Eastern Red Cedar Logs
for Sale & Wanted
Juniperus virginiana — Red Cedar / Aromatic Cedar
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is technically a juniper, not a true cedar, but it has been called cedar in American commerce for three centuries. The heartwood is a vivid reddish-purple that fades to a warm amber over time; the sapwood is nearly white and sharply demarcated. The wood has an unmistakable aromatic oil content that repels moths and many wood-boring insects — the reason it's the traditional choice for closet liners, chests, and clothing storage. Red cedar grows across most of the eastern United States, often as a pioneer species on abandoned pastures and fencerows.
Market Insight — Eastern Red Cedar 2026
Unlike most softwoods, red cedar is dense, knotty, and often small-diameter — trees frequently top out at 12-18 inches DBH. This makes it unsuitable for dimensional lumber but ideal for posts, paneling, shingles, small specialty products, and pencils. The heartwood's natural rot resistance rivals cypress and black locust, making red cedar fence posts famous for their 20-40 year service life even in direct soil contact. The aromatic oil is also extracted commercially for use in cedar oil and mothball products.
Red cedar pricing reflects its dual role as both specialty and utility wood. Delivered sawlog prices typically run $300–$600/MBF (Doyle) for standard grade, with large-diameter, clear logs for paneling or furniture manufacture bringing $600–$1,200/MBF. Fence post material is sold by the piece (typically $8-25 each depending on length and diameter) rather than by MBF. Demand is strongest from cedar closet manufacturers, novelty product makers, pencil slat mills, and regional fence installers.
About Eastern Red Cedar Timber
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is technically a juniper, not a true cedar, but it has been called cedar in American commerce for three centuries. The heartwood is a vivid reddish-purple that fades to a warm amber over time; the sapwood is nearly white and sharply demarcated. The wood has an unmistakable aromatic oil content that repels moths and many wood-boring insects — the reason it's the traditional choice for closet liners, chests, and clothing storage. Red cedar grows across most of the eastern United States, often as a pioneer species on abandoned pastures and fencerows.
Unlike most softwoods, red cedar is dense, knotty, and often small-diameter — trees frequently top out at 12-18 inches DBH. This makes it unsuitable for dimensional lumber but ideal for posts, paneling, shingles, small specialty products, and pencils. The heartwood's natural rot resistance rivals cypress and black locust, making red cedar fence posts famous for their 20-40 year service life even in direct soil contact. The aromatic oil is also extracted commercially for use in cedar oil and mothball products.
Red cedar pricing reflects its dual role as both specialty and utility wood. Delivered sawlog prices typically run $300–$600/MBF (Doyle) for standard grade, with large-diameter, clear logs for paneling or furniture manufacture bringing $600–$1,200/MBF. Fence post material is sold by the piece (typically $8-25 each depending on length and diameter) rather than by MBF. Demand is strongest from cedar closet manufacturers, novelty product makers, pencil slat mills, and regional fence installers.
Closet Liners
Aromatic moth-repellent
Fence Posts
30+ year service life
Cedar Chests
Traditional storage
Pencils
Most US pencils start as cedar slats
Eastern Red Cedar Grades & What Buyers Pay
| Grade | Key Requirements | Typical Buyers | Delivered Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select / Clear | 12"+ SED, clear heartwood | Paneling mills, furniture makers, novelty manufacturers | $700–$1,200/MBF |
| Standard Sawlog | 8"+ SED, sound heart | Fence mills, closet-liner shops | $300–$600/MBF |
| Post / Utility | 5-8" SED, heartwood | Fence contractors, landscape suppliers | $8–$25/post |
| Cedar Oil / Chip | Any, aromatic wood | Essential oil processors, mulch producers | $60–$140/ton |
Tips for Selling Eastern Red Cedar
- Red cedar is a two-market wood. Small trees are worth more as fence posts than as sawlogs. Before hauling to a sawmill, call your local fence post buyers — in parts of KY, TN, and MO, landowners routinely make more from post cuts than from chip mill or sawlog sales.
- All-heart is premium. The white sapwood band on red cedar can be wide, especially in open-grown trees. Buyers for chests, liners, and paneling want all-heart or nearly-heart logs. Trim heavy sapwood before delivery when you can.
- Keep logs clean. Cedar is often skidded through muddy winter conditions. Mud in the bark and butts can contaminate cedar oil extraction batches and downgrade sawlogs. Brush off butts before loading.
- Don't overlook the oil market. Many mills pay by the ton for chipped cedar used in oil extraction or aromatic mulch. If your cedar is too small or too defective for posts or sawlogs, chip-mill it rather than burning it.
- Know your buyer's minimum diameter. Paneling mills often want 10"+ SED minimum; post buyers take down to 4" top. Matching product to buyer maximizes return. Don't ship 6" cedar to a paneling mill and expect to be paid well — they'll reject or downgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eastern Red Cedar Logs
What are red cedar logs worth?
Standard red cedar sawlog prices run $300–$600 per MBF (Doyle) delivered. Large-diameter clear logs (14"+ SED) for paneling or furniture bring $700–$1,200/MBF. Small cedar suitable only for fence posts is sold by the piece at $8-25 each. Aromatic cedar chipped for oil extraction or mulch brings $60-$140 per ton.
Why is eastern red cedar rot resistant?
The heartwood contains natural oils and extractives — primarily thujaplicins and related compounds — that are toxic to most wood-decay fungi and wood-boring insects. In direct ground contact, cedar heartwood posts commonly last 20-40 years without treatment. Sapwood does not have the same protection and will rot within a few years.
Is red cedar the same as western red cedar?
No. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a juniper; Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) is a true cedar in the cypress family. They are different genera, different regions, and different uses. Western red cedar is larger, lighter, and used primarily for shakes, shingles, and exterior siding. Eastern red cedar is smaller, denser, and used for aromatic and post applications.
How big do red cedars get?
Most commercial red cedar tops out at 12-18 inches diameter at breast height (DBH), with mature heights of 40-50 feet. Exceptional old-growth specimens can exceed 24" DBH, but these are rare. The small average diameter is why most cedar is processed as posts, paneling, or specialty products rather than as dimensional lumber.
Can I sell cedar for fence posts instead of sawlogs?
Yes — and for many smaller cedars, post market is the best return. A 7-foot round cedar post with 4" top can bring $10-15; an 8-foot, 5" top post brings $15-25. If you have trees under 10" diameter, run the numbers both ways: posts per tree at local prices often beats the MBF grade at the sawlog buyer.
Does cedar lose its aroma over time?
Gradually, yes. The aromatic oils diminish with age and exposure. A new cedar closet is most potent in the first few years, with the aroma becoming subtle after 10-15 years. Light sanding of the cedar surface releases fresh oil and restores most of the aromatic intensity — which is why cedar closet products are sometimes marketed with sandpaper 'refreshers.'
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