Buy & Sell Logs in Michigan
Connect with Michigan loggers, sawmills, and hardwood buyers. Hard Maple, Red Oak, Cherry, Basswood and more — free to list, no commission.
Market note: Michigan Hard Maple demand from flooring, furniture, and sporting goods manufacturers is consistently strong. Black Cherry from the northern Lower Peninsula commands premium prices from both domestic furniture buyers and export markets. Red Oak export demand from southern Michigan remains active. Basswood has specialized demand from carving and specialty wood buyers. Northern Michigan softwood (White Pine, Spruce) moves separately through pulp and timber markets. Full 2026 market outlook →
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Buyer’s Field Guide — Michigan
- Michigan Hard Maple is benchmark quality. Specify grade carefully — flooring-grade Hard Maple (clear, tight grain, no mineral stain) vs. secondary grade has a significant price spread.
- Northern LP Cherry rivals PA quality. Emmet, Charlevoix, Antrim, Leelanau county Cherry is slow-grown and export-quality — know what you're buying if sourcing northern MI Cherry.
- Basswood has a niche buyer market. Carvers, luthiers, and specialty wood dealers buy Basswood at premium prices — don't sell Basswood to pallet mills without checking specialty buyers first.
- Michigan DNR regulations apply. Some logging in Michigan requires state permits on state forest land buffer zones. Confirm any regulatory requirements on land adjacent to public land.
- Northern Michigan access is seasonal. Spring breakup (typically March–May) closes secondary roads to heavy equipment. Plan log truck scheduling around road commission weight restrictions.
- Compare Upper Peninsula vs. Lower Peninsula pricing. UP timber is more remote and haul costs are higher — factor distance to mills carefully when buying UP logs.
Maximize Your Load Value — MI Sellers
- Hard Maple is Michigan's flagship species. Clear, flooring-grade Maple brings strong prices from multiple buyers. Sort by grade and don't mix flooring-grade with pallet-grade — they have very different markets.
- Northern LP Cherry commands export prices. Cherry from the Traverse City region and northern Lower Peninsula is sought by both domestic furniture buyers and European exporters. Get multiple bids before selling.
- Post with accurate species IDs. Soft Maple and Hard Maple look similar in the field but have very different prices. Buyers will verify at the mill — accurate species listings build credibility and close deals faster.
- Basswood should go to specialty buyers first. Craft wood dealers, carving wood suppliers, and specialty lumber companies pay premium prices for clean Basswood that would bring pallet prices at a sawmill.
- Volume matters in northern MI. Northern Michigan's remote location means buyers want full truckloads to make haul economics work. Listings with full load volumes attract more serious buyers.
- Timing around spring breakup is critical. If you have logs ready in late winter, post them early — buyers know spring road restrictions are coming and will move to secure loads before February end.
Michigan Hardwood Price Reference
Typical log prices delivered to mill — Spring 2026. Prices vary by county, buyer, diameter, and grade. Always verify current prices directly with buyers.
| Species | Veneer / Premium | #1–#2 Saw Log | #3 / Pallet | Key Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Maple | $475–$730/MBFClear flooring-grade commands top prices | $310–$495/MBF | $115–$175/MBF | Flooring mills, sporting goods, butcher block |
| Black Cherry | $580–$900/MBFNorthern LP origin premium | $370–$620/MBF | $150–$220/MBF | Domestic furniture, European export buyers |
| Red Oak | $410–$590/MBF | $255–$415/MBF | $100–$160/MBF | Flooring mills, export buyers, cabinets |
| Basswood | $280–$420/MBF | $180–$280/MBF | $80–$120/MBF | Carvers, luthiers, specialty wood dealers |
| White Birch | $220–$340/MBF | $150–$240/MBF | $70–$110/MBF | Paper mills, specialty wood, furniture |
| Yellow Poplar | $280–$380/MBF | $185–$280/MBF | $80–$130/MBF | Pallet mills, millwork, packaging |
| Hickory | $300–$450/MBF | $200–$320/MBF | $80–$130/MBF | Tool handles, smoking wood, flooring |
| Ash | $280–$400/MBF | $160–$260/MBF | $70–$110/MBF | Handles, millwork (soft market) |
* Reference ranges only. Actual prices depend on log diameter, grade, location, and current demand. Veneer logs may be quoted per BF or per log by individual buyers. Get multiple quotes on any premium species.
Browse by Species
Click any species to see active Michigan listings.
Current Michigan Listings
See all →Best Time to Sell — Seasonal Guide
Peak demand months by species in Michigan.
Based on historical MI market patterns. Actual conditions vary by year. Read the 2026 market outlook →
Michigan Timber Regions
Regional overview — species, access, and major mill types by area.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Emmet, Charlevoix, Antrim, Grand Traverse, Benzie counties. Premium Cherry and Hard Maple. Export buyers active in the Traverse City corridor.
Central Lower Peninsula
Clare, Missaukee, Osceola, Lake, Mason counties. Strong Hard Maple and Red Oak production. Good road infrastructure. Multiple sawmill buyers.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Otsego, Montmorency, Crawford, Oscoda, Alcona counties. Commercial forest zone. Mixed hardwood and softwood. Au Sable River corridor.
Southern Lower Peninsula
Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Cass, St. Joseph counties. Farm woodlots and second-growth hardwood. Best Walnut in Michigan. Indiana buyers accessible.
Upper Peninsula (West)
Gogebic, Ontonagon, Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw counties. Primarily softwood/mixed forest. Hardwood pockets of Sugar Maple and Yellow Birch near Lake Superior.
Upper Peninsula (East)
Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft counties. Mixed northern forest. Hard Maple, Yellow Birch, Aspen. Canadian border access.
About Michigan Timber
Michigan's forests cover approximately 20 million acres, making it one of the largest forested states east of the Mississippi. Michigan timber spans two distinct geographic regions: the northern Lower Peninsula, known for world-class Hard Maple and Black Cherry, and the Upper Peninsula, dominated by northern hardwoods and softwoods including Sugar Maple, Yellow Birch, White Pine, and Aspen. Southern Michigan produces Red Oak, Walnut, and Basswood from farm woodlots and managed forest land.
Michigan Hard Maple is among the most commercially important hardwood species in the Great Lakes region. Its use in flooring, gymnasium floors, butcher block, and sporting goods manufacturing creates sustained, year-round demand. Black Cherry from the northern Lower Peninsula — particularly from the Traverse Bay region and Leelanau Peninsula — is slow-grown and commands prices comparable to Pennsylvania Cherry for export and domestic furniture buyers. Basswood from Michigan's forest interior has a specialized market among carvers, luthiers, and specialty wood suppliers.
Michigan's timber market is shaped by its geography — the remoteness of the Upper Peninsula increases haul costs and limits the buyer pool compared to southern Lower Peninsula locations. Spring road closures (known locally as 'weight restriction season') create seasonal bottlenecks for log trucking, making fall and late summer ideal times to move large loads. For buyers and sellers in the northern Lower Peninsula, coordinating around these seasonal windows is a key part of operating efficiently in the Michigan timber market.
Michigan Hardwood Species Guides
Deep dives on pricing, grading, and markets for each major Michigan species.
Log Hauling Companies in Michigan
Find log hauling companies near you — search by ZIP code, equipment type, and availability.
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