Sell Timber in Ohio
Standing timber & log sales · stumpage, buyers, and the sale process
Whether you have a woodlot to harvest or logs already on the landing, here is how Ohio timber sales actually work in 2026 — what your trees are worth, who buys them, and how to keep a low first offer from costing you.
The two ways to sell Ohio timber
- Sell standing (stumpage): the buyer cuts and hauls; you're paid for trees on the stump. Simplest for whole-tract harvests — but you receive less than delivered prices because logging costs come out. Best run through a consulting forester with sealed bids.
- Harvest and sell logs: if you (or a hired crew) can fell and deck logs safely, you capture more of the delivered price. Grade each log free with the AI Log Grader, scale with the Doyle calculator, and list free on JMLogMarket — buyers contact you direct, no commission.
Worked example with Ohio’s top species: this spring Ohio mills paid $400–$750 per MBF for delivered red oak saw logs, while standing red oak sold for a median $450/MBF (Ohio State University). That gap reflects the logging & hauling cost, and it’s why the harvest-and-sell route nets more when you can manage it.
Who buys timber in Ohio
Licensed timber buyers and loggers, sawmills with their own crews, and mill procurement foresters. Where to find them:
- Ohio log & timber buyers: see who buys logs near you and the sawmill directory.
- Logging crews: the logger directory covers harvest crews working Ohio and the surrounding region.
- Let buyers come to you: post on the buyer request board or list your timber free — every listing shows your contact so buyers reach out direct.
- State resources: Ohio’s forestry agency maintains licensed-buyer and master-logger lists — worth cross-checking any buyer you haven’t worked with.
The 5-step Ohio timber sale (done right)
- 1. Know what you have. Walk the tract; photograph your best trees and run them through the free AI Tree Grader for a first read. For a full harvest, pay for a forester’s cruise.
- 2. Price-check the market. Current Ohio log prices and the full price guide tell you what buyers are working against.
- 3. Get competing offers. Sealed bids for stumpage; multiple quotes (mill + marketplace listing) for decked logs.
- 4. Contract in writing. Payment before cutting (or performance bond), harvest boundaries, BMP compliance, wet-weather shutdowns, road/fence repair, and a completion date.
- 5. Mind the taxes. Timber sale income can qualify for capital-gains treatment and a depletion deduction on your timber basis — worth a conversation with an accountant before, not after, the sale.
Current Ohio Listings
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Free help from the Ohio DNR Division of Forestry
Before you sign anything, talk to the state. The Ohio DNR Division of Forestry provides free or low-cost assistance to Ohio landowners — ask for a service forester and the Ohio consulting forester list.
A consulting forester works for you, not the buyer, and typically charges a percentage of the sale. That fee is routinely covered several times over by the higher bids a competitive sale attracts — which is why sealed bids run by a forester tend to beat a handshake with the first logger who knocks. Full landowner's guide →
Ohio delivered log prices — spring 2026
Prices Ohio mills paid for delivered saw logs, per thousand board feet (Doyle). The same report puts statewide stumpage — what you get for the tree standing — at red oak $300–$750 (median $450), white oak $700–$1,200 (median $875) and walnut $1,500–$3,000 (median $1,750).
| Species | Prime | No. 1 common | No. 2 common | Blocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Walnut | $1,800–$2,500 | $1,000–$1,500 | $700–$1,100 | $275–$600 |
| White Oak | $1,000–$1,800 | $400–$1,500 | $800–$950 | $275–$400 |
| Red Oak | $500–$900 | $450–$700 | $350–$500 | $250–$350 |
| Hard Maple | $800–$1,300 | $550–$1,000 | $350–$525 | $250–$300 |
| Cherry | $600–$1,000 | $450–$750 | $300–$500 | $250–$300 |
| Yellow Poplar | $500–$900 | $450–$750 | $300–$500 | $250–$300 |
| Hickory | $400–$700 | $220–$500 | $350–$400 | $250–$300 |
Source: Ohio State University Extension / ODNR Ohio Timber Price Report (July 31, 2026), prices paid March–May 2026. Each range runs from the lowest to the highest price reported by Ohio mills — diameter, grade, length and access all move the number. Full price board →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sell timber in Ohio?
Two routes. For standing timber: get a consulting forester to cruise the tract, then run a sealed-bid sale to several licensed buyers - forester-run sales routinely beat the first drive-by offer. For logs already on the ground: grade them (free with the AI Log Grader), check current Ohio prices, then list free on JMLogMarket so buyers contact you directly with no commission.
How much is my timber worth in Ohio?
Ohio State University's Ohio Timber Price Report (July 31, 2026; prices paid March-May 2026, Doyle scale) puts delivered saw logs at Red Oak $400-$750/MBF (prime $500-$900), White Oak $750-$1,500/MBF (prime $1,000-$1,800) and Black Walnut $1,000-$3,000/MBF (prime $1,800-$2,500). Standing timber (stumpage) sold for Red Oak $300-$750/MBF (median $450) and White Oak $700-$1,200/MBF (median $875), before tract-specific factors. Volume, access, and grade move the number more than averages do.
Do I need a forester to sell timber in Ohio?
Not legally in most cases, but for a whole-tract sale a consulting forester typically pays for their ~10% fee several times over: they cruise the volume so you're not guessing, run competitive sealed bids, and write a contract covering BMPs, wet-weather rules, and cleanup. For a few logs or a small salvage job, the marketplace route (grade, list free, field offers) is usually enough.
Who buys standing timber in Ohio?
Licensed loggers and timber buyers, sawmills that run their own crews, and procurement foresters for larger mills. Ohio's forestry agency publishes lists of licensed buyers and master loggers, and JMLogMarket's directories cover loggers and sawmills. You can also post what you have on the buyer request board and let buyers come to you.
Related Reading
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