How Much Is My Timber Worth? (Value Per Acre & Per Tree)
Part of Interior & Finishes
Quick answer
Standing timber value = board-foot volume × stumpage price. A wooded acre commonly yields 2,000–10,000 board feet and sells for roughly $500–$2,000+ per acre, but it swings widely with species (walnut and white oak are worth far more than pine), log quality, volume per acre and how easily a logger can reach it. Get a forester's cruise for real numbers.
Timber is sold by volume, usually in board feet (or thousand board feet, MBF), at a 'stumpage' price — what a buyer pays for the trees still standing. To estimate value you need the volume in your logs and the going stumpage rate for your species and region.
The value formula
Timber value = Board feet ÷ 1,000 × Stumpage price per MBF
Estimate the board feet in each log from its small-end diameter and length using a log rule (the Doyle scale is most common in the eastern US), then total the logs and multiply by the stumpage price.
Rough stumpage values by species
| Species | Relative value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black walnut, white oak (veneer) | Highest | Premium for clear, large logs |
| Hard maple, cherry, red oak | High | Furniture-grade hardwood |
| Mixed hardwood (sawlog) | Moderate | The bulk of many woodlots |
| Southern pine, softwood | Lower | Sold by the ton for pulp/lumber |
| Pulpwood / low grade | Lowest | Priced by the ton, not board foot |
What changes the price
- Species and grade — a single veneer walnut log can be worth more than an acre of pine.
- Volume per acre — more board feet per acre lowers a logger's cost and raises the bid.
- Access and terrain — roadside, flat ground sells higher than remote or steep timber.
- Market timing and mill demand, which move stumpage prices up and down.
Use the board-foot calculator to total the volume in logs you've measured, then apply a local stumpage price. For a sale of any size, hire a consulting forester to cruise the stand — they routinely recover their fee in a higher bid.
FAQs
How much is an acre of timber worth?
Most woodlots sell for roughly $500–$2,000 per acre of standing timber, but high-value hardwood stands can bring far more and low-grade pulpwood much less. Volume per acre and species drive the number more than acreage alone.
How do I measure board feet in a standing tree?
Estimate merchantable height (number of 16-ft logs) and diameter at breast height, then apply a log rule like Doyle or Scribner. It's an estimate — actual yield depends on defects and how the tree is bucked into logs.
Should I sell timber myself or hire a forester?
For anything beyond a few trees, a consulting forester marks the timber, runs a competitive bid and oversees the harvest. Their cut of the sale is usually more than offset by higher bids and protection from a bad logging job.