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.
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 Wortley 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.
March 2, 2026 | Timber sale consultation
A man in Florida asked us to evaluate a 50-year old plantation of black walnut and cherry trees in Belmont County Ohio
February 27, 2026 | Timber stand evaluation
A landowner near Orrville asked us to evaluate his timber stand in Wayne County
February 25, 2026 | Timber stand evaluation
A man in Kent asked us to evaluate a 60-acre parcel he’s acquired in Monroe County near New Matamoras
February 25, 2026 | Timber stand evaluation
A man in Vermont contacted us to evaluate a 70-acre timber stand in Jackson County near Oak Hill
February 24, 2026 | Timber stand evaluation
A farmer in Mineral City asked us to evaluate his timber stand in Tuscarawas County near Atwood Lake
February 23, 2026 | Timber stand evaluation
A landowner in Columbus asked us to evaluate his 54-acre timber stand in Meigs County near Darwin
