Where to Sell Hardwood Logs in 2026
Mills · online marketplace · classifieds · forester-run sales — compared honestly
Loggers, farmers, tree services, and landowners all hit the same wall: the logs are ready, but where do you actually sell them? Here are your four real options, compared honestly — including when not to use ours.
Your four options, compared
| Channel | Best for | Fees | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct to a mill | Full loads of one species/grade; sellers who know their grade | None, but one buyer = their price | A mill quotes its own scale & grade — without your own grade you can’t argue |
| JMLogMarket (online marketplace) | Mixed loads, specialty logs, anyone who wants buyers to compete | Free listing, no commission | You field the calls and arrange the sale yourself — that’s the trade for keeping 100% |
| Facebook / Craigslist | Firewood logs, slabs, local hobby wood | Free | Few grade-log buyers browse there; no species/grade search; scam replies |
| Forester-run timber sale | Standing timber, whole-woodlot harvests | ~10% of sale (typical) | For standing trees, not decked logs; slower, but sealed bids protect you |
Who’s selling — and what usually works
- Loggers & crews: keep your mill relationships for volume; list the walnut, white oak, and veneer-candidate logs where buyers compete. The premium logs are where a second bid pays most.
- Tree services & land clearers: stop paying to dump saleable logs. Deck them, photo them, list free — urban walnut and oak find buyers, and the AI Log Grader flags which stems are worth the trouble (watch for metal in yard trees).
- Farmers & landowners with decked logs: grade first, then get a mill quote and a marketplace listing running at the same time. Two real numbers beats one every time.
- Landowners with standing timber: that’s a different sale — see the state-by-state sell-timber guides and read Selling Timber from Your Land and consider a consulting forester; sealed-bid sales routinely beat drive-by offers.
The 4-step sale that protects your price
- 1. Grade — free, from photos, in seconds: AI Log Grader. Veneer vs. pallet is a 10–40× price difference; know which you have.
- 2. Scale — board feet on the Doyle / Scribner / International calculator so per-MBF quotes mean something.
- 3. Price-check — current ranges on the timber price guide and your state market page; see how much sawmills pay.
- 4. Make them compete — list free with photos, species, grade, and location. Buyers contact you direct; nothing comes off your price. Know who buys logs so the right mill sees it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I sell hardwood logs?
You have four real options: sell direct to a sawmill or specialty mill (fastest for full loads of one grade), list on an online timber marketplace like JMLogMarket (buyers compete and contact you directly, free, no commission), post on general sites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist (fine for firewood-grade, weak for grade logs), or sell standing timber through a consulting forester (best for whole-woodlot sales). Most sellers get the best result by grading their logs first, then making at least two buyers compete.
What's the best way to sell logs for the most money?
Grade before you price. The spread between grades is enormous - a white oak log can be worth $145/MBF as pallet wood or $6,775/MBF as veneer - so knowing what you have is worth more than any negotiation trick. Grade free with the AI Log Grader, scale your volume with the Doyle calculator, then get at least two quotes: one from your nearest mill and one from listing free on the marketplace. Never sell to the only buyer who ever saw the logs.
Can I sell logs without a logging company?
Yes, if the logs are already on the ground and accessible - tree services, farmers, and land-clearing contractors sell logs directly all the time. You'll need buyer contact (a marketplace listing or mill call), a way to load (many log-truck operators have self-loaders - see the log hauling directory), and realistic expectations on hauling cost. For standing timber, a licensed logger or forester-run sale is usually the better route.
Do I need to deliver logs to the mill myself?
Not necessarily. Many mills quote both delivered and roadside (picked-up) prices, and self-loading log trucks can haul from a roadside landing - typically $3-$5 per loaded mile locally. Delivered prices run higher, so if you have legal trucking access it can pay for itself on a full load; for a few logs, a buyer with a self-loader is usually the practical answer.
Related Reading
Ready to Sell Your Logs?
Post free in about 2 minutes — photos, species, location. Buyers contact you directly, and 100% of the price is yours.