Black Cherry Logs
for Sale & Wanted
Prunus serotina
Black Cherry is one of the most coveted cabinet and furniture woods in North America. Its rich reddish-brown color deepens with age, and its fine, straight grain is prized by high-end furniture makers, custom millwork shops, and export buyers worldwide.
📈 Market Insight — Black Cherry 2026
Black Cherry is one of the most export-driven Appalachian hardwoods. European buyers — particularly Italian and German furniture manufacturers — pay substantial premiums for high-grade Cherry logs. Pennsylvania and West Virginia are the strongest-producing states. Per the KY Division of Forestry Q3+Q4 2025 report, select-grade Cherry trades $375–$500/MBF in Kentucky; PA Allegheny Plateau cherry frequently commands 2–3× higher due to color, grain, and historical export reputation.
Cherry's color is a critical value factor: logs with a broad, reddish-brown heartwood (visible on the end) fetch significantly more than those with a large white sapwood zone. Freshly cut ends lighten quickly in air — buyers often judge the end color within minutes of cutting. If you're selling Cherry, note the heartwood percentage in your listing.
Why Black Cherry Is Furniture's Favorite
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is renowned for its warm, reddish-brown color that deepens beautifully with age and light exposure. This natural patina makes Cherry furniture more beautiful over time.
Cherry works exceptionally well with hand and machine tools, taking a smooth finish that highlights its fine, straight grain. The wood is stable, machines cleanly, and accepts stains and finishes with excellent results.
Pennsylvania and the surrounding Appalachian states produce the world's finest Black Cherry. The region's climate creates the tight grain and rich color that furniture makers prize.
Fine Furniture
Tables, chairs, bedroom sets
Kitchen Cabinets
Premium cabinet faces
Millwork
Interior trim and moldings
Veneer
Architectural panels
Black Cherry Log Types
- Veneer Logs: Large diameter with clear faces. Used for sliced veneer in high-end applications.
- Prime Sawlogs: High-quality logs for furniture-grade lumber. Minimal defects, good color.
- Sawlogs: Standard grade for general furniture and cabinet lumber production.
- Utility: Logs with gum pockets, small knots, or color variation. Used for rustic applications.
Black Cherry Grading & Pricing
Cherry pricing reflects its status as a premium furniture species, though below Walnut:
| Grade | Min. Diameter | Typical Use | Price Range* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veneer | 16"+ | Sliced veneer | $500–$600/MBF |
| Prime | 14"+ | Premium furniture | $375–$500/MBF |
| #1 | 12"+ | Furniture, cabinets | $250–$400/MBF |
| #2 | 10"+ | Utility, crafts | $170–$288/MBF |
Frequently Asked Questions About Cherry Logs
What are Cherry logs worth?
Per the Kentucky Division of Forestry Q3+Q4 2025 Delivered Log Price Report, Black Cherry sawlogs trade $250–$400/MBF Doyle delivered in Kentucky, with prime #1 logs reaching $375–$500/MBF and veneer-quality Cherry at $500–$600/MBF. Pennsylvania Allegheny Plateau cherry commands substantially higher premiums ($800–$1,500+/MBF for prime, $1,500–$3,000+/MBF for veneer) due to its color, tight grain, and international reputation. Cherry has softened somewhat but is showing signs of recovery. Logs with rich, dark heartwood and minimal sapwood command the highest prices.
What is Black Cherry wood used for?
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is prized for high-end furniture, custom cabinetry, architectural millwork, musical instruments, and specialty woodworking. Its warm reddish-brown color deepens with age and sunlight exposure. Cherry is one of the premier American furniture woods, valued for its smooth grain, workability, and natural beauty.
Where does Black Cherry grow?
Black Cherry grows throughout the eastern United States but reaches its largest commercial size in the Appalachian region, particularly Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and New York. The Allegheny Plateau produces some of the finest Cherry timber in the world. Cherry also grows in Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee, though typically in smaller volumes than the northern Appalachian states.
How much do Cherry logs sell for per MBF in 2026?
Per KDF Q3+Q4 2025, Kentucky Black Cherry delivered log prices range $170/MBF for #2/F3 grade to $600/MBF for veneer-quality logs. Typical ranges: standard sawlog $250–$400/MBF, prime #1 $375–$500/MBF, veneer $500–$600/MBF. Allegheny Plateau Cherry (northern PA, NY) commands substantially higher premiums (often 2–3× KY prices for prime/veneer) due to color, grain, and international reputation. Cherry prices have held up better than Red Oak through the 2025 market softening.
What makes Cherry logs valuable?
Cherry is valued for its color (rich reddish-brown heartwood that deepens with age), its fine straight grain, its workability, and its stability after drying. High-end furniture and cabinetry manufacturers prize Cherry for its aesthetics. Clear, dark heartwood with minimal gum pockets, bark inclusions, or pin knots commands top prices. Sapwood-heavy Cherry is penalized heavily — buyers pay for heartwood yield.
Where can I sell Cherry logs near me?
List Cherry logs for free on JMLogMarket to reach Appalachian mills, furniture manufacturers, and export brokers. Main Cherry buyer concentrations are in northwest Pennsylvania (Allegheny region), southern New York, eastern Ohio, and West Virginia. Include photos of the log ends showing heartwood-to-sapwood ratio, total length, and any defects. Multiple bids consistently beat single-buyer quotes.
Cherry Price Trends — Last 6 Months
Estimated $/MBF (Doyle scale) based on active listings and regional market data.
About Black Cherry Timber
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is the premier American furniture hardwood, prized for its warm reddish-brown heartwood, fine uniform texture, and the beautiful amber patina it develops with age and light exposure. It is moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.50), relatively straight-grained, and works exceptionally well with both hand and machine tools — it cuts cleanly, glues well, and takes a fine finish with minimal preparation. Cherry's density is close to walnut, and like walnut, it is self-finishing in character, meaning its natural color and luster are part of the appeal rather than an obstacle to work around.
Black Cherry is commercially concentrated in the Allegheny Plateau region of Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, and Ohio, where the combination of cool climate, well-drained soils, and forest management history has produced some of the highest-grade cherry sawtimber in the world. Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest region is particularly famous for producing large-diameter, tight-grained cherry logs. The species also grows throughout the broader Appalachian region, the upper Midwest, and into the South, though cherry from outside the core Allegheny belt is generally of lower grade and lighter color.
The primary market for black cherry logs is the furniture industry — both domestic (Pennsylvania Amish and custom furniture makers, contract furniture manufacturers) and export (Europe has long prized American cherry for its resemblance to European wild cherry). Veneer mills also compete aggressively for large, straight-grained cherry logs. Per the KY Division of Forestry Q3+Q4 2025 report, Kentucky cherry sawlogs trade $250–$400/MBF Doyle for standard #1 grade, $375–$500/MBF for prime, and $500–$600/MBF for veneer. Pennsylvania Allegheny Plateau cherry routinely commands 2–3× higher — select logs at $800–$1,500/MBF and premium veneer at $1,500–$3,000+/MBF — due to color, tight grain, and international export reputation.
Log Grades & What Buyers Pay — Black Cherry
| Grade | Key Requirements | Typical Buyers | Delivered Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veneer / Prime | 16"+ SED, 8'+ clear face, tight grain, consistent heartwood color | Veneer mills, export buyers, premium furniture manufacturers | $500–$600/MBF (KY) · $1,500–$3,000+ (PA Allegheny) |
| Select / No. 1 | 12–15" SED, 6'+ clear face, sound and straight | Furniture shops, cabinet manufacturers, custom millwork | $375–$500/MBF (KY) · $800–$1,500 (PA Allegheny) |
| No. 2 / Standard | 10"+ SED, some knots and light sweep allowable | Local sawmills, pallet mills, secondary furniture | $250–$400/MBF |
Tips for Selling Black Cherry
- Protect cut ends immediately after felling. Cherry logs blue-stain and discolor faster than almost any other hardwood. Paint or wax the ends as soon as logs are bucked, and get them out of the woods promptly — especially in warm, humid weather.
- Know your region's premium. Allegheny Plateau cherry (northern Pennsylvania, southern New York, and northern West Virginia) commands a significant price premium over cherry from other regions due to tighter annual rings. If you're in this zone, make sure buyers know it.
- Don't mix cherry with other species in a load. Cherry is a high-value, closely scrutinized species. A mixed load forces buyers to price conservatively. Sort carefully at the landing.
- Check for veneer potential on large-diameter stems. A 20"+ diameter cherry with a long clear face is worth far more per MBF to a veneer mill than to a sawmill. Always get a veneer appraisal before committing to a sawmill price on your best logs.
- List with end-grain photos. Cherry buyers look closely at heartwood proportion and grain tightness. A photo of the log end showing the dark heartwood core against lighter sapwood — taken right after cutting — significantly improves your ability to attract buyers and negotiate price.
Current Cherry Listings
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Current Black Cherry Log Prices by State
State-by-state Black Cherry log price references, benchmarked to the Kentucky Division of Forestry delivered-log survey.