Log Buyers Near Me — Who Buys Hardwood Logs?
Sawmills · veneer & stave mills · pallet mills · pulp mills · export
“Who buys logs around here?” is the first question every landowner, logger, and tree service asks — and the answer depends on what’s on your truck. Here’s who buys what, what they pay in 2026, and the live buyer demand on the marketplace right now.
Who buys logs — the five buyer types
| Buyer | What they buy | Typical delivered prices |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwood sawmills | #1–#3 sawlogs, most species — the everyday market | $200–$900/MBF by species & grade |
| Veneer mills / export yards | Large (16"+), clear, defect-free logs — walnut, white oak, cherry, maple | $2,000–$8,775/MBF |
| Cooperages / stave mills | White oak only — tight grain, barrel spec (bourbon country pays a premium) | $1,050–$3,600/MBF |
| Pallet & tie mills | Low-grade logs of most species, railroad-tie oak | $105–$290/MBF |
| Pulp / chip mills | Small, crooked, or cull wood — bought by the ton | varies by region, sold per ton |
Live buyer demand right now
These are open requests from buyers on JMLogMarket — real demand, posted with contact info so sellers can reach out directly:
Find log buyers by state
Each state page lists current prices, the main buyer types in that market, and live listings:
Selling standing timber instead? Each state has a dedicated guide — e.g. sell timber in Kentucky. Also see the sawmill directory for mills buying logs, and the state forestry division buyer lists linked on each state page.
How to sell to a log buyer (and not get lowballed)
- 1. Know your grade first. Upload photos to the free AI Log Grader — a USFS-based grade (veneer / F1 / F2 / F3) plus a value estimate, before anyone quotes you.
- 2. Know your volume. Scale your logs with the log scale calculator (Doyle is standard in Appalachia) so a price per MBF means something.
- 3. Match the buyer to the log. Don’t sell a stave-quality white oak at pallet-mill prices — and don’t waste a veneer mill’s time with tie logs.
- 4. Make buyers compete. List free on JMLogMarket with photos, grade, and location — buyers contact you directly and no commission comes off your price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who buys logs near me?
The main buyers are hardwood sawmills (grade lumber), cooperages and stave mills (white oak for bourbon barrels), veneer mills (large defect-free logs), pallet and tie mills (low-grade logs), and pulp or chip mills (by the ton). Around them sit export yards, firewood processors, portable-sawmill owners, and woodworkers buying specialty logs. Which one is 'your' buyer depends entirely on species and grade - a veneer mill and a pallet mill will quote the same log very differently.
How do I find log buyers in my area?
Three free ways: browse your state's market page on JMLogMarket for prices and mills, list your logs free on the marketplace so buyers contact you directly (no commission), and check the buyer request board where mills and buyers post exactly what they need right now. Most state forestry divisions also publish licensed timber-buyer directories - Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee all maintain one.
Do sawmills buy single logs from homeowners?
Some do, many don't - hauling cost is the deciding factor. One ordinary log often isn't worth a mill's trip, so single-log sellers usually do best when the log is genuinely high-grade (veneer or stave quality), when they can deliver it themselves, or when a local portable-sawmill owner will saw it for use or shares. Grade the log free with the AI Log Grader first so you know which conversation to have.
How much do log buyers pay?
It depends on species and grade far more than volume. Representative June 2026 delivered-to-mill ranges in the Appalachian market: White Oak sawlogs $370-$900/MBF (veneer to $6,775), Black Walnut $500-$1,500/MBF (veneer to $8,775), Red Oak $245-$520/MBF, Yellow Poplar $285-$560/MBF, with pallet-grade logs of most species bringing $105-$290/MBF. Stumpage (standing timber) runs 30-50% less than delivered.
Skip the phone tag — let buyers find you
Post your logs free with photos and location. Buyers see your listing and contact you directly — no commission, no middleman.