Ohio Timber Prices

2026 Spring Ohio Timber Prices Market Report

(Ohio Foresters LLC New Updated Ver26.)

So many changes are happening in the Ohio timber price markets in this first quarter and for the year thus far:

With the recent closing of Ohio’s largest pulp manufacturing company in south-east Ohio (old Mead paper plant) the markets for lower grade timber have shifted to other wood-using markets.  Most of the lower quality and smaller diameter timber is now being purchased by mills for products such as pallets, rail-road ties, cants, firewood, etc.

Markets like these help landowners manage their woodlands properly by providing an economic incentive to complete Timber Stand Improvement practices by getting rid of the non-desirable, less merchantable species of trees and timber.

The better-quality Appalachian hardwoods are still in high-demand as evident by the prices received on current local and regional timber sales across the State of Ohio.

The standard traditional sawmills in Ohio are still in need of good quality timber for sawing grade lumber however, this area is not dependent on traditional markets for lumber.  The Amish communities play a significant role in the timber buying markets in Ohio and have a huge need for this type of wood. They produce products such as flooring, cabinets, furniture, trim and more.

Taking a closer look at the local & regional Ohio Timber Markets and Stumpage Prices reflect the following for the specific commercial hardwood timber species:

-BLACK WALNUT current stumpage prices paid to landowners for Black Walnut trees are the highest we have ever seen in 35+ years of our company history!!  This is especially true for Black Walnut Veneer trees/logs.  The Black Walnut trees need to be good quality, tall, straight, and free from defects and/or damage.

-RED OAK markets are growing with an upward trend in increased demands expected mostly due to a rise in new housing projects being built.  There is still a very strong demand for building construction materials like flooring, cabinets, furniture, and lumber.

-WHITE OAK demands remain extremely high mostly due to the high need for White Oak Whiskey Barrel stave logs.  Also, White Oak Veneer is in super high demand.  Good quality White Oak is getting much harder to find for many companies and they are willing to travel further away to purchase it and pay top-dollar!

-HARD (SUGAR) MAPLE & SOFT (RED) MAPLE like White Oak, good quality Hard Maple prices are very strong, continue to rise and is currently in super high-demand.  Again, the Ohio Amish markets play a significant role in the value of these two Maple tree species.

-YELLOW (TULIP) POPLAR “Poplar is Poplar” is the saying around here.  Yellow Poplar prices are variable regionally and are more susceptible to the whims of the local markets. Yellow Poplar prices have remained pretty much steady and unchanged for the last 10-15 years with only a slight increase in value and stumpage prices paid for average quality trees.

However, big super high-quality saw timber Yellow Poplar trees 20”-24”+ in diameter (@DBH) are always in high-demand mostly due to very specific niche markets and the timber-export markets across Asia, Japan, and Europe.

In this part of Ohio Yellow Poplar trees are commonly purchased to make products such as trim, window casings, plywood, LVL and trusses and joists (known locally as “Peeler” logs).  Also, there are markets (usually from the Amish) for cants to be used to make wood products for stair rail turnings, balusters, and posts for staircases.  These are unique and high-end specific market we are fortunate to have parts in Ohio.

-BLACK CHERRY once again shows signs of being on the rebound with steady growth and price increases reflected in the most recent timber sales.

-HICKORY timber sales are still very strong; especially for good-grade quality trees and timber.  The prices for value-added Hickory wood products like cabinets, flooring, dining room tables, and furniture markets have been growing steadily for years (as evident by the prices reflected for Hickory products like Cabinets/flooring at Lowes, Home Depot and other big box stores).