBF |
Frequently Asked Questions About Ash Logs
What are Ash logs worth?
Delivered Ash sawlog prices range from $300–$700 per MBF (Doyle scale) for prime grade, $200–$500 for #1 common, and $120–$300 for #2/pallet grade. Veneer-quality Ash brings $600–$1,200/MBF. Ash values have been impacted by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) epidemic, which has increased supply in some regions while reducing long-term availability. Healthy, large-diameter Ash from unaffected areas commands better prices.
How has the Emerald Ash Borer affected Ash log prices?
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has devastated Ash populations across the eastern United States since its discovery in 2002. In heavily infested areas, the flood of salvage timber has depressed prices. However, Ash lumber demand remains steady for flooring, tool handles, and sports equipment. Landowners in affected areas should consider harvesting Ash sooner rather than later, as dead trees lose value rapidly. JMLogMarket can help you find buyers for your Ash timber.
What is Ash wood used for?
Ash wood is known for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio and shock resistance. It’s used for tool handles (axes, hammers, shovels), baseball bats, flooring, furniture, cabinet frames, and sports equipment. White Ash is the traditional wood for baseball bats (Louisville Slugger). Its straight grain and flexibility also make it suitable for bent-wood applications like snowshoes and boat frames.
How much do Ash logs sell for per MBF in 2026?
Currently, delivered Ash sawlog prices in the Appalachian region run $300–$550 per MBF (Doyle) for Select/No. 1 and $200–$350 for No. 2. Veneer-quality logs from unaffected stands can bring $600–$1,000/MBF. EAB-killed standing dead Ash still has salvage value if harvested before the wood degrades — $150–$300/MBF is typical for sound salvage sawlogs. Post a free listing on JMLogMarket for live buyer offers.
Can I still sell EAB-killed (standing dead) Ash?
Yes, but time matters. Standing dead Ash killed by Emerald Ash Borer remains merchantable for roughly 2–4 years after death, depending on site and weather. Once the bark starts sloughing off and sapwood decays, value drops sharply. Harvest dead Ash while the heartwood is still sound and the log is free of powderpost beetle damage. Many mills actively buy EAB salvage Ash — post your salvage logs on JMLogMarket to reach them.
Is Ash still used for baseball bats in 2026?
Yes, though maple has taken much of the professional market over the past 20 years. White Ash is still the traditional baseball bat wood — prized for its flex, shock absorption, and break pattern. Bat manufacturers pay premium prices for straight-grained, fine-ringed Ash billets from 10"+ diameter logs. If you have clean, straight Ash sawlogs with tight growth rings, ask specifically about bat-billet grade — it pays substantially more than standard sawlog prices.
📬 Get Ash Alerts
Be the first to know when new Ash listings are posted. Free email alerts — unsubscribe anytime.
Related Ash Resources
Ash Price Trends — Last 6 Months
Estimated $/MBF (Doyle scale) based on active listings and regional market data.
About White Ash Timber
White Ash (Fraxinus americana) is a strong, stiff, and shock-resistant hardwood with properties that made it the traditional choice for baseball bats, tool handles, and sporting equipment for over a century. Its specific gravity is 0.60 — similar to white oak — and it has an open grain that bends and flexes well without fracturing, a critical trait for any application that must absorb repeated impact. The heartwood is grayish-brown to light brown with a coarse but straight grain; the wide sapwood is a creamy white. Ash works easily with both hand and machine tools, glues well, and takes stain and finish readily — it is often used as a substitute for oak in cabinetry and flooring.
White Ash and its close relative Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) were once abundant across most of the eastern United States, but both species have been devastated by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive beetle first detected in Michigan in 2002 and now spread through nearly every state east of the Mississippi. EAB kills ash trees within 2–5 years of infestation, meaning that millions of acres of standing ash timber have died or are dying. This creates both urgency and opportunity for sellers: dead and declining ash can still be harvested for value, but deteriorates rapidly once dead. Uninfested ash from the leading edge of the EAB front — still found in parts of the South and scattered northern areas — commands premium prices.
Despite EAB devastation, demand for ash lumber and logs remains strong. Tool handle manufacturers (Seymour, Ames, and others), sporting goods companies, furniture mills, cabinet shops, and flooring producers all buy ash regularly. Some buyers are specifically seeking ash to process before full dieback makes harvest uneconomical. Delivered prices for sound white ash sawlogs run $300–$550/MBF for standard grade; select logs bring $500–$900/MBF; and prime, large-diameter clear ash for tool handles or sporting goods can bring $700–$1,400/MBF.
Log Grades & What Buyers Pay — White Ash
| Grade | Key Requirements | Typical Buyers | Delivered Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime / Tool Handle Grade | 14"+ SED, 8'+ clear face, straight tight grain, no EAB galleries | Handle manufacturers, sporting goods, veneer mills | $700–$1,400/MBF |
| Select / No. 1 | 12"+ SED, 6'+ clear face, sound wood, minimal defect | Furniture mills, flooring producers, cabinet shops | $500–$900/MBF |
| No. 2 / Standard | 10"+ SED, some knots allowable, structurally sound | Local sawmills, pallet mills, firewood processors | $300–$550/MBF |
Tips for Selling Ash
- Act now if you have standing ash. Ash killed or badly weakened by EAB deteriorates rapidly. Once woodpecker damage, sapwood staining, and bark slippage begin, log value drops significantly. Live or freshly killed ash is still fully marketable — dead ash standing for more than 2 seasons typically is not.
- Inspect logs for EAB galleries before loading. Buyers will check. Emerald Ash Borer creates distinctive S-shaped galleries just under the bark. Logs with heavy gallery damage in the sapwood are typically rejected or heavily discounted by quality-sensitive buyers like handle mills and furniture shops.
- Straight grain is everything for tool handle buyers. Handle manufacturers need tight, straight-grained wood that won't split under impact. Twisted grain, knots, or compression wood disqualifies logs from the premium handle market. Mention grain character in your listing if you have exceptional material.
- Know your state's EAB quarantine rules. Many states have EAB quarantine zones restricting movement of ash logs and firewood. Moving ash across quarantine boundaries without the appropriate documentation is a federal violation. Check your state's Department of Agriculture rules before arranging transport.
- Market alive and dead ash separately. If you have a mix of live and EAB-killed ash, list them separately. Buyers price these very differently. Mixing grades reduces your overall return and complicates negotiations.
Current Ash Listings
See all →Ready to Buy or Sell Ash?
Browse current listings or post your own. It's free and takes just a few minutes.
