The volume of timber in a stand is the primary factory in calculating the value of timber. Ten acres is typically the minimum size that will hold enough mature trees to generate attractive offers.
Accessibility is the next main factor. Loggers will typically bid higher for readily-accessible timber, because less labor and equipment are needed to harvest it. Â
The final main factors are species and quality. Mature trees of at least 16-inches in diameter at breast-height (DBH) are mature and merchantable, and most trees smaller than this should be left to grow until a future harvest. Â
Mature black walnut and white oak trees have the most valuable logs of all, and they’re the ones that unethical loggers will invariably under-bid or try to trick you into selling before they’re fully mature.
AshÂ
Beech
Birch
Black Oak
Cherry
Chestnut
Elm
Hickory
Locust
Maple
Poplar
Red Oak
Tulip
Walnut
White Oak
White Pine
Yellow Pine
Yellow Poplar
Timber buyers and loggers can seem friendly and knowledgeable, and some are very good at pretending to be so. But you shouldn’t let them lead you to believe that they’re your friend or ally in the timber business. Â
Loggers are not paid to get you top dollar for your timber. In fact, every single one of them is incentivized to grab your timber for the lowest possible price they can persuade you to accept. Â
They also have many ways to trick unwary landowners including: low-balling, high grading, false scaling, deceitful point of cut scams, under-reporting the harvest and more.
And yes, these things happen here in Mentor-on-the-Lake all the time.Â
No matter who they are, or how good you think their business reputation is (and even if they drive a horse and buggy) you should never let a logger onto your land without first talking to an experienced independent forester like us.
September 16, 2026 | Timber sale consultation
A couple who purchased a 40-acre wooded parcel in Gilbert County West Virginia asked use to evaluate their timber for a possible sale.
September 16, 2026 | Timber stand evaluation
A landowner with a 15-acre timber stand in Licking County Ohio asked us to advise him on its merchantability
September 14, 2026 | Timber sale report
Today we sold 37-acres of timber in Hocking County Ohio for $31,000. See the full details here
September 14. 2026 | Timber stand walk
An investor with 100-acres of timber in Randolph County WV asked us to visit it and tell him what it might bring in a sale.
September 13, 2026 | Timber sale consultation
A woman in Dundee asked us to evaluate her 10-acre timber stand in Tuscarawas County Ohio.
September 12, 2026 | Timber land consultation
A man who’s buying a 60-acre parcel with a 42-acre timber stand in Scioto County Ohio asked us to advise him on the value of the timber.
