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Timber Markets & Pricing

Understanding the timber market is an important part of managing a healthy, productive woodland.

Timber can be one of the most valuable resources on a forested property, but determining what that timber is worth is not as simple as putting a price on each tree. Timber values vary by species, tree size and quality, grade, volume, location, accessibility, and current market demand. Local and regional markets, transportation costs, and the availability of buyers and mills can also influence the price a landowner receives.


Understanding Timber Prices

Illinois timber prices are commonly reported as stumpage prices—the value paid to a landowner for standing timber. Prices may also be reported as FOB (free-on-board) prices, which reflect the value of logs delivered to a mill or other destination. Because harvesting, transportation, equipment, insurance, and other costs are included in the process, FOB prices are generally higher than stumpage prices.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and University of Illinois Extension provide timber price information based on reported sales and market data. These reports are useful for understanding general market conditions, but they should not be considered an appraisal or a guaranteed price for a particular woodland.

What Determines the Value of Your Timber?

The value of a timber sale depends on many factors, including:

  • Species — Different species have different markets and values.

  • Tree size and quality — Large, straight, healthy trees with high-quality logs generally command higher prices.

  • Grade and product — Trees may be suitable for veneer, sawlogs, pallets, ties, or other products, each with different markets.

  • Volume — Larger, well-planned sales can attract more buyers and may provide greater marketing opportunities.

  • Accessibility and terrain — Steep, wet, or difficult-to-access sites can increase harvesting costs.

  • Distance to markets — Transportation costs can significantly affect what a buyer can afford to pay.

  • Current market conditions — Demand for particular species and forest products changes over time.

  • Forest management objectives — The most valuable harvest is not necessarily the one that removes the most valuable trees. A well-planned harvest should consider the long-term health, productivity, and future value of the forest.

Before You Sell

Don't sell your timber based on an unsolicited offer or a price per tree.

A professional forester can inventory the woodland, determine the volume and quality of timber, identify trees appropriate for harvest, and help develop a harvest that supports the landowner's long-term management goals. Illinois Extension recommends that landowners consider working with a professional consulting forester when preparing and marketing a timber sale.

A well-managed timber sale can provide income while also improving the health, quality, and future productivity of the woodland. Marketing timber to multiple qualified buyers can help landowners receive a competitive price while ensuring that harvesting is conducted responsibly.

Current Illinois Timber Prices

IFA encourages woodland owners to use current Illinois timber-price reports as a starting point for understanding the market, rather than as a stand-alone valuation of their trees.

View current Illinois Timber Prices:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources — Illinois Timber Prices

Additional timber marketing and management resources:
Illinois Extension Forestry Resources

Supporting Illinois' Forest Products Industry

Timber harvesting plays a crucial role in maintaining Illinois forests as active, working landscapes. Responsible methods supply wood to sawmills and other forest-product industries, bolster jobs and local economies, and serve as a key strategy for ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of forests management objectives.

IFA supports responsible forest management and the sustainable use of Illinois' forest resources. A healthy timber market helps keep woodland economically viable while connecting landowners, foresters, loggers, mills, manufacturers, and consumers.

Healthy forests and healthy forest markets go hand in hand.

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