Free Tool

What's My
Timber Worth?

Answer three questions — get an instant value range based on current Appalachian market prices.

1 Species
What species do you have?
2 Grade
What quality is your timber?

3 Volume
How much do you have?

Not sure? A typical standing tree is 0.05–0.15 MBF. An average logging truck load is 3–5 MBF.

Estimated Value — April 2026
—
Post It for Free → Find Buyers Near You

Disclaimer: Estimates are based on current $/MBF market averages from JMLogMarket listings, state forestry reports, and regional data as of April 2026. Actual value depends on log quality, diameter, length, defect, moisture content, and your distance to the nearest mill. This tool is for reference only — always get an in-person quote before selling.

How this estimator works

The estimator multiplies your estimated volume (in MBF, thousand board feet) by a current price-per-MBF figure for your species and state. Prices are pulled from three sources: active listings on JMLogMarket, state extension forestry reports, and regional mill rates. We adjust for state-level variation — White Oak in Kentucky trades higher than White Oak in Georgia due to proximity to bourbon stave mills.

The tool returns a range rather than a single number because timber value moves with grade, access, and buyer competition. A 20,000 BF load of prime White Oak heading to a stave mill may bring 2-3× what the same volume brings as No. 2 sawlogs at a pallet operation.

What affects your timber value the most

  • Species. Black Walnut averages $3,600/MBF for sawlogs and over $5,000/MBF for veneer. Yellow Poplar averages around $250/MBF. A stand's species mix drives more value than any other factor.
  • Grade. Within a species, prime/veneer logs can bring 2-5× what #2/pallet logs bring. Grade is determined by diameter, clear face length, sweep, and defect.
  • Diameter. Most mills prefer 12"+ small-end diameter. Premium buyers want 16"+ for veneer. Logs under 10" often go to pulp or pallet markets at a fraction of sawlog price.
  • Distance to mill. Trucking can cost $150-$350 per load. Timber stands within 50 miles of a primary mill are worth meaningfully more than stands 200+ miles out.
  • Access. A tract with existing logging roads and reasonable skidding distance attracts more bids than a remote or steep stand that requires significant road-building.
  • Time of year. Winter logging brings premiums on wet-site timber because ground conditions allow harvest. Summer logging on bottomland sites can trigger buyer discounts.

Next steps after you have an estimate

This tool gives you a starting figure. For standing timber, the next move is almost always a consulting forester cruise — a professional walks the tract, measures each tree, assesses grade and defect, and produces a written appraisal. Typical cost: $8-$15 per acre. Foresters routinely recover 20-40% more value for landowners than negotiated-without-cruise sales.

For cut logs, list your load free on JMLogMarket — buyers across Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and the surrounding region search by species, grade, and location. See current prices before you sell.

© 2026 JMLOGMARKET LLC
Timber Prices Log Calculator Terms